While Kraft is warning of an impending “cheese” shortage, fear not…On Saturday, January 18 from 7:30 to midnight, cheese lovers will unite at Ruba Hall (414 Green Street) for Cheese Ball II, hosted by Tenaya Darlington, aka Madame Fromage. In addition to a $10 admission, guests are requested to bring a cheese for inclusion in what is sure to be the planet’s largest cheese board.

This year’s proceeds will help local cheese maker Sue Miller of Birchrun Hills Farm build a cheese aging cave. If you’re not familiar with Birchrun, Sue’s local raw-milk cheeses are sold at Di Bruno Bros, Metropolitan Bakery, Fair Food Farmstand, and Headhouse Farmers Market. So why a cave now?

Rather than aging the cheeses on the dairy farm itself, Team Birchrun trucks their milk to an off-site facility where it’s aged in a small room. In order to increase production (and self-sufficiency), Sue is launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for an on-site aging cave, and this event is intended to get the campaign started, in festive fashion.

A bonus–Cheese Ball II will also feature an auction of donated items from local restaurants, artisans, purveyors and businesses, including a $100 gift certificate from yours truly!

For additional information, visit Madame Fromage’s blog!