B-B-B-BIG Events (read this one!) Whew. When we sent out an announcement eight months ago that we were closing the doors on our downtown venture to get back to our Passion With Purpose, that is, spreading joy through food and telling the stories of artisanal producers, we weren't quite sure what the future of our business looked like. Thanks to y'all and your support, our theme of resilience and rebounding this year are in full swing and looking hopeful. Our Hyde Park shop is going strong, culture is better than ever, and we're selling lots of our favorite cheeses and pairings and sharing the stories of love that go into making good foods.  The other way we've always done that is through our public classes and private events - a captive audience gathered around a table of delicious treats building community through the proverbial breaking of bread together, er cheese and bread. We've heard from you that events were hard to get into in the past, so we ramped up the program - hiring former mongers and other events hosts to offer more events. And with expanded capacity comes....drum roll please....The announcement of a fully-loaded fall. We're not offering one Cheese-y Bus Tour. We're offering FOUR! We're not offering one Cheese-y Boat Cruise. We're offering THREE! And we're not stopping with one Brunch at Bee Tree Farm. We're co-hosting TWO! We're thrilled, excited, and a bit anxious to bring you our Antonelli's Food Tours. Whether on a bus, on a boat, on a farm, with a goat, we promise to continue giving you "one of the best food experiences" you've ever had. Few things are more precious to us than your time; thanks for sharing it with us.
CHEESE-Y BUS TOURS .jpg) Our Cheese-y Bus Tour is all about indulgence, fun, letting your hair down, and meeting the award-winning makers on their turf - with cheese (of course) and the best tour guides around! We launched these 2x annually in 2017, but due to demand and an amazing partnership, we have increased availability in the fall. (It's too hot in the summer!) What can you expect? In the course of our 6-hour day, you'll get 6 tasting and tour experiences, get to meet the makers (and goats!) with behind-the-scenes access and consume lots of treats - all while being hauled around with a designated driver and being regaled with cheese stories by your cheesemongersExperience #1: Cheese 101 & Bubbles Pairing on the Bus Experience #2: Goat Cuddles, Selfies, and Pure Luck Farm Tour with the Maker Experience #3: Seated Pure Luck Cheese Tasting & Wine Pairing Under the Trees Experience #4: Beverage Insider Tour of the Distillery, Cidery, Winery, or Brewery Experience #5: Beverage & Cheese Pairing onsite Experience #6: Chocolate & Red Wine Pairing at Antonelli's Cheese House For $135, that's an average of $22.50 per experience; what a deal! Click here for photos from past bus tours, or visit here for more information and ticket purchasing. (Note: Our first #CheeseyBusTour sold out in 48 hours, so get in while the gettin's good!) *Note: Wine is served on all bus tours.
 CHEESE-Y BOAT CRUISES We've teamed up with Capital Cruises again to enjoy a boat cruise on Ladybird Lake overlooking our gorgeous skyline. The event starts on the upper deck with bubbles and passed bites and moves to the (air-conditioned) water level for a seated wine, cheese, and charcuterie pairing, led by our expert cheesemongers and local sommelier. Opt for our newest offering - our Cheese-y Brunch Boat Cruise or stick with our Cheese-y Sunset Boat Cruise.Note that our Sunset Cruise is during the last night of ACL; it's the best way to listen from the river without the angst and hassle of dealing with traffic, and also concludes with bat viewing (if they're out) Brunch Cruise - Sat 9/14 (10:45am) - Ticket info Sunset Cruise - Sun 10/13 (6:30pm) - Ticket info here BUBBLES & BRUNCH AT BEE TREE FARM
Bee Tree Farm & Dairy, located just outside of Manor, is our closest farmstead producer - meaning that owner Jenna and her team have their own goats, milk them on the farm, and make their cheese there. Join us to #MeetTheMaker and see where the magic happens. And while the bubbles and bites are delicious, we really know it's all about the goats. We challenge you to your best #GoatSelfie if you're so inclined!  Enjoy a wonderful spread of cheese, sundry pairings, charcuterie bites, complimentary adult beverages and fun with the goats. The hosted event will last 1.5hours.
Afterwards, you'll have about 30 minutes to play with the goats and check out her beautiful farm. While complimentary adult beverages will be provided, feel free to bring along your own! More info and ticket purchasing here.
Other Upcoming Event Spotlights:
In The Shop We've been loving on goat cheeses all month in the Cheese Shop, and our next adventure takes us across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands! These gorgeous volcanic islands off the coast of Africa, best known for their black and white sand beaches, are the source of one of our most recent additions to the case, Cabra al Gofio! Based on the island of Fuerteventura, this adorable two-pound round (with the cutest sticker ever to boot) is made with the milk of prized Majorero goats and coated in traditional roasted cornmeal called gofio. Despite over 3000 hours of sunshine a year, Fuerteventura is often referred to as "The Island of Eternal Spring", with the winds coming from the Atlantic tempering the Sahara to the east. The goats that reside on the islands are hearty and strong, which is necessary in Fuertaventura's arid climate. Despite the robust nature of the island's goats, Cabra al Gofio is a sweet and creamy treat, with just a hint of yeasty toastiness from its cornmeal coating. This velvety delight also melts perfectly into your cheese and mac, fondue, you name it! Cheesemonger David With a freshly cracked wheel of (hand-selected in France) Comte in the shop, we're partnering with Drink.Well. for a special Comte feature! Owner Jessica Sanders will be crafting a one-of-a-kind cocktail to be paired with Chef Justin Bumbalough's awesome bite featuring this hand-selected Comte. From Monday 8/26 through Friday 8/30, sip, bite, hang out, and let the pairing take you away to the Jura - a special spotlight AT Drink. Well.  Amazon market, we appreciate your vote! (And for the record, we're fine with Amazon. There's a place for us all; we just don't want to be a dying breed if you like visiting us for complimentary samples. Thanks, y'all!) VOTE HERE by 9/3; specialty food retailers like us don't have a category, so vote for us in Food & Drink Wild Card. This is the first round.  & The Most Amazing, Hardworking, Passionate Team of Good Food Advocates Around... |