Cheesemaking in Paradise Retreat!
Leave it to our friend Kate Johnson in Colorado* to come up with this fun idea! Kate is a constant source of information and inspiration for cheese makers and now she’s bringing it all to Hawaii this winter for a combination vacation/cheese making retreat, limited to only 8 lucky participants.
Kate Johnson and friends.
From 4-H Dairy Goats to Hawaiian Cheesemaking Retreat:
Kate Johnson started as a home cheesemaker like so many others have. Her kids were raising dairy goats as a 4-H project and she needed to use up all the fresh milk that was accumulating in her refrigerator. So, she bought Ricki’s book, ordered some culture, and made her first batch of chevre. It was delicious and she was hooked.
Now, ten years later, her kids are off on their own but she still has a small herd of Nubian goats and runs a very busy cheesemaking school in Longmont, Colorado called The Art of Cheese. It’s amazing what can happen with a little cheesemaking knowledge.
While vacationing in Hawaii last February, Kate met the owners of a beautiful coffee plantation in Kona and decided it would be fun to host a Cheesemaking in Paradise Retreat there. Never timid about tackling big ideas, she rented the beautiful house on the Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation property and developed plans for the retreat.
She’ll be hosting 8 lucky guests for a six-day cheesemaking retreat in Kona this February!
Participants at the retreat will have three days of cheesemaking instruction which will earn them The Art of Cheese’s Gold-Level Artisan Cheesemaker Certification. They will also get 6 nights of luxury lodging (a day off between each class day to relax and explore the Big Island), and plenty of extras like a wine & cheese reception, meals, and a 4×4 tour of the Plantation.
All while enjoying the glorious sunshine and warmth of Kona, Hawaii in the middle of winter!
This culinary adventure will cover beginner, intermediate, and advanced level cheesemaking with some island twists and tropical ingredients to get you in the Aloha spirit. You’ll stay in the beautiful house on Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation’s 20-acre estate overlooking the ocean and the cheesemaking course will take place there, too.
Dates: February 17-23, 2020
Location: Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation in Kona, Hawai
Includes:
- 3-day Cheesemaking Course which will result in your Gold-Level Artisan Cheesemaking Certification
- 6 nights of luxury lodging at the Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
- Wine & Cheese Reception on Feb. 17th
- Continental breakfast with Mountain Thunder Kona coffee each day
- Lunch and Dinner on the cheesemaking days (Feb. 18, 20, 22 – days off in between to relax and explore)
- Access to the gourmet kitchen and grill to prepare your own meals on the days off
- An exciting 4×4 tour of the coffee plantation
- Time to relax and explore nearby Kona or other parts of the Big Island
For pricing, details, and registration go to:
https://theartofcheese.com/event/cheesemaking-in-paradise-hawaiian-retreat/
*We have done a few other blog articles about Kate and the Art of Cheese:
Chocolate Ricotta Mousse by Kate Johnson
New Online Cheesemaking Course
Certifying Home Cheesemakers!
Home Cheesemaking Competitions
