Good news for those of you living in Chicago: Wisconsin artisan cheesemakers will soon take the spotlight on Chicago Public Television, as WTTW Channel 11 debuts “Living on the Wedge: Wisconsin’s Artisan Cheesemakers” at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17.
For those of you who haven’t seen it, the 30-minute documentary showcases the rich diversity of Wisconsin artisan cheesemaking. You’ll meet passionate cheesemakers like Sid Cook, Willi Lehner, Tony & Julie Hook, Mike Gingrich, and Anne Topham. The film uses intimate storytelling to show you their farmsteads and aging cellars – it’s almost as good as being there in person.
The film was produced by an independent film maker and financed through two Wisconsin dairy organizations: the Dairy Business Innovation Center and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Repeat airings on WTTW Channel 11 are scheduled for Dec 19 at 4 a.m., Jan. 3 at 10:30 p.m. and Jan. 5 at 4 a.m.
The Chicago film debut coincides with a splash of national and local media interest during the past year for Wisconsin artisan cheeses. Master Cheesemaker Sid Cook of Carr Valley Cheese in LaValle, Wis., is featured prominently in the current December issue of Saveur Magazine, while chefs and cheese shops around Chicago are continually increasing their offerings of Wisconsin artisan cheeses.
Wisconsin artisan cheeses featured in the film can be found in several retail areas in and around Chicago, including Fox & Obel at 401 Illinois St.; Pastoral, 2945 N. Broadway; Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park; and Whole Foods.
By the time you finish watching the film, believe me, you’ll be making a cheese run.
