The SA Cheese Festival – Under the Cover with Ed Beukes
In 2002 the Cheese Festival was first launched at Bien Donne, Franschhoek with over 12, 000 visitors over three days of festivities….
When: Usually the last weekend in April, Annually
Where: Sandringham, Stellenbosch
What to expect: Cheese, Wine, Unique Products, Gourmet Food, Live Music & Entertainment
Eleven years later, on the 26th– 28th of April, no less than 27 500 people made their way to the cheese event of the year (only 15 minutes’ drive away from Cape Town’s CBD).
The South African Cheese Festival (Agri-Expo) has been growing from strength to strength with new exciting editions added onto their recipe of success each year. This year my friends and I decided to visit this festival again, and though we thought it would be great for an hour or two, we ended up spending the entire day at the lovely South African Cheese Festival (Agri-Expo).
We were thrilled that we hadn’t slumbered in booking our tickets online as the tickets were consecutively sold out for Saturday and Sunday and nothing was available at the entrance gates for the late sleeper…
Even with the masses pitching up for the festival, the infrastructure was extremely secure and well laid out and with great excitement;
…we headed for the Dairy Square and Cheese Emporium to indulge in brie-licous cheese and wine!
Apart from the people shuffling between one another drinking Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, the live atmosphere inside the tents were heart-warming and welcoming. Soon we were hopping from blue cheese to goat’s cheese to feta and fromage and with over 350 cheeses to taste from we prepared ourselves for a long day.
More unique products and gourmet foods were available in the Meander Tent and outside at the Gourmet Lane. Crackers topped with caramelized onion dip, fried Halloumi with traces of oregano and whiffs of olives, strong cheddar and ciabatta dipped in Dukkah spice and finally sweet Turkish Delight fudge next to decadent chocolate brownies.
Our taste buds were being stimulated from all angles and our jolly laughter resounded louder and harder with every new wine that we tasted…
Entertainment at the South African Cheese Festival (Agri-Expo) included live music under a gazebo, professional entertainers, clowns and games at the Kiddies Corner.
We also managed to get our free tickets to one of the cooking shows at the Checkers Theatre where well-known celebrity’s cook away in front of an audience. Chris and I left the show winning a bottle of wine as they called up a few brave couples to dance on the stage to some Latin music while waiting for the cheese to melt in their pans.
The Best Stand Awards went to:
National Cheese: Portobello/Rhodes Food Group
Boutique Cheese: Mediterranean Delicacies
Wine and other Alcoholic Beverages: Worcester Wine & Olive Route
Related Products: Pesto Princess
Catering: Piroshcka’s Flammkuchen
Milk Factory: Simmentaler/Fleckview
I remember looking at the people crowding under sun umbrellas, the silly banter around long tables and some girls usurping some of the summer’s last sunshine and good weather…
I also remember deciding that I’ll be booking my tickets well in advance for the weekend of the 25th– 28th of April 2014, so that I can once again quench my turophilic appetite and build a new memory at the South African Cheese Festival (Agri-Expo).
Content & Images: Ed Beukes