Former ad exec Barrie Lynn fell in love with cheese at an artisanal cheese tasting to benefit the Slow Food movement. She has since dedicated her whole life to cheese and its accoutrements. Assuming the title of The Cheese Impresario, she has taken on the role of Cheese Therapist, hoping to alleviate the Cheese Paralysis epidemic that she has seen spreading across America. [Cheese Paralysis (Defn.): Where millions of helpless people are struck dumb by the overwhelming variety of cheeses at any given cheese counter.]

By offering educational seminars, personal tasting events, and participating in podcasts like the one she did for Bottlenotes, The Cheese Impresario wants to help America learn to love cheese, one journey down The Cheese Highway at a time.

We re-connected with The Cheese Impresario while she was serving cheeses made by the artisan cheesemakers of Wisconsin at the Oscars party for the film “The Wrestler.” Bottlenotes was also there pouring some of our amazing wine finds to Hollywood’s stars.

Cheese Tasting 101, according to the Barrie, mirrors Wine Tasting 101: look at the cheese, rub a small piece between your fingers and inhale the aromatics, and then take a small bite, allowing the cheese to coat your entire mouth. She encourages people to send wine down the cheese highway, allowing for the alchemical transformation of flavors that occurs when a pairing is just right.

Her clients include Hollywood celebrities such as Mira Sorvino and "Curb Your Enthusiasm's" Jeff Garlan; the Cheese Impresario is even tight with Oscar-winning rap group Three-6-Mafia. Her effervescent personality and deep passion for cheese touches everyone she meets.

To learn more about cheese and The Cheese Impresario or find out how to join the stars in hiring her for an event/party, go to: www.thecheeseimpresario.com