Cheese fest menu offers a full plate

Cheese enthusiasts can sample dozens of artisanal cheeses at the first-ever Seattle Cheese Festival at the Pike Place Market this weekend.

From Bainbridge Island goat cheese to English cheddar to Vermont blue, "there will be cheeses for every palate," said organizer Pat McCarthy, an owner of DeLaurenti Specialty Food & Wine.

It's a low-pressure opportunity for the "less initiated" to try both traditional and unfamiliar cheeses and ask questions, McCarthy said.

He believes the city is ready for an event devoted to specialty cheeses. "Cheese producers are multiplying in the Northwest," he said. "And our cheese sales prove people are becoming more and more interested in cheese."

Adults can also learn about the best wines to pair with cheese in a wine garden highlighting Northwest wineries. Wine-garden admission ($5) supports The Market Foundation.

DeLaurenti will host cooking demonstrations by local chefs from such restaurants as The Herbfarm, Salish Lodge and Tulio Ristorante.

Kids can try a market scavenger hunt; maps will be available near the cheese showcase, in Beecher's Handmade Cheese store and at DeLaurenti Specialty Food & Wine.

Beyond Pike Place, restaurants throughout Seattle — including Campagne, Ray's Boathouse and Union Square Grill — will join the fun by adding a "Cheese Fest Best" plate to their menu (see the festival Web site for a full list.)

For more information, visit www.seattlecheesefestival.com or call 206-622-0141.

Stephanie Dunnewind, Seattle Times staff reporter