Bandon's Wine & Cheese
              Extravaganza

What could be better. . . cheese, wine, and chocolate! Bandon's 14th Annual Wine & Cheese Extravaganza, held at the Best Western Inn at Face Rock on April 12, is a gala affair that begins at 6 p.m. and lasts to about 10 p.m. It is one of the most popular events sponsored by Bandon's Rotary Club.

This epicurean evening offers samplings of more than 60 cheeses from around the world, including Rogue Creamery near Medford, Beecher's from Pike Place Market in Seattle, and specialty cheeses from France and Italy. The cheese tasting alone would be worth the $25 price of admission, but there's more. Don't overlook the many wines available for tasting, nor the accompanying hors d'oeuvres. Temptations continue in the form of desserts and chocolates, especially the locally handcrafted Nora's truffles made from Belgian chocolate.

This is also a chance to get your dibs in for some amazing auction items, both live auction and silent auction. Past items have included a handcrafted putter, framed art prints, hand-tied flies, a golf bag, local artwork, a 5-liter bottle of wine, and a car, a Corvette. This year will also include a car, but as of press time which brand/model was still a mystery. Live musical entertainment rounds out the evening.

Dennis Thomason (541-347-4438; www.bandon.com)

Oregon Coast March/April 2008