The third Utah Cheese Awards were judged Saturday, August 24, 2019. The organization awarded 41 medals to 10 companies over 14 categories. A best of show in both cheese and non-cheese categories were also selected.
The contest was judged at the Red Chair Caffe, a new restaurant owned by Logan’s Caffe Ibis coffee roasters, located in the Sorenson Arts and Education Complex on the University of Utah Campus.
Judging the event were Salt Lake morning radio personality, actor and podcaster Bill Allred of X96 FM; Table X, (a Millcreek Utah farm-to-table restaurant) chef and owner Nicholas Fahs and 3-time judge, Tosha Rustad, a pastry chef who is the Cafe Director at the Red Chair Caffe.
With nearly 60 cheese entries to be tasted Bill Allred called the judging “One of the hardest things I have ever done”.
Steven R. Jerman, the founder of the Utah Cheese Awards and the managing director of Cheese Utah LLC, who conducted the contest prepared the samples. Show volunteers Tyler Wright and Kendall Marie delivered samples to the judges. Jayson Ross donated his time to photographing the striking modern room in which Red Chair diners eat.
The largest group of cheeses were those with adjuncts, such as herbs, spices or peppers – either pressed inside or coating the cheeses. They were followed by cheese curd and cheddar categories. Candy, a new classification in the “Rest of the plate” Division 2 saw new entrants.
The awards will be announced and the medal’s and trophies presented October 19 at Hopkins Brewing Company, a freshman brewpub in the Salt Lake’s Sugar House neighborhood. The public may attend and will be able to meet with the winning producers, some of which will be exhibiting.
Several of the winning cheeses and other Utah-made cheese plates foods will be served buffet style. The reception runs from 4:00 to 8:00 with the awards being presented at 7:30. the venue will stay open after the event.
Tickets are $20 and available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/utah-cheese-awards-2019-tasting-reception-tickets-65078247791 or through a link on the Utah Cheese Awards website, http://utahcheese.info.