LONG ISLAND CITY — Say cheese!
Lovers of limburger and other cheesy delights have reason to celebrate with the the 3rd Annual Cheesemonger Invitational — which will feature goodies like blue cheese ice cream and Swiss nachos as well as the crowning of the best cheesemonger in Long Island City this weekend.
About 50 cheese selling pros from around the country will compete in the battle while guests will get to sink their teeth into a flotilla of fromage. A gut-busting 500 pounds of cheese will be served during the event, along with wines and cocktails, according to organizers.
Cheesemonger Invitational is the brainchild of Adam Moskowitz, 38, a third generation cheese importer, who hosts the event at his company’s warehouse on 27th Street in Long Island City.
“I love the cheesemongers,” said Moskowitz. “They have an amazing passion for what they do.”
His grandfather, Ben, started a Tribeca based company, Walker Butter & Egg, selling butter and eggs from a pushcart in Lower Manhattan. In the mid-'50s the company began importing cheeses from Europe.
Adam Moskowitz, who used to work as a cheesemonger at Formaggio Essex Market in the Lower East Side, is now in charge of two family companies — Larkin and Columbia Cheese — which import cheeses from around the world.
During the tournament cheesemongers will face various challenges.
They will have to answer trivia questions about cheese and guess the age and country of origin after eating bite size samples.
In other rounds they will have to cut a quarter pound without using scale, show their wrapping skills and create a slate of cheese bites, all for a chance at a $1,000 cash prize.
“The goal is to celebrate the cheesemongers and make the cheese accessible for everybody,” Moskowitz said, adding that 9 mongers and 300 guest participated in the first event two years ago. Now, Moskowitz said, he expects that more than 700 people to come.
The event will take place at Larkin’s warehouse at 47-55 27th St. in Long Island City. It opens and 6 p.m. and there is an after party.
For $50 ($60 at the door) guests will get all they can eat and all they can drink deal.
