Cheese Festival On Gran Canaria
If you think of the Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, you probably think of palm trees, endless beaches and colourful gardens. The last thing that enters your mind is cheese, but that is all set to change this autumn. From September 30 through October 4, the World Cheese Convention is scheduled for the Canary Islands.
The 2009 International Cheese Festival is open to the cheese-loving public. It will occur in southern Gran Canaria’s Maspalomas Congress Centre. Event organizers anticipate a crowd of over 10,000 visitors.
This year marks the second time the event has been held outside the United Kingdom. The convention will bring together over 400 expert judges to evaluate over 4,000 of the world’s finest cheeses. The Canary Islands alone have already entered over 60 cheeses into the competition.
The competitive part of the convention will name the winning cheese in several categories. The main international cheese buyers watch the competition closely. The judging occurs on September 30, and an awards banquet is scheduled for the following night. The rest of the festival consists of the World Cheese Congress, where international experts will discuss the future of the cheese industry.
Cheese is one of the world’s oldest foods. More than 400 varieties of cheese exist around the world. It is made from the milk of cows, sheep, buffalo, goats, reindeer, camels and yaks. Whether it is served warm or cold, it is one of the most versatile and nutritious foods.
Hundreds of special techniques create the different varieties of cheese available today. However, there are three basic steps in the making of cheese that every variety has in common. The first step is creating curds in milk. The second step is the separation of the curds from the whey, which is the milky liquid left over when curds are created. Finally, the curds are turned to a finished cheese using a variety of aging and curing techniques.
The International Cheese Festival 2009 was moved to the Canary Islands when the Canary Island government expressed an interest in hosting the convention. The event’s organizers, The British Guild of Fine Food, were happy to accept the invitation. They chose Maspalomas as their event’s destination for 2009. The weather in Gran Canaria for that time of year should be terrific.
Government officials agreed to fund all travel and accommodation costs for those invited. They intend to incur the cost of freighting all cheese entries from their countries of origin to the awards. The international economic slowdown has had large effects on tourism and travel around the globe and they want to make sure when people consider a holiday they consider Gran Canaria.
The Canary Island government hopes the event will attract international visitors. The sunny climate and weather in Gran Canaria plus the gorgeous terrain of the Canary Islands is sure to attract cheese buyers and cheese lovers from around the world. The Canary Island government recognizes the benefits of hosting the convention on their local economy. They anticipate their location will benefit area businesses and convention goers alike.
Gran Canaria is located 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa. The island is southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The archipelago of the Canary Islands was claimed by Spain in the 15th century.
A popular destination of the Canary Islands that cheese festival visitors are sure to enjoy is Palmitos Park. It features elaborate plants and fascinating animals. The orchid house is always a visitor favourite, as is the park’s collection of exotic birds.
For nightlife, visitors are always pleased by the Yumbo Centre. It features a wide array of bars and restaurants to suit every taste. Shopping and mall walking are popular activities at the Yumbo Centre with families. The facility also features open architecture and spacious green areas if visitors want to seek non-cheese related activities.
The 2009 International Cheese Festival is sure to please spectators and competitors alike. The variety of cheese from around the world will impress cheese aficionados from around the world. The beauty of the Canary Islands will be an added attraction for those enjoying the festival and make it one to remember.
