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Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market’s Award-Winning CHEESE PLEASE! Festival Returns August 13


Celebration to gather thousands for North Carolina’s finest cheeses and downtown Raleigh grilled cheese competition

 

RALEIGH, NC (July 29, 2014) —On Wednesday, August 13, 2014, cheese aficionados and locavores will find themselves in a dairy lovers’ nirvana at CHEESE PLEASE!—the annual cheese festival hosted by Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market. From 10 am-2 pm at City Plaza. CHEESE PLEASE! provides a  unique opportunity for market goers to experience North Carolina’s culinary cheese scene. The event will showcase the area’s finest cheeses and cheese makers, a grilled cheese cook-off featuring downtown Raleigh chefs, and a local cheese tasting. In its third year, CHEESE PLEASE! has become a beloved  event at the Market, drawing thousands at City Plaza.

CHEESE PLEASE! will highlight the best of North Carolina cheese makers and producers including Goat Lady, and Hillsborough Cheese Company, and Mr. Russell’s Brie Soups— all located within 80 miles of downtown. During the artisanal cheese tasting, festival goers can indulge in their beloved favorites, expand their palate with new flavors, and connect with local producers and creators. 

Downtown Raleigh chefs will face off in a creative grilled cheese cook-off. Putting a unique spin on a cheesy childhood classic, the chefs will use combinations of breads, cheeses, and other ingredients sourced fresh from the Downtown Market. Shoppers have a chance to taste the creations and to help crown the “Peoples’ Choice” grilled cheese champs. Tastings will begin at noon; there is a $2 suggested donation for sampling and voting.

In addition, the cheese-centric event will feature live music from Dark Water Rising, food truck fare from American Meltdown, beer tastings from Bombshell Beer Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield tent, kids’ activities, recipes, prizes, local produce, and to-go box lunches from Buku, Kimbap, and The Pit BBQ. 

“The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market enhances downtown’s quality of life, offering residents fresh and healthy products sold directly from NC farms,” said Joe Durham, a downtown Raleigh resident of PNC Plaza. “The CHEESE PLEASE! festival is a unique opportunity to connect with NC cheese growers and sample a variety of specialty cheese products.”

Last year’s event drew over 5,000 to the Market for CHEESE PLEASE!, more than double the Market’s average attendance of about 2,000.  The International Downtown Association recognized Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market with a Downtown Merit Award for its work and initiatives related to CHEESE PLEASE!

 

For more information, please contact DRA Special Events Manager Frank Bloom at 919-821-6977 or at frankbloom@downtownraleigh.org. Visit www.RaleighEatLocal to learn more about Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market.

 



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About the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market:
Produced by Downtown Raleigh Alliance, the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market strives to be a guiding force in shaping the environmental, social, and financial health of downtown by bringing the highest quality local growers and food artisans together to the Raleigh community. The Market contributes to the sustainability and success of downtown by serving as a community gathering place, a vehicle for a regional economy, and a center for fresh, local food. The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market is made possible by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. We would also like to thank Wellness Sponsor Rex Healthcare.  For more information, please visit RaleighEatLocal.com.

About Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA)
DRA is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose mission is to continue the revitalization of Raleigh’s downtown. The Alliance enhances the quality of life and positively impacts the economic success of downtown through five services:  1. Safety, Hospitality & Clean Ambassadors; 2. Strategic Branding & Community Communications; 3. Special Events Production & City Plaza Programming; 4. Retail Attraction & Merchant Promotions; and 5. Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement. For more information about DRA, please visit www.youRhere.com.