There are many ways to enjoy Chester County cheeses over the holidays. Here are some ideas:

Birchrun Hills Farm:
Their monthly on-farm market will take place on Thursday, December 15th from 2 – 6pm! The Millers will have cheese and meat gift packs, along with some fine products from other vendors like Pure Blend Tea, The Cob Studio, Oley Valley Mushroom, and Sweet Water Baking Co.

They’ll also be at the Phoenixville and Bryn Mawr Farmers’ Markets on December 17th from 10am – noon.

Yellow Springs Farm:
Yellow Springs Farm Holiday Celebrations will take place Saturdays, Dec 10 and 17 -11am to 4 pm and Friday Dec 23 11 am to 4 pm.

They will be serving up Holiday cheer, cookies and refreshments. Greet the goats, and then savor delicious cheese, caramel sauces and truffles. All make great gifts, or hostess gifts. They will have gift boxes, and gift certificates, too. This is a perfect time to order a Cheese platter, or sign up for the 2012 Goat Cheese CSA.

September Farm:
Saturday, September 10th from 9am – 5pm, the Rotelle Family will be serving up delicious toasted cheese sandwiches made with their sharp cheddar for visitors to their farm store. While you’re there you can peruse their gift baskets and stocking stuffer ideas. Interested in trying their cheese of the month – it’s Orange Cranberry Jack!

Join us for a collaborative dinner with Chef Patrick Feury of Nectar and four of the Chester County Cheese Artisans on Monday, November 7, 2011 at 6:30 pm.

Meet the farmers and feel their passion as you enjoy a menu of seasonal dishes that complement the complexities of locally crafted cheeses and hear personal stories from the cheesemakers themselves.

Nectar is accepting reservations for this four-course dinner paired with wine.  Price per person is $65, which includes wine pairing.  To make a reservation, please call: 610-725-9000.  Nectar is located at 1091 Lancaster Avenue in Berwyn.  For directions, please visit tastenectar.com

Menu:

Saffron Braised Fennel, Arugula and Frisee Salad with Warm Cheese Gougere
Featuring Bloomy Rind Goat Cheese from Amazing Acres
Leonard Kreusch Auslese Riesling, Rheinhessen, Germany 2008

Goat Agnolotti, Roasted Chanterelles, Black Truffle, Lemon Jus
Featuring Cave Aged Goat Cheese from Yellow Springs Farm
Batasiolo Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmonte, Italy 2008

Tea Smoked Grilled Veal Tenderloin
Featuring Birchrun Blue Cheese from Birchrun Hills Farm
Chateau Bellevue Rouge, Bordeaux, France 2009

Pumpkin Goat Cheese Bread Pudding with Spiced Caramel Sauce
Featuring Chevre from Shellbark Hollow Farm
Blandys 5 Year Malmsey, Madeira

Enjoy this harvest celebration featuring East Goshen Farmers’ Market growers and producers along with talented guest chefs in the Historic Village of Sugartown on Sunday, November 6, 2011 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm while supporting the Friends of East Goshen.  Only 100 tickets are available at $100 per person.   For tickets, please email Lisa O’Neill at oneilldom@comcast.net

Talented guest chefs include:  Terrence Feury of Fork, Philadelphia; Peter Gilmore of Gilmore’s West Chester; Zach Grainda of White Dog Cafe, Wayne; Sean Weinberg of Restaurant Alba, Malvern; and Eric Yost of White Dog Cafe, Philadelphia.  Guests will be treated to cocktails in the historic barn, a tasting of hors d’oeuvres and libations, a five course small plate tasting, and desserts using ingredients from Market producers, including Shellbark Hollow.  Guests will be entertained with music by Sideview.

Meet Will and Lynne Reid – Chester County’s newest cheesemakers and the new owners of Amazing Acres Goat Dairy at Kimberton Whole Foods’ 25th Anniversary BBQ on Saturday, September 17th from 11am – 5:30pm! Location: 2140 Kimberton Road, Phoenixville(GPS)/Kimberton.

Friday, September 9, 2011.  12:00 – 6:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday, September 10-11, 2011.  10:00 am – 4:00 pm
at Yellow Springs Farm – 1165 Yellow Springs Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425

Yellow Springs Farm’s Native Plant Sale will feature many fall-blooming species of wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees.  Friday hours are new this year!  Honey and Goat Milk Cheeses will be available for tasting and purchase.  Get inspiration by strolling through native demonstration gardens and observing work by local artists!

Saturday, August 27,  2011. 12:00 – 4:00 pm at Terrain At Styers – 914 Baltimore Pikel | Glen Mills, PA 19342

Terrain at Styers is abuzz with the news of their first annual celebration of local honey and cheese, alongside craft brews and late summer harvest favorites. Join us to sample the best from local breweries while enjoying a full afternoon of activities centered around sweet honey and Chester County cheeses. Then, end the day with our chef’s special summer menu at Styer’s Garden Café.

As of today, Yellow Springs Farm and Doe Run Dairy will be offering cheeses.

Cost: FREE but space is limited.

Click here to save your spot!

Sunday June 26,  2011. 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, leaving and returning to Reading Terminal Market – 51 North 12th Street | Philadelphia, PA 19107

Some people are happy just to know where their food came from. Others want to shake the hands that grew it. Join Fair Food as they kick off another season of Farm Tours that put you face-to-face with the growers and purveyors behind your favorite local fare.

The first stop will be Doe Run Farm in Coatesville, where Kristian Holbrooke is crafting and aging stunning mixed-milk cheeses from their herd of goats, sheep and cows. Next, we’ll be calling on Sue Miller at Birchrun Hills Farm in Chester Springs. Her creamy Birchrun Blue, funky Fat Cat and petite-but-powerful Red Cat all come courtesy of Miller’s 80 Holstein gals, each with her own name. Fair Food’s own cheesemonger, Paul Lawler will tutor your tastings along the way!  Walk the pasture, ask questions, eat cheese. Repeat.  Enjoy.

Cost: $40 for adults, free for children 12 and under!

Click here for more details and registration info…

Thursday June 23,  2011. 2 – 6 pm at Birchrun Hills Farm – 2573 Horseshoe Trail | Chester Springs, PA 19425

Come check out Birchrun Hills Farm this Thursday for a Summer Farm Market. In addition to their artisan cheeses, Birchrun will offer Beef, Pork and Veal cuts to complete your menu. They will also be joined by Pure Blend Tea, Wild Indigo Farm, Oley Valley Mushrooms, The Wildflower Cafe, The Cob Studio and Bread by Jerry.

Click here for more info…

Monday June 20,  2011. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Cichetteria 19 – 267 South 19th Street | Philadelphia, PA 19103

Come and enjoy chocolate, wine and cheese while meeting the kids that work the urban gardens for the Agaston Urban Nutrition Initiative. Penns Wood Winery has agreed to donate the wine, Shellbark Hollow Farm has donated cheese, and John & Kira’s has donated chocolates. All proceeds will go directly to a 3 acre community food resource center in southwest Philadelphia.

The Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative is a program of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania. There will be dinner and drink specials benefiting UNI before, during, and after the event.

Cost: $50

Click here for more info and to buy tickets…

Friday June 17,  2011. 6:30 – 8:00 pm at Birchrun Hills Farm – 2573 Horseshoe Trail | Chester Springs, PA 19425

Following the Meet the Cheesemaker Open House at Birchrun Hills Farm,  PASA, the PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture, is hosting an a benefit cheese and beer tasting evening with cheesemonger Paul Lawler and Philadelphia’s own Madame Fromage; Tenaya Darlington, joined by cheesemaker Sue Miller and Brewer Jean Broillet, IV.

This event will feature a guided tasting of deliciously unique Cheeses expertly paired with great Local Beers! Come out to the farm for this special occasion, enjoy the evening, make it an event and support a great organization!

Cost: $25 (proceeds go to PASA)

Click here for more info…

Email Sue at Birchrun Hills Farm to register!