photo by Christian Bauer

It’s a Seattle cheese extravaganza this weekend in the city. How great is that? Melty, greasy, creamy, squeaky, crumbly–cheese embodies every taste bud’s need. What’s a pizza without cheese? Or wine? Or mac and CHEESE? Let’s face it, the stuff is amazing. So, forget the pre-summer diets and celebrate cheese this weekend…

Grilled Cheese and Beer Party
Union, 1400 First Avenue at Union Street
Thursday, May 17th (5 to 9 p.m.)

Food writer Laura Werlin, who specializes in writing about cheese, and Union chef Ethan Stowell are teaming up to serve tasty, creative versions of everyone’s favorite childhood snack–grilled cheese
sandwiches! What better way to prepare for this
weekend’s cheese festival?

Seattle Cheese Festival.com

Seattle Cheese Festival
Pike Place Market
Saturday, May 19th - 20th
(10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Taste, celebrate and learn about cheese this weekend at the third annual Seattle Cheese Festival. More than 250 local and international cheese producers are going to fill the streets of Pike Place, offering samples up for the masses. The celebration also includes chef demonstrations, cooking classes, a wine garden and a scavenger hunt for the kids. Something else not to miss–The Cheese Nun, Mother Noella Marcellino, who has studied cheesemaking in France as a Fulbright scholar and has had a PSB documentary recorded about her voyage with cheese. Marcellino will speak at the festival this weekend. [seattletimes]

And if that’s not enough cheese for you, make a stop at a personal favorite of mine–The Melting Pot on lower Queen Anne. During their twice-a-day happy hour (4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 9 to 11 p.m.), cheese lovers can order their cheese fondue pots for $7 (normally $16 a pot) and $4 bri platters (served with fruit and crackers and drizzled with deliciousness such as pesto, and honey and almonds).