Cheese Ball II: A Cave Raising – Recap

by Le Anne Lindsay, Editor

Last Saturday I went to cover a Cheese Ball!  Which makes you think of those nutty balls of cheddar cheese from Hickory Farms we eat at Christmastime.  This however, was a party where everyone brings cheese to sample or a spread for cheese or something to spread the cheese upon.

It was held in the Northern Liberties area at the Ruba Club (416 Green St., Phila, PA 19123). The brainchild of Cheese Coutesan and expert Tenaya Darlington, better known as Madame Fromage!

Cheese Ball Hostess Madame Fromage

Tenaya threw the first Cheese Ball in 2012, then last year got busy writing her cheese book for Di Bruno Bros House of Cheese: A Guide to Wedges, Recipes, and Pairings.

This year Madame Fromage decided throwing another Cheese Ball would be a great way to host a fundraiser for fellow cheese connoisseur, Sue Miller, a Dairy Farmer who together with her family runs Birchrun Hills Farm in Chester Springs PA.  They are trying to build a cheese cave – like a wine cellar, but for cheese, allowing for an environment to age and store Artisinal cheeses.

Below is a little video on Birchrun Hills Farm’s specialty cheeses.

This fundraiser was the kick off to the Cave Raising Kickstarter Campaign – It takes a village to raise a Cheese Cave!

Dairy Farmer Sue Miller

My best friend and I love when we get to mix socializing with our work. I get to blog, she gets to draw.

Illustrator and Draw-tographer Diane Roka – look for her on Instagram @dianeroka

The party was definitely a success, it was so crowded when we first arrived, I nearly turned back around and decided to bag it.  For some reason, I was anticipating a quiet, little cocktail party atmosphere, not a raucous Saturday night. But after fighting my way to the cheese table, and getting a glass of wine, I soon settled in.

For dessert, ice cream by local creamery Weckerly’s, which I really wanted to try, however, not to be indelicate, but I knew that both cheese and ice cream would be a bit too much dairy for my system in one night.

Weckerly’s Ice Cream (4239 Baltimore Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104)

• Eulogy Belgian Tavern gift certificate
• Weaver’s Way Co-op Cheesy Gift Basket
• Freelance Photographer Albert Yee Original Black & White Photograph
• Cheesemaking Lesson at Cherry Grove Farm
• Tasting Dinner for 4 from Chef Feury at Nectar

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