This is NOT for the faint of heart or lactose intolerant: Tickets go on sale TODAY at 10 am for the ITALIAN CENTRE SHOP’S FESTIVAL OF CHEESE on Tuesday, November 7 in support of the University Hospital Foundation. Live entertainment, cooking demos, interactive food stations, beverage pairings and more will be held in the newly-renovated flagship location at 10878 95 Street.
“There’s no better place to host a gathering of our cheese vendors and in-house experts than right here in Little Italy – where Edmonton’s love affair with cheese first started,” says Teresa Spinelli, President of Italian Centre Shop. “We’ve been importing cheese from Italy for over six decades and today, we import over 70,000 kgs from all over Europe. Our five locations sell over 300 varieties and 250,000 kgs of cheese every year!”
Ticket holders will be treated to what can only be described as a feast for the senses. 20+ cheese forward dishes will be served, including mushroom arancini served with Asiago Fresco, flatbreads topped with fresh ricotta, mortadella and pistachios, and fresh figs with crumbled Gorgonzola, walnuts and balsamic vinegar pearls. Ingredients featured in every bite can be found in-store.
For customers in Edmonton, Calgary and Sherwood Park – festivities continue through to Saturday, November 11 at all locations with sampling and demos by their in-house deli team, Switzerland Cheese Canada and Italy’s Fior Di Maso. Shoppers can also look forward to the wheels of Asiago, Provolone & Comte being cracked open for all to try.
“Timing couldn’t be better with the holiday season coming, and we encourage Edmontonians to get creative with our products when entertaining friends and family,” says Italian Centre Shop’s General Manager, Gino Marghella. “Our focus is to inspire home cooks, and this is just the beginning. We’re looking forward to growing and expanding the festival for years to come – it’s going to be legen-dairy!”
ONLY 100 TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE for the Italian Centre Shop’s Festival of Cheese and go on sale this morning (October 20) at 10:00 am via Eventbrite.
To stay up-to-date, follow @italiancentreshop on Instagram.
ABOUT THE ITALIAN CENTRE SHOP
The Italian Centre Shop is Alberta’s largest family-owned specialty food retailer and grocer, currently operating five locations in Edmonton, Calgary and Sherwood Park.
Founded in 1959 by Frank Spinelli and led today by daughter Teresa, the Edmonton-based grocer stocks local and imported produce, European specialty foods and products, provides wholesale distribution to over 800 restaurants across Alberta and has become a gathering place for Albertans with an affinity for great coffee and a love for their community.
Named one of “Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies” by Canadian Business Magazine, one of “Canada’s Best Employers for Recent Graduates” by The Career Directory and one of “Alberta’s Top Employers” by the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal, the Italian Centre Shop continues to be a gathering place for Albertans of all ages and shopping destination for food enthusiasts, paying homage to old-world culinary traditions while celebrating life and how Albertans eat, tod
