Sid Cook: Master O’ Cheese

Wisconsinites and those visiting our dairy air via I-90/94 will soon have a new opportunity to buy cheese from one of the most decorated cheesemakers in the state. During a visit to Carr Valley Cheese in Mauston this week, I found out the scoop from store manager extraordinaire LaVonne Voltz that Carr Valley is converting an old miniature golf course/building at the north-bound Mauston exit into a new retail shop for Carr Valley Cheese.

LaVonne says the coolers were delivered last week and the doors should be open for June Dairy Month – just in time to lure tourists off the interstate and discover Cocoa Cardona, Marisa, Mobay, 10-year Cheddar and any of the 50 other varieties crafted by Sid Cook.

If you haven’t yet met Sid, Master Cheesemaker and the wizard behind the curtain at Carr Valley, tonight’s your lucky night. Sid, along with a half dozen of Wisconsin’s leading artisan cheesemakers, will be at the Orpheum Theatre in Madison at a gala event celebrating a new “Living on the Wedge: Wisconsin’s Artisan Cheesemakers” documentary.

The event also features seven premeire Wisconsin chefs preparing dishes with cheeses featured in the film. Starts at 6 p.m. – tickets are $15 at the door. Other artisan cheesemaker rock stars you can expect to meet include: Anne Topham, Mike Gingrich, Bob Wills, George Crave, Willi Lehner, Diana Murphy and Tony & Julie Hook. Whether you’re a foodie or just someone who likes cheese, tonight will be the grand ball of them all.