Cheese and chocolate lovers mark your calendars for a sweet and savory March!
The Oregon Chocolate Festival takes place March 2-4 at the Ashland Springs Hotel and will showcase the sweet creations of more than 50 Oregon chocolate makers and other specialty food vendors. From traditional candies, to chocolate-covered bacon and lavender-infused truffles, the festival has a taste for every palette ($ 20). Southern Oregon winemakers will be on hand to provide wine pairings, and a Chocolate Makers dinner will be held on Friday ($ 59) along with other special events through the weekend.
March 16-17, members of the Oregon Cheese Guild and select cheesemakers from surrounding states will gather for the Oregon Cheese Festival. A Cheesemakers Dinner will be held on Friday at the Ashland Springs Hotel (limited seating), where diners can visit with cheesemakers and enjoy cheese-centered courses paired with wine from Southern Oregon wineries ($ 90). Margo True, Food Editor of Sunset Magazine, will emcee. On March 17, visitors can sample the goods of 80 cheesemakers, artisan food vendors, wineries and breweries in a farmers market setting at Rogue Creamery in Central Point ($ 15).
Extra slice: There’s a new face in the Oregon cheese world: Portland Creamery, the newest licensed creamery in the state, will be on hand at the Oregon Cheese Festival with fresh goat cheeses. Look for Sweetfire (with habañero and marionberry puree), tarragon mustard (a spring offering) and herbes de provence (elegant!). If you’re lucky, owner Liz Alvis might bring some of her coveted cajeta — goat’s milk caramel.
