ZingTrain, the consulting and training company in the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, announced this week that it is offering a Two-Day Cheese Mastery Class designed to equip attendees with the knowledge they need to procure, sell, care for and serve premium cheeses at a professional level.

The class was developed in conjunction with Daphne Zepos, a veteran instructor who has previously taught ‘Master Class’ programs at Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in New York City and at The Cheese School in San Francisco. Zepos will lead the class, assisted by cheese specialists from Zingerman’s Delicatessen and Zingerman’s Creamery. The program is scheduled for Monday, August 24 and Tuesday August 25, with an optional welcome dinner and cheese tasting on Sunday, August 23. A second session is scheduled for February 8-9, 2010. Class sessions will be held at various Ann Arbor locations, including Zingerman’s Delicatessen, Zingerman’s Roadhouse, and Zingerman’s Creamery.


Notes Zingerman’s co-founder Ari Weinzweig, “Over the years Daphne has developed herself into one of the world’s best-trained, most passionate, advocates for artisan cheese. While the course is designed for professional cheese lovers it’s equally great for amateur, but passionate, cheese lovers—sort of what Tiger fantasy camp does for really passionate baseball fans.”

ZingTrain’s Cheese Mastery Class will cover the history and techniques of cheesemaking, milk types and cheese classification, affinage, regional specialties and variations, flavor profiles and food and beverage pairings, proper care and handling of cheese, service and presentation, and other related topics. Students will also be treated to a tour of Zingerman’s Creamery, makers of award-winning fresh and aged cheeses, to observe cheesemaker John Loomis in action.

Registration is open and attendance will be limited to 20 students. The regular cost of $1,200 for the Cheese Mastery Class is being reduced to $975 for this inaugural session. The class fee includes tuition, all class materials, product samples, lunch and breakfast on Monday and Tuesday. A Sunday night dinner, including cheese service, at Zingerman’s Roadhouse is additional. Students can register by calling ZingTrain at 734.930.1919. Additional information is available by calling ZingTrain or online at www.zingtrain.com.