It was a night of savouring formaggio italiano!

On Saturday, November 19, we joined forces with Cheese Boutique for an Italian feast to remember starring some of Italy’s most beloved cheeses. With Chefs Andrew Piccinin and Matthew Cooper as well as Canada’s premier cheese expert Afrim Pristine at the helm, the night kicked off with a welcome reception in the Jump bar as guests enjoyed savoury canapés that tickled their taste buds ahead of an Italian Festa del Formaggio that had everyone oohing and aahing with delight.

Diners toured Italy through taste guided by Afrim, one of the world’s youngest maître fromager with over 25 years of experience in the art of cheesemaking. Guests dove in to a mouthwatering four-course meal — each dish starring an Italian cheese handpicked by Afrim himself, sipping on wines carefully selected by Senior Sommelier Billy Woon. Between each course, guests had the opportunity to learn about how each cheese is made, what makes it unique, flavour profile, texture and aroma. Dishes like Handmade Cavatelli Cacio e Pepe featuring Afrim’s custom-blend Grana and Braised Pork Sausage with Afrim’s gattò di patate wowed the crowd with their richness and depth. With smiling faces and nearly-full bellies, the evening ended on a sweet note with Sicilian Cassata featuring rum-soaked sponge, sheep’s milk ricotta, marzipan, and preserved quince.

Scroll below for highlights of this wonderfully cheesy evening!