{"id":1320,"date":"2016-11-18T01:16:36","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T01:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/perfectmealtoday.com\/?p=1320"},"modified":"2016-11-18T01:16:36","modified_gmt":"2016-11-18T01:16:36","slug":"kraftkar-from-norway-crowned-world-champion-cheese-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/perfectmealtoday.com\/?p=1320","title":{"rendered":"Kraftkar from Norway crowned World Champion Cheese 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Kraftkar from Norway crowned\u00a0World Champion Cheese 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

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San Sebastian(Perfect Meal Today)11\/17\/16\/–Kraftkar, made by Norwegian producer Tingvollost, has scooped the coveted title of World Champion Cheese at the 29th<\/sup>\u00a0annual World Cheese Awards, coming top among a record number of entries that were judged at the Kursaal Congress Centre in San Sebasti\u00e1n, during the first day of the International Cheese Festival.<\/p>\n

The winning Kraftkar beat off competition from over 3,000 entries into the\u00a0world\u2019s largest cheese-only awards scheme this year, with judge\u00a0Nick\u00a0Tsioros, owner of Olympic Cheese in Toronto, who championed this cheese, saying, \u201cThis 12-month aged blue cheese is wonderfully balanced, it has a great crumbly texture, but is soft and smooth on the tongue. The mould has developed nicely and comes across really well in the overall flavour of the cheese.\u201d\u00a0The final International Super Jury, representing nations including Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA, concurred, awarding Kraftkar\u00a0the highest score of the final judging stage.<\/p>\n

Gunnar Waagen from Tingvollost explained, \u201cI have no words, this is marvellous news! We are a family-run farm and work long days to make our cheese. We get up early every day and go to bed very late to make the best cheese we can, and so to win this award, I am very proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kraftkar was awarded 71 points out of a possible 80 by the Super Jury of 16 judges, just ahead of a Spanish duo in joint second place with 67 points; Cala Blanc from Lacto Industrial Menorquina and Cremositos Del Zujar from Arteserena.<\/p>\n

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, organisers of the World Cheese Awards, commented; \u201cHats off to\u00a0Tingvollost\u00a0for landing the top prize this year, when once again we\u2019ve had a record number of entries. This cheese really is world class, having faced stiff competition from over 30 different countries. The World Cheese Awards has provided a wonderful spectacle, as our judges made their way through over 3,000 cheeses in a single day, bringing together the global cheese community to celebrate a timeless tradition that really does transcend borders. We would like to thank our hosts,\u00a0Artzai Gazta and the Basque Country Government, for inviting us to San Sebasti\u00e1n this year, making cheese the biggest gastronomic spectacle during the city\u2019s tenure as European Capital of Culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Drawing entries from 31 different countries, from Australia to Italy and Mexico to Mozambique, cheese of all shapes and sizes made their way by bicycle, boat, plane, train, truck and car to the Kursaal Congress Centre in San Sebasti\u00e1n, via 12 consolidation points in all corners of the globe. 266 cheese experts from 26 different nations followed them to the Basque Country to taste, nose and grade over 3,000 cheeses in a single day, giving Bronze, Silver, Gold and Super Gold awards to worthy entries.<\/p>\n

The final judging panel, made up of top names from the world of cheese, featuring cheese makers, buyers, retailers and writers, including Suzy O’Regan from Woolworths Foods in South Africa, Cathy Strange from Whole Foods in the USA, Roland Barth\u00e9lemy, President of Guilde des Fromagers in France, and Mary Quicke from Quicke’s in the UK, then debated the top 16 cheeses in front of a trade and consumer audience, broadcast live on World Cheese TV, before crowning this year\u2019s World Champion Cheese.<\/p>\n

The 2016 World Champion Cheese will now be entered into a Champion of Champions contest on Thursday 17 November, where it will be judged alongside the 28 previous winners of the World Cheese Awards.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Look out for further announcements of this year\u2019s special trophy award winners next week.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The International Cheese Festival is taking place at the Kursaal Congress Centre in San Sebasti\u00e1n from 16-18 November 2016. For more information, visit\u00a0www.internationalcheesefestival.eus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

World Cheese Awards 2016 \u2013 the background<\/strong><\/p>\n