The SA Annual Cheese Festival was held at Sandringham and celebrated their 10th annual festival this year, and what a treat it was to be able to get tickets at the last minute, literally.
The last few years I had always wanted to go, but never managed to make it, so this year was the first of many more cheese festivals – as well as the first of a few more foodie events this month alone.
I have read a few reviews comparing the previous year’s festivals with the changes in the festival this year and it sounds as though the organisers definitely had a few new features up their sleeves this year.
The first Cheese festival was in 2002 at Bien Donné with 12000 visitors for the 3 days of the first festival. The numbers in the last 10 years have more than doubled to a crazy 29 000 visitors – which was also the reason for limiting visitors per day to 8000 – And I can see why no tickets were available at the gates. 
This year’s event was moved to a new location, Sandringham, which is half way between Cape Town and Paarl onthe N1 with plenty of parking and stunning views – especially on a cloudless sunny Sunday afternoon.
The layout was great for strolling around from stall to stall and checking out all of the goodness that was on offer.This gourmet event, was enough to attract any self confessed foodaholic with cheeses, and wines, more cheese and more wines being the order of the day as well as olives, biltong, and liqueurs and so many more stalls that are just making me hungry even thinking about them again.
There were a few stalls that would go on the favourite list, but this is why there is tasting of these products because everyone does have a different taste and palate. The Checkers Cheese Emporium on the Dairy Square had to have been where most of my time was spent at the festival, so many amazing products and new things to try.
MORNING MILK / DE PEKELAAR – some very interesting cheeses with flavours and being a lover of matured cheese, I only wish I actually took some home.
LA PETITE FRANCE – as always they have amazing Camembert and brie.
BUSY BEE APIARIES - had some great honey on offer from different areas;
CREATIVE CUISINE PANTRY – always great sauces, and dips and dressings (being my weakness, if only I could have bought one of everything)
GOAT PETER – had some great goats cheese halloumi which they fried for tasters
CHRISNA’S OLIVES and THE OLIVE GROVE as well as WILLOW CREEK OLIVE ESTATE – always some of my favourite stalls.. You can’t eat enough olives..
PESTO PRINCESS FOODS – another one of my always favourites – you also can’t ever eat too much pesto!
WILDEBRAAM BERRY ESTATE – Rooibos liqueur but there best was the berry liqueur
NATURE’S OWN LIQUEURS – Their Marula based cocktail is a very good substitute for Amarula and better for the budget too
TOTALLY WILD – Chocaloes and Cape Aloe and Baobab juice – Need I say more?
Those are just some of the exhibitors that I can remember off hand (and by checking their names on the Cheese festivals Exhibitors list, and that list does not even include the wines that I enjoyed but if you want to know more – check out the Cheese Festival Website and make sure to book your tickets early for next year, I know I will. But without their sponsors none of us would be able to keep on going back for more. This year I was so pre-occupied with tasting and experiencing everything, that I did not even take photos – next year I will just have to make up for it.
What were your favorites at the festival this year?
Next on the list – Taste of Cape Town coming up this weekend 5-8 May, see you there 
Thank you, It has been a while I know.. but very glad to know that someone missed my blogging
Glad to see you are posting again:)