Controlled by
1984 - 2009
The Canary Island’s biggest fortnightly English newspaper read by thousands of tourists & residents Edition # 600 / 25th Sept. - 9th Oct. 2009 / 1.80€ at Newsagents / www.islandconnections.eu / www.newscanarias.net
Say cheese
A DATE FOR The magazine YOUR DAIRY October edition Available from DIARY! October 1
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Then and now
Looking back
at 600 editions of Island Connections. Pages 2 & 3
A healthy start
Expert advice
for healthy school kids. Page 26 Pass the crackers - judges in the cheese Olympics
T
he 2009 World Cheese Awar ds are taking place in Gran Canaria from October 1st to 3rd, and will see over 300 experts, including cheese buyers and food journalists from around the world flying in for the event. Being held in the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, this is only the second time this prestigious event, the world championships for cheese makers, is taking place outside the UK. Last year it
was held in Dublin where the overall winner, the World Champion Cheese 2008, was produced by the Sociedad Canaria de Formento, a cooperative of 50 partners from the Canar y Islands, with their Queso Arico Curado Pimentón. Gran Canaria is a particularly appropriate choice as, according to the organisers, it has one of the highest per capita cheese consumption ratios in the world. In fact the islands have won 45 medals in the last six years, taking
the top prize last year and in 2005. This year, alongside the main event, two other key cheese events are taking place. One is the World Cheese Congress, a twoday conference discussing the global implications of the EU’s Protected Food Names scheme for regional speciality cheeses over the coming decade. The second is the World Cheese Festival, attracting over 150 exhibitors, both home-grown and international, with upwards of 10,000 visitors expected
to attend some cheese related event during the three days. Much more than a glorified cheese and wine event, “this is undoubtedly the cheese Olympics,” says organiser Bob Farrand. And certainly it’s a spotlight event for the islands, attracting foodies of the highest calibre. Judging of the cheeses - over 2,500 varieties are entered from all over the world – takes place on October 1st, in three distinct phases, with the supreme jury making
their final choice in the full media spotlight, and according to Bob Farrand the World Champion cheese should be crowned at about 5.30pm that afternoon. The World Cheese Awards’ Presentation Dinner takes place at the Hotel Santa Catalina later that evening where 500 guests will experience true Canary Islands’ hospitality. The event is sponsored by the regional government, the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and Las Palmas council with ancillary state funding.
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Spain net gold
European champions again – this time on the basketball court. Page 51
Oahu, Hawaii
AROUND THE WORLD THE ONCE IN A LIFETIME TRIP Pages 18-19