Queso Diego September Meeting Announcement

Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em – Making Smoked Cheeses At Home

 Tuesday, September 16 | AleSmith Brewing 

 6:30 PM Potluck | 7:00 PM Meeting Starts 

It’s September, and we’re getting ready for fall. Chris Banker will warm us up to smokey cheeses! He’ll share how they’re made, tips for smoking your own at home, and the unique characteristics that different woods and aging times can create. To top it off, we’ll enjoy a delicious sampling of Chris’s own home-smoked creations, comparing a variety of cheeses, woods, and maturities. 

 Remember: Bring a dish to share and folding chair! 

 Bring a Friend: Guests are invited to attend one meeting for free! So bring a friend and spread the cheese love! 

 Guests are invited to join for $20 per year for individuals or $30 per household! 

Queso Diego August Meeting Announcement

Cheese Caves: From Limestone Caverns to Mini-fridges 
Tuesday, August 19 | AleSmith Brewing
6:30 PM Potluck | 7:00 PM Meeting Starts
This month, Curt will take us on a journey through the history of affinage—the art and science of aging cheese. He’ll explore the key conditions that make a successful aging environment and provide an inside look at today’s commercial aging caves. Curt will also share practical tips for aging cheese at home, including how to transform a simple mini fridge into your very own cheese cave using easy, low-cost modifications.
Remember: Bring a dish to share and a folding chair!
Bring a Friend: Guests are invited to attend one meeting for free! So bring a friend and spread the cheese love!
Guests are invited to join for $20 per year for individuals or $30 per household!

Queso Diego July 2025 Meeting Announcement: Star-Spangled Chevre

? Tuesday, July 16 | AleSmith Brewing ?
? 6:30 PM Potluck | 7:00 PM Meeting Starts ⏰

This month, we’re celebrating July with creative red, white, and blue chèvre flavor infusions!

What to Bring

Your Star-Spangled Creation: Bring the chèvre you made (or bought!) dressed up in festive fashion! Think berries, beets, blueberries, or any red, white, and blue ingredients that inspire you. Let your imagination run wild with your most festive fromage!

Include an index card with your name and how you flavored your cheese. As part of our meeting, we’ll sample all the delicious creations you’ve made.

Share Your Masterpiece: Want your creation featured in our slide show? Send your photo to officers@quesodiego.org by Monday, July 14.

Haven’t Started Yet? No worries! You still have time to make your chèvre. Access the step-by-step instructions here: Chevre and More Presentation Slides

? Remember: Bring a dish to share and a folding chair! ?
? Bring a Friend: Guests are invited to attend one meeting for free! So bring a friend and spread the cheese love! ???
? Guests are invited to join for $20 per year for individuals or $30 per household! ?‍?‍?‍?

Queso Diego June 2025 Meeting Announcement

Queso Diego June Meeting Announcement
Date: Tuesday, June 17
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: AleSmith – 9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126

Ever wanted to make your own cheese? This session is your perfect starting point! We’ll show you just how easy and fun cheesemaking can be, focusing on delicious chèvre—a fresh, creamy goat cheese that you can flavor with herbs like dill, chives, or rosemary, cracked black pepper, honey, or even sweet additions like blueberries or cranberries. Plus, members will receive a free chèvre making kit to continue the fun at home!

Remember: Bring a dish to share and folding chair!
Bring a Friend: Guests are invited to attend one meeting for free. So bring a friend and spread the cheese love!
Join us: Guests are invited to join for $20 per year for individuals or $30 per household.

Social time starts at 6:30, the presentation begins at 7:00 pm.

Queso Diego May Meeting Announcement

Date: Tuesday, May 20
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: AleSmith – 9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126 – in the 2nd floor Mezzanine.
 
This Tuesday, please join us for an exciting presentation with a few of our own Queso Diego members: “Behind the Rind: Meet the Cheesemakers.”
 
Social time starts at 6:30, the presentation begins at 7:00 pm.
 
(Check the board in the tasting room (or your email) in case of a last-minute room change. It’s also a good idea to keep a camp chair in your car in case of a last-minute change, as not all rooms have seating.)

Queso Diego April 2025 Meeting Announcement – Grilled Cheese

Date: Tuesday, April 15
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: AleSmith – 9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126 – likely in the Barrel Room (check the sign in the tasting room or your email in case of last-minute changes)

Get ready for a night of gooey, crispy, melty goodness at our Grilled Cheese Extravaganza! Bring your best grilled cheese game and come prepared to cook, taste, and share.

 No traditional potluck this time—just all things grilled cheese!

  If you won’t be grillin’, please bring a side that complements grilled cheese.
Plan to make 2-3 sandwiches, cut into bite-sized pieces to share. Work solo or as a team – it’s up to you!
Taste, mingle, cook, and repeat!

Please RSVP BY CLICKING HERE BY FRIDAY, APRIL 11

 Checklist of items

  • Folding tables
  • Non-electric cooking surface (griddle, propane camping stove, chafing dish, etc.)
  • Lighter (if needed)
  • Cooking pan with lid
  • Cooking utensils (spatula, tongs, etc.)
  • Ingredients & equipment to make and share your grilled cheese creations
  • Knife for cutting your bites
  • Cutting board
  • Serving spatula
  • Paper towels
  • Paper plates
  • Printed recipe and/or signage
  • Lawn chair (please bring one for yourself)

April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Every year, Queso Diego celebrates this with a Grilled Cheese Extravaganza. Members bring equipment and ingredients to make and share the most amazing grilled cheese creations imaginable!

We will NOT have our traditional potluck at this meeting.  If you’re not planning to make a grilled cheese, please consider bringing something that might go well with grilled cheese. Additionally, if you have any of the grilled cheese equipment or supplies listed above, please consider bringing them.

Remember, we can bring only homemade alcohol (non-commercial). Better yet, enjoy an AleSmith beer – Queso Diego members get a 10% discount.

Again: Please RSVP BY CLICKING HERE by FRIDAY, APRIL 11

For further details, please see here: April-2025-Queso Diego Grilled Cheese Extravaganza

Pro Tips:

  • Prep/cook/chop/cut/shred/mix/marinate in advance.  Do anything you can in advance.
  • Think outside the box – get creative about flavor combinations and even consider dessert grilled cheeses.
  • When you leave your home to come to the meeting, don’t worry about putting your cheese in a cooler. You’ll want your cheese at room temp for grilling.
  • Butter (or mayo) the outsides of your bread, not the insides.
  • Cook at a low-med or medium heat, so you don’t burn the bread while waiting for the cheese to melt (a lid on your pan helps trap heat and melt the cheese).
  • You may remove the rind if using something like a Brie.
  • Use a cheese that melts well. Avoid high moisture, low/no fat, or too acidic cheeses. Cheeses that won’t melt include Halloumi, Feta, Cotija, Ricotta, Paneer, Queso Fresco.

 Further resources:

Check out these resources to get the creative juices flowing: