Tune in to Zingerman’s Cheesemonger Showdown to Celebrate National Cheese Day

While the origins of this major holiday which takes place on June 4th—like those of National Cheese Lovers’ Day (Jan. 20), National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day (April 12), National Cheese Curd Day (Oct. 15) and National Cheese Ball Day (April 17)—are unquestionably tied to the dark forces of public relations and industry lobbying, it is nonetheless a United States Census Bureau-acknowledged excuse for 24 hours of indulgence.

National Cheese Day Celebrations

In the past, the day has been marked with local events across the country, ranging from 2-for-1 pies at Pudge’s Pizza in Arlington, Texas; “Cheese The Day” giveaways from Cabot Creamery in Waterbury, Vermont; and public tours of Wisconsin dairy farms. But last year, Zingerman’s Deli—based in Ann Arbor, Michigan—debuted a participatory event that utilizes the wonders of the internet and overnight courier service to create a truly nationwide celebration-cum-conversation, a Cheesemonger Showdown.

What is the Zingerman’s Cheesemonger Showdown?

Zingerman’s second annual Cheesemonger Showdown, modeled on an event featured at the annual Cheesemonger Invitational competition, will get underway on Sunday, June 4, 2023 as hundreds of cheese lovers from coast-to-coast open parcels that have been delivered to their homes. While the exact contents of this year’s shipments will remain under wraps until, well, until they’re unwrapped, the contents will include morsels of six cheeses, each selected by a different Zingerman’s monger. 

The 2022 selection included Raschera, a raw Italian cow’s milk cheese; Cabra al Gofio, a goat cheese from the Canary Islands with a roasty, cornmeal taste; and The Stag, a nutty bandage-wrapped cheddar.

 Accompanying the cheeses will be an array of slices, smears, dabs, and dollops of sweet and savory accompaniments. Among the contents of last year’s larder: Raspberry rugelach, country ham, gourmet mustard and charcoal crackers.

At 3 p.m. EDT, participants will log in to a private Zoom chat where each of this year’s six competing mongers will guide them through the assembly of a “perfect bite,” combining a particular cheese with one or more additional items from the parcel that have been carefully selected to showcase the cheese’s flavor, texture and aroma.

Coming just weeks in the wake of Eurovision, the similarly conducted Showdown is essentially Turo-vision. “The viewers at home are the judges,” explains Connor Valone, of Zingerman’s events team. “They’re able to share notes among themselves throughout the tastings using a chat room feature and then we use a Zoom poll to get everyone’s final votes in real time, so the viewers and the participants find out the winner and the rankings all together, right away.”

“I was a contestant last year,” says Valone, who concocted a German-Jewish collision of Schallenberg cheese with sauerkraut on an everything bagel. “I got second to last place. I have to say, it was pretty humbling.”

While the first-place monger wins only bragging rights, Valone says the Showdown can be a steppingstone to greater glory.  On June 25, last year’s winner, Bella Breazeale who assembled Jasper Hill’s Moses Sleeper The Stag cheese, Dodge City salame, and honey on a baguette, will represent Zingerman’s at the upcoming Cheesemonger Invitational in Brooklyn. Read more about the Cheesemonger Invitational. 

How to Participate 

To make the Cheesemonger Showdown part of your National Cheese Day celebration, orders for the official judges’ tasting kit ($65 plus shipping) must be placed no later than May 31 (If you live in the Ann Arbor vicinity, orders may be placed for in-store pick up as late as June 3, National Cheese Day Eve). 

“Last year, my wife and I participated from home,” says Valone. “One kit was enough for us to share, but we did have dinner afterwards.”

For $15, non-tasting participants can Zoom in to view the event for inspiration and then shop for ingredients later, either locally or online. All viewers receive a 20% off coupon for Zingerman’s online store. To learn more and register to participate, find further details here.

In the meanwhile, it’s time to start trimming your National Cheese Day Tree. Have a great holiday! (Or at least a grate one).