The annual SA Cheese Festival is back at Sandringham in Stellenbosch from Saturday 25 April to Monday 27 April 2015 (Freedom Day). Visitors can look forward to innovative food pairings by culinary artists and demos by celebrities, but most importantly: cheese, cheese and more cheese… Feast your eyes on what they’ve got planned this year:

Checkers Cheese Emporium

This section houses an array of cheese and cheese-related products. (This year sees a new record, with the largest amount of space occupied by cheese exhibitors in 14 years.)

Checkers Market Theatre

Nataniël, Giggling Gourmet Jenny Morris, Sarie food editor Herman Lensing and Kokkedore Johnny Hamman and Marius Uys will create gourmet dishes paired with local and international wines.

SA Cheese Festival 2015

Afrox Cooking Pot

This experience includes wine and canapés by chef Johan van Schalkwyk, a Klipdrift Brandy cocktail experience hosted by Ashley Hurts and Owen O’Reilly, and quail ballontine by chef Craig Cormack, paired with chenin blanc. Alvi’s Drift and Stellenbosch Private Hotel School will present a trio of trout with a sip of chenin blanc, and Ken Forrester will offer tarte tatin paired with sweet wines. Duimpie Bayly, Alet Erasmus, Johan Rademan and Randall Wicomb have planned an unusual combination of chocolates, cheese and pinotage; and Thys Louw joins Alet Erasmus, Johan Rademan and Randall Wicomb for their chocolate, cheese and sauvignon blanc tasting. Finally, Kokkedore Johnny Hamman and Marius Uys will Give it Gas! with pancakes and pies.

Daily Ladismith Cheese Carving Competition

Visitors are challenged to try their hand at creating a work of art from a block of cheese.

Gourmet Lane and Agri-Expo Mall

Food stalls and food trucks will keep festivalgoers fed. An assortment of cheese-related products will also be on sale.

Kiddies’ Corner, Milk Factory and Cornetto Teen Zone

The children will be entertained with a variety of activities, including meeting velvety-nosed animals from different dairy breeds at the Milk Factory. The Cornetto Teen Zone invites teens to chill in a designated area with their friends.

SA Cheese Festival 2015

Tickets and times

No tickets will be sold at the gates. Tickets are available at any Computicket outlet, Shoprite or Checkers store at R130 per day of the festival. Senior citizens pay R100 and children of 13 years and younger enter for free. The festival is open from 10am to 6pm from Saturday 25 April to Monday 27 April 2015 (public holiday). Sandringham is conveniently located next to the N1, exit 39, between Cape Town and Paarl.

For more information, contact Agri-Expo on 021 975 4440 or cheese@agriexpo.co.za and visit www.cheesefestival.co.za.