First Queso de Bola Fair honors Dutch cheese

Merida’s next food-focused fair is decidedly cheesy.

The first Ball Cheese Fair arrives Saturday, Dec. 21, to give visibility to one of the region’s most iconic culinary ingredients. While ball cheese is originally from Holland, it has become an ingredient that accompanies several traditional dishes of Yucatecan cuisine, mixed with ingredients such as corn, chili and chaya.

The Peninsula has adopted the flavor of Woerden cheese, named after the Dutch town where it comes from, to give rise to typical dishes such as queso relleno or desserts such as marquesitas.

The event debuts at the Museum of the Yucatan Railways, Calle 43 between 46 and 48 to the north of La Plancha.