Cheese Expert | Culinary Artisan | World Best Cheese

Les Mars Hotel Brings Cheese Expert To Enhance Guest's Culinary Artisan Taste Experience

HEALDSBURG, Calif. -- "Monsieur Fromage" Joseph Bain to bring in the world's best cheeses for a Special Tasting Series. Les Mars Hotel, Healdsburg's new luxury property that specializes in European hospitality and elegance, is pleased to announce a new relationship being forged with "Maitre Fromager" Joseph Bain.

Hotel guests are invited to a special twilight cheese tasting on five consecutive Thursdays beginning October 20, 2005. Mr. Bain will present the best fermier and artisan cheeses from around the world, along with samples from Sonoma County including those from renowned California cheese maker, Soyoung Scanlan of Andante Dairy. He will pair each cheese with fine wine and review the history of cheese making and the techniques that bring the special flavors to each variety.

The Mars family has developed this program for their guests. They believe it is a perfect matching of European tradition and the best of the Sonoma country wine region.

Bain, who has studied cheese by delving into the art and history of cheese making while traveling and working around the world, brings

his international reputation and his passion for culinary pairings to Les Mars Hotel. Before coming to Sonoma County in 1994, he worked in highly celebrated locations, including Harrods's of London, Three Crown Restaurant in Copenhagen, and Chateau Des Trois Golfs on the French Riviera. He has held positions in Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Canada.

Bain's cheese tasting is available as a complimentary feature to all Les Mars Hotel guests. The course will be held in the intimate, private library located off the lobby of the hotel in downtown Healdsburg.