Bushra Griffith
Blue cheese is a beloved variety of cheese with a distinct appearance, smell, and flavour. It is so distinct, in fact, that some may consider it moldy and be reluctant to try it. But blue cheese fans in Buffalo, New York, have taken to social media to advocate for a National Blue Cheese Day, which is now celebrated annually on July 16th. Blue cheese also gets a nod on National Moldy Cheese Day, celebrated on October 9th, which encourages people to indulge in blue cheeses like Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Stilton.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 9 October |
| Alternative names | National Moldy Cheese Day, National Blue Cheese Dressing Day |
| Location | United States, Western New York |
| Occurrence | Annual |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
National Blue Cheese Dressing Day was inspired by Frank's RedHot
Founder Drew Cerza, known as Buffalo's "Wing King", said he was shocked to discover there was no National Blue Cheese Dressing Day on the calendar, so he decided to invent one. In collaboration with Frank's RedHot, he helped to make National Blue Cheese Dressing Day a reality.
The first annual National Blue Cheese Dressing Day took place on July 16, 2018, in Western New York. The date was chosen because 716 is the area code for Buffalo, and blue cheese is considered a Buffalo item to be enjoyed with wings. To mark the occasion, the Electric Tower in downtown Buffalo was lit up in blue, and restaurants across the city offered special blue cheese items and discounts.
To celebrate National Blue Cheese Dressing Day, fans at the Buffalo Bisons' baseball game had the chance to bob for wings in pools of blue cheese dressing. The Buffalo Bisons also held the first Ranch Dressing Amnesty Day during the game, where people could donate unopened ranch dressing or any non-perishable food item.
Blue Cheese Consumption While Breastfeeding: Is It Safe?
You may want to see also
It is celebrated in Western New York on July 16
While there is no official National Blue Cheese Day, Western New Yorkers can rejoice as they celebrate the cheesy holiday on July 16. The day was inspired by a tweet from Frank's RedHot, who noticed that there was no National Blue Cheese Dressing Day. In response, they teamed up with Drew Cerza, also known as Buffalo's 'Wing King', to make the day a reality.
The choice of date, July 16, is a reference to the area code of Western New York, which is 716. The day is all about celebrating the region's love for blue cheese, specifically when it's paired with Buffalo's famous chicken wings. While some may opt for ranch dressing, true Buffalonians know that blue cheese is the only way to go.
To mark the first annual National Blue Cheese Dressing Day in 2018, the Buffalo Bisons inducted their mascot, Blue Cheese, into the Buffalo Wing Hall of Flame at Coca-Cola Field. The Electric Tower in downtown Buffalo was also lit up in blue, and restaurants across the city offered special blue cheese items and discounts.
The day has clearly struck a chord with locals, as it continues to be celebrated each year. It's a chance for Western New Yorkers to come together and indulge in their favourite blue cheese treats, whether it's the classic combination of wings and blue cheese or something more unusual. So, if you're in Western New York on July 16, be sure to join in the festivities and pay tribute to the deliciousness of blue cheese!
Maytag Blue Cheese: A Gluten-Free Delight?
You may want to see also
Blue cheese is the most popular kind of moldy cheese
National Blue Cheese Day, or National Moldy Cheese Day, falls on 9 October. This day celebrates the rich history of cheese and is a great excuse to indulge in your favourite recipes. Blue cheese is the most popular kind of mouldy cheese, with its bluish-greenish hues caused by the addition of Penicillium roqueforti or Penicillium glaucum to the milk or curds. The mould spores grow and spread with the help of small holes punched into the cheese.
Blue cheese is often considered the mouldiest of all cheeses and has a distinct smell. Many popular cheeses, including blues like Gorgonzola, Stilton, and Roquefort, are created through the careful cultivation of mould. While some may be reluctant to try mouldy cheeses due to their strong smell and unique appearance, these cheeses are entirely safe to eat and offer a range of great recipes to explore.
To celebrate National Moldy Cheese Day, one can enjoy a variety of dishes featuring blue cheese. A simple yet indulgent option is to sprinkle mild, creamy Gorgonzola over a bowl of store-bought vanilla ice cream. For a savoury option, Chef Elizabeth Falkner suggests taking it a step further by mixing crumbled blue cheese into a traditional ice cream base, pureeing it in a blender, and then transferring the mixture to an ice cream maker for a unique savoury ice cream experience.
If you're feeling adventurous, you might want to try the unique combination of blue cheese and chocolate. Blogger Marta Greber of "What Should I Eat for Breakfast Today" has created a hot sandwich with chocolate, bacon, blue cheese, and figs. This unusual sandwich is not for the faint of heart, but it showcases the versatility of blue cheese and its ability to elevate both sweet and savoury dishes.
In Western New York, National Blue Cheese Dressing Day was established by Drew Cerza, also known as Buffalo's 'Wing King', in collaboration with Frank's RedHot. This local celebration honours the traditional pairing of Buffalo wings with blue cheese dressing, a classic combination that is beloved by many. Restaurants in Buffalo often participate by offering special blue cheese items or discounts, making it a fun and tasty event for the community.
Blue Cheese and Mycotoxins: A Tasty but Toxic Combination?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Blue cheese ice cream is a thing
National Cheese Lovers Day on 20 January and National Cheese Day on 4 June are the perfect occasions to celebrate cheese in all its forms. But if you're a blue cheese fan, you might want to mark 716 Day, or 16 July, on your calendar—it's National Blue Cheese Dressing Day! And while we're on the topic of blue cheese, did you know that blue cheese ice cream is a thing?
The very idea of blue cheese ice cream might be off-putting to some, but it's actually not that unusual when you consider the great French tradition of eating cheese for dessert. And it's not like people haven't tried more outlandish ice cream flavours, like lavender, sriracha, or vegetable. Besides, if bacon can be paired with ice cream, why not blue cheese?
Chef Elizabeth Falkner certainly thinks so. She shared a blue cheese ice cream recipe with Martha Stewart that's surprisingly simple: just mix a traditional ice cream base (milk, cream, and buttermilk or yoghurt) with blue cheese, puree in a blender, and then transfer to an ice cream maker. Falkner serves the savoury ice cream with steak. If you're feeling less adventurous, you can just sprinkle some crumbles of mild, creamy blue cheese like Gorgonzola over store-bought vanilla ice cream.
For those who want to give it a try, the key is to use a blue cheese you actually enjoy eating. Blue cheeses can have a wide range of flavours—from spicy and salty to ripe and sweet—so the cheese's flavour profile will carry over into the ice cream. A blue d'Auvergne, for example, is a mild, slightly spicy, and slightly sweet option, while Gorgonzola is bold, intense, and complex.
If you're feeling particularly daring, you can take things up a notch with a pear and blue cheese ice cream, created by adding pear preserves, dried apricots, and honey to the mix. It's a complex and unusual flavour combination that will knock your taste buds for a loop!
Blue Cheese and Capsaicin: A Tasty Science
You may want to see also
Blue cheese is served with chicken wings in Buffalo, New York
National Cheese Lovers Day is celebrated on the 20th of January, and the 4th of June is National Cheese Day. However, blue cheese enthusiasts can rejoice on the 9th of October, National Moldy Cheese Day, as blue cheese is considered the moldiest-looking of all cheeses.
Blue cheese is often served with chicken wings in Buffalo, New York, and across the United States. Blue cheese dip is considered by some to be the "proper" dip for buffalo wings. It is made with blue cheese crumbles, sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and is served with buffalo sauce-coated chicken wings. The dip is said to be creamy and tangy, with a nice amount of saltiness.
The combination of blue cheese and chicken wings is so popular in Buffalo that it inspired the creation of National Blue Cheese Dressing Day. This local holiday was started by Frank's RedHot, a company that took to social media to express its desire to establish the day after noticing the absence of a celebration for blue cheese dressing. The first annual National Blue Cheese Dressing Day was held on July 16th, with restaurants across Buffalo encouraged to offer blue cheese specials and discounts.
Blue cheese is also commonly served with chicken wings in upstate New York, where buffalo wings were invented. For some, it is a rule that you simply cannot have chicken wings without blue cheese dip. This belief is so strong that one person claimed that buffalo wings served without blue cheese are not truly buffalo wings.
Blue Cheese Dressing: A Keto-Friendly Condiment?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
National Blue Cheese Day is celebrated on July 16 in Western New York.
National Blue Cheese Day was started by Frank's RedHot and Wing King Drew Cerza, who were inspired by a tweet that pointed out the absence of such a day.
Blue cheese is distinct for its bluish-greenish hues, which are caused by the addition of Penicillium roqueforti or Penicillium glaucum to the milk or curds.
Restaurants in Buffalo, New York, offer special blue cheese items or discounts. You can also incorporate blue cheese into your meals, such as having it with wings, burgers, or even ice cream!
Yes, blue cheese is also celebrated on National Moldy Cheese Day, which falls on October 9. This day encourages people to consume moldy cheeses, including popular blue cheeses like Gorgonzola, Stilton, and Roquefort.
