The experience
What happens when we take the best cheesemongers from around the country and put them in one room?
THe Cheesemonger Invitational.
We honor cheesemongers by putting them center stage in a unique competition that showcases their technical skills, encyclopedic knowledge, and passionate salesmanship. We inspire them through educational workshops led by the best cheesemakers in the world. And then we throw one hell of a party to celebrate the finalists, watch them compete on stage, and crown one them as the best cheesemonger in the country. Purchasing a ticket gets you access to the party!
Trust us when we say that this party is like no party you’ve ever attended. This is a have-to-be-there, FOMO-inducing, adrenaline-pumping cheesesplosion. Expect rabid cheese fans. Expect a grown man in a cow costume. Expect a lot of cheese — like, whatever you’re imagining is a lot of cheese? Imagine more. You honestly haven’t lived until you’ve cheered at the top of your lungs (with a mouth full of brie) for someone to cut a perfect quarter pound of cheese on a stage in front of hundreds of like minded cheese heads.
The Food
you will see things with cheese you have never seen before….and eat your way through all of it.
The Cheesemonger Invitational is an all-you-can-eat event meant to discover the best artisan cheeses from around the globe. In addition to cheesey dishes like fondue, grilled cheese and raclette, guests are also encouraged to sample ‘perfect bites’ of cheese prepared by the participating cheesemongers.
The competition
WATCH THE MONGERS COMPETE ON STAGE IN THE FINALS AND WITNESS ONE OF THEM BE CROWNED THE BEST CHEESEMONGER IN THE COUNTRY.
The mongers are spotlighted in a unique competition that showcases their technical skills, encyclopedic knowledge, and passionate salesmanship.
Past Champions
the best cheesemongers in the country
CHICAGO 2019 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Evan Tale: Apertivo
Samuel Schonberg: France 44
Jeffrey Forlastro: Arethusa Farm Dairy
Molly Hess: Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine
Julia Gross: TBT
Matt DeLoach: Harmons Mountian View
SAN FRANCISCO 2022 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Sam Rollins Cowbell Fine Cheese
(Second - Tie): Courtney C. Johnson: Street Cheese
(Second- Tie): Mary Florer-Tolan: Venissimo - North Park
Heather Schoneman; Oliver's Market
Calif Trinh: Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery
SAN FRANCISCO 2020 CHAMPIONS
Winner: Sarah Munley : Cheese Bar
Courtney C Johnson: PCC Community Markets
Julia Gross: Monger at Large
Sam Rollins: Zupan's Market on Burnside
Luc Laurent: Joan's on Third
Michelle Vieira: Whole Foods Market
SAN FRANCISCO 2019 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Jill Zenoff: Cowgirl Creamery
Alex Armstrong: Mission Cheese
Luc Laurent: Joan’s on Third
Jeffery Forlastro: Log Cheese & Wine
Sarah Munly: Cheese Bar
Daniel McElligot: Allium Market
SAN FRANCISCO 2018 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Rory Stamp: Dedalus Wine
Eris Schack: Eataly
Alex Armstrong: Mission Cheese
Joshua Santamaria: Foragers Market
Monica Kusaka Herrero: Fisher's Cheese + Wine
Cesar Olivares: Staff Of Life Market
SAN FRANCISCO 2017 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Jessica Lawrenz: Venissimo Cheese Mission Hills
Jules Snarr: Cured
Alex Armstrong: Mission Cheese
Melissa Hartman: Beecher's Handmade Cheese
Eli Joyce: The Cheese School Of San Francisco
Cesar Olivares: Staff Of Life
SAN FRANCISCO 2016 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Lilith Spencer: Cheesemongers Of Sante Fe
Alex Ourief: Vagabond Cheese Co
Lana Patrick: La Femme Du Fromage
Noreen Guizar: Cheese School Of Sf
Jb Rumberg: Velo Fromage
Christy Caye: Cowgirl Creamery
SAN FRANCISCO 2015 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Matt Reilly: Eataly Chicago
Alex Ourieff: Vagabond Cheese Co.
Jessica Beer: Cured Boulder
Katie Eshleman: Pastaworks
Megan Beene: Rainbow Grocery
Eric Miller: Mission Cheese
SAN FRANCISCO 2014 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Perry Soulos: Arrowine and Cheese
Nate McElroy: Bedford Cheese
Jon Fancey: Cheese Plus
Kia Burton: Urban Radish
Zach Berg: Bi-Rite Market
Liza Kaplansky: Canyon Market
NEW YORK 2023 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Sara Simiele: The Curd Nerd
Hana Lee: Dedalus Wine + Market
Colton Belise: Urban Farmer
Karla Lamoureux: Formaggio Kitchen
Alena Douglas : Provisions Wine
John Litzinger: The Son of a Butcher
NEW YORK 2022 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Cara Condon: Beautiful Rind
Reese Wool: Murray's Cheese
Jared Kaufman: France 44
Nathalie Baer Chan: Murray’s Cheese (Bleecker)
Evey Suelzel: New Seasons Market
NEW YORK 2021 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Tommy Amorim
Emilia D’Albero: Green Grape Provisions
Reese Wool: Murray's Cheese
Samantha Spontak : Artisan Cheese Company
Kyra James: Own Your Funk
NEW YORK 2018 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Eris Schack: Eataly Downtown
Joshua Santamaria: Foragers Market
Emilie Villmore: Bacco’s Wine and Cheese
Lauren Toth : Murray’s Cheese
Carol Johnson: Monger’s Palate
Kiri Endicott: The Cheese Shop of Salem
NEW YORK 2017 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Jordan Edwards: Pastoral Artisan Cheese,
Bread, & Wine
Beth Falk: Mill City Cheesemongers
Kyra James: Formaggio Kitchen
Rory Stamp: Dedalus Wine Shop, Market, and Bar
Shannon Voelkel: C’est Cheese
Eris Schack: Eataly NYC
NEW YORK 2016 CHAMPIONS
Sascha Anderson: Cheesemongers of Santa Fe
Sara Adduci: Feast!
Samantha Kane: Di Bruno Bros.
Jordan Edwards: Pastoral
Alice Bergen Phillips: Via Umbria
NEW YORK 2015 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Nick Bayne: Bedford Cheese Shop
Alex Armstrong: Pastoral Artisan
James Gentry: St James Cheese Company
Joseph Ciardullo: C'est Cheese
Kevin De Freitas: Greenwich Cheese Company
Leslie Uhl: Di Bruno Bros
NEW YORK 2014 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Emily Acosta: Eataly NY
James Gentry: St. James Cheese Co.
Nadjeeb Chouaf: Flora Artisanal Cheese
Sara Adduci: Feast!
Lilith Spencer: Brooklyn Larder
Luke Johnson: Cheese Pops
NEW YORK 2013 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Justin Trosclair: St.James Cheese Company
Katie Carter: Arrowine and Cheese
Kris Garrand: Bedford Cheese Shop
Matt Shankle: Di Bruno Bros
Rich Morillo: Di Bruno Bros
Kyle Miller: Forward Foods
NEW YORK 2012 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Adam Smith: Cowgirl Creamery
Justin Trosclair: St.James Cheese
Bryan "Burnie" Bland: Pastoral
Andrew Clark: Formaggio Essex
Sean Hartwig: Singermans
C.J. Bienert: Cheese Shop of Des Moines
NEW YORK 2011 CHAMPIONS
Winner - Steve Jones: The Cheese Bar
Poul Price: Consider Bardwell
Anne Saxelby: Saxelby's
Zeke Ferguson: Di Bruno Bros
Matt Rubiner: Rubiner's Cheesemongers And Grocers
Dave Puchta: Murrays Grand Central
NEW YORK 2010 CHAMPIONS
Winner- Matthew Rubiner: Rubiners
Carlos Souffront: Zingermans
Richard Sutton: St. James Cheese Company
Anthea Stolz:Bi Rite Market
Emi Lee: Liberty Heights Fresh
Chris Hanawalt: Bedford Cheese Shop