The Friends of Elaine I. Sprauve Library will have a tasty footnote to their annual meeting, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the library.
Cheese sommelier Kathy Guidi will connect cheese to literature starting at 6 p.m.
“Greek feta was in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey,” Guidi said.
She’ll feature a Spanish Manchego that was a favorite of Don Quixote. She said she’ll link a French camembert to famous chef Julia Child because of her years in France. An artisan cheddar is also on the menu because of its prominence in American cooking.
“Cheese has so many stories to tell,” she said.
Guidi will pass the cheese, providing information with each selection.
Guidi, a St. John resident, is the author of “Canadian Cheese: A Pocket Guide,” a book she wrote because she spent 26 years living in Canada.
She is well-known for her work in furthering the artisan and specialty cheese movement in the United States and Canada. She founded the first full curriculum cheese appreciation school in North America, located in Toronto, and has been a consultant to cheese producers, trade organizations and consulates. and continues to conduct fine cheese tastings and work as a consultant.
Guidi will also discuss what wines to pair with what cheese, how to savor cheese like a pro, tips for buying cheese, and cheese serving and storage.
The Friends group is requesting a $25 donation from members and $30 from non-members. Librarian Carol McGuinness said the donation goes toward the $25 membership dues.
“It’s a way to keep them current,” she said.
She said the Friends organization bought more than $8,000 worth of computer equipment for the library, paid for more than $1,000 worth of DVDs, buys magazine subscriptions, and funds any of the things at the library that need immediate attention.
Further information is available by calling the Elaine Sprauve Library at 1-340-776-6359.