Cheesemaker Awards firm up in Newport Beach

The first American Cheesemaker Awards will take place Thursday through Nov. 18 at the Fairmont Hotel, 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach.

The four-day event will feature cheese, wine and gourmet food tastings, classes, seminars and an awards dinner.

A panel of judges including cheese experts, chefs and food critics from across the country will do a blind tasting Thursday to rate America’s top artisan cheese entries.

Winners will be announced Friday evening at the American Cheesemaker Awards Dinner from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets to the dinner are $150 and will include one of the wine tastings being offered to the public Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets to the wine and cheese tastings from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday are $75 each day and include one cheese class.

The public can vote for the People’s Choice Awards, and the Cheese Store will be taking holiday orders. Classes will be offered from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Cheese Academy.

For more information, and a full schedule of classes, go to www.cheeseawards.com. To purchase tickets, call (949) 475-2331.

— Sue Thoensen