It’s time to announce the 2019 lineup of educational & tasting classes at Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese in downtown Oregon, Wisconsin! This year, we’re offering 11 different classes with Sara Hill, an inducted member of the Guilde Internationale Des Fromagers & Jeanne Carpenter, an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional and owner of Firefly Coffeehouse. (For their full bios, scroll down).
All tickets must be purchased in advance and may be found here: https://store.fireflycoffeehouse.com/collections/cheese-classes
Here we go!
January 6: Wine & Cheese of France – Regional Pairings
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Taste and learn about exquisite French wine and cheeses, taste four regional pairings, and hear the stories of each from Jeanne & Sara, both of whom have traveled France extensively in search of good cheese. You’ll leave with a better understanding of terroir, or taste of place, and enjoy the magic of pairing the perfect wine with the perfect cheese. Ooh-la-la! $29/each.
February 10: Best of Wisconsin Cheese & Beer Pairings
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Wisconsin Craft beer and Wisconsin artisan cheese: could there be a more perfect pairing on a Sunday night in America’s Dairyland? You’ll taste four Wisconsin beers and four Wisconsin cheeses, and then learn the secrets of pairing two of Wisconsin’s favorite food groups. $29/each
March 3: Blue Cheese & Port – Made for Each Other
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Pairing Port and cheese is a classic food and wine combination, but have you paired Port with Blue Cheese? Brace yourself for magical goodness. Taste four blues and four Port wines. $29/each
April 7: Wine & Cheese of Spain – Regional Pairings
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Spanish cheeses and wines are lesser known in America than their French or Italian counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t just as good. Your guides: Sara & Jeanne, have each traveled and visited many cheesemakers and winemakers in Spain. They bring their experiences and expertise to the evening. $29/each
June 9: Cheeses of England
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
England, similar to America, is experiencing a renaissance in farmstead and artisan cheese, with much of the inspiration and credit going to the experts at Neal’s Yard Dairy, master affineurs of London. You’ll hear of Sara’s very recent experiences, and Jeanne’s experiences from her trip a few years ago as you taste four English cheeses. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each
July 21: Sheep Milk Cheese of Wisconsin
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
It’s hard to believe the American dairy sheep industry is less than 30 years old, and that Wisconsin sheep milk cheeses have only come of age in the last generation. Taste four of Sara & Jeanne’s favorite sheep milk cheeses. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each
August 11: Wine & Cheese of Italy – Regional Pairings
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Four years ago, Sara & Jeanne spent 10 days together, visiting cheesemakers and winemakers in Italy, learning ancient stories of cheesemaking and winemaking. Since then, they’ve put together countless pairings of Italian foods. Join them this evening and taste four Italian wines, each perfectly paired with four different Italian cheeses. $29/each
September 22: Mixed Milk Cheeses of Wisconsin
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Taste the complexity and hear the origin stories of four Wisconsin Original mixed milk cheeses, each crafted from the milk of goats, cows and/or sheep. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each
October 20: American Cave Aged Cheddar
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Learn and taste the distinct flavor differences in five American aged cheddars, each aged in either a cave-like environment or an underground cellar. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each
November 17: Understanding & Entertaining with Triple Cream Brie
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to taste and learn the different in Brie, Camembert and Triple-Cream Cheeses. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each
December 8: Cheese Duel – Wisconsin Vs. European Cheeses
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Old World favorites versus New World upstarts: you’ll taste and compare six cheeses in three different styles, then decide for yourself which side of the Atlantic makes better cheese. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each
More about your class leaders:
Sara Hill has been involved in the specialty food world with a concentration on cheese for 36 years. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park N.Y in 1976 and cooked at clubs and resorts until 1982 when she was hired by the first cheese importer in the upper Midwest. She continued to be involved in cheese distribution and working with chefs and retailers, helping key store groups to develop cheese programs, involving cheese mongers behind the counter, until 2006 when she left distribution to work with Sid Cook at Carr Valley Cheese as his first National sales manager. In 2008 she joined the WMMB as Manager of cheese education and was involved with training chefs and retailers about Wisconsin Cheese all over the U.S. and she steer headed the total update of the Cheesecyclopedia. In 2018 she joined Hook’s Cheese as National Sales Manager. She is a former board member of the ACS and has been inducted into the Guilde Internationale Des Fromagers.
Jeanne Carpenter is an award-winning journalist, former spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, and worked several years as a specialty cheese buyer for Metcalfe’s Markets in Wisconsin. Today, she and her husband, Uriah, own and run Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese in their hometown of Oregon, Wisconsin, and are committed to building a community gathering place for folks who like good coffee, good food & good cheese. She enjoys her involvement in local politics, and represents Oregon as a three-term elected member of the Village of Oregon Board of Trustees, the Oregon Planning Commission and Oregon Library Board. She was recently elected to the Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.