East Sacramento Connect

Get ready, cheese enthusiasts! Sacramento is transforming into a paradise for cheese lovers with an exciting culinary celebration that promises to delight your taste buds. The upcoming City of Cheese Menu Pop-Up is bringing together the best of local culinary talent and acclaimed cheese artisans for a three-day event that showcases the versatility and quality of artisan cheese in creative, mouthwatering dishes.

Sacramento’s food scene is about to get even more exciting with this unique event that celebrates both cheese craftsmanship and local culinary innovation. Whether you’re a dedicated cheese connoisseur or simply someone who appreciates good food, this pop-up festival offers a perfect opportunity to explore new flavors while supporting local restaurants and food producers. Let’s dive into what makes this cheese-centered celebration so special.

Sacramento is elevating its culinary status as it prepares to host the prestigious 2025 American Cheese Society Conference with the City of Cheese Menu Pop-Up. This three-day event brings together Sacramento’s finest restaurants and celebrated cheese producers in a delicious collaboration that highlights both local culinary talent and exceptional cheese craftsmanship. Diners will have the opportunity to sample exclusive dishes created specifically for this event, showcasing the versatility and rich flavors of artisan cheese in ways that promise to surprise and please the palate.

This cheese-focused celebration goes beyond just offering great food—it also serves a meaningful purpose in the community. With 10% of all sales from featured dishes being donated to Three Sisters Gardens, participants can satisfy their cheese cravings while supporting a worthy cause. This local nonprofit organization empowers youth through sustainable farming practices, creating educational opportunities and fostering environmental stewardship. The partnership beautifully connects the dots between artisanal food production, culinary creativity, and community development, making every bite not just delicious but meaningful.

The City of Cheese Menu Pop-Up has curated an impressive lineup of culinary partnerships that promises to showcase the best of Sacramento’s dining scene alongside renowned cheese producers. At the celebrated Mulvaney’s B&L, Chef Patrick Mulvaney will be incorporating the award-winning cheeses from Crave Brothers into his farm-to-fork cuisine. Known for their commitment to sustainability, Crave Brothers’ fresh mozzarella and mascarpone are expected to feature prominently in Mulvaney’s seasonally inspired dishes, creating a perfect harmony between Wisconsin cheese craftsmanship and Sacramento’s agricultural bounty.

Prelude restaurant has partnered with Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese, bringing the coastal flavors of Marin County to Sacramento’s dining tables. This collaboration will likely highlight Point Reyes’ famous Original Blue cheese, which has garnered numerous awards for its complex flavor profile and creamy texture. Meanwhile, the Italian-focused Pazza Notte will showcase BelGioioso’s authentic Italian cheeses, allowing diners to experience how these traditional cheese-making techniques complement the restaurant’s Mediterranean cuisine. Each partnership has been thoughtfully arranged to create synergies between the cheese producers’ specialties and the restaurants’ culinary styles.

The cheese celebration continues with four more exciting collaborations that promise unique flavor experiences. The Rind, Sacramento’s dedicated cheese bar and eatery, takes center stage with their partnership with Utah’s Beehive Cheese, known for their innovative flavored cheeses like Barely Buzzed, which is rubbed with coffee and lavender. French-inspired Brasserie du Monde will feature not one but two cheese producers—Laura Chenel and Marin French—showcasing how these pioneering California cheesemakers have adapted traditional French cheese techniques to create distinctive West Coast interpretations.

Rounding out the partnerships, Aioli Bodega Española will incorporate Beecher’s Handmade Cheese into their Spanish-inspired menu, likely featuring the award-winning Flagship cheddar in tapas and traditional dishes. Perhaps the most intriguing pairing is the Shipwrecked Paradise Island restaurant with Cypress Grove, creators of the iconic Humboldt Fog goat cheese. This unexpected combination promises to blend tropical flavors with Cypress Grove’s distinctive cheese profiles, creating a truly unique dining experience. Each of these partnerships demonstrates how cheese can serve as both inspiration and enhancement to diverse culinary traditions.