Yesterday started out just like any other day. The cat jumped on my head at 5:20 am. I begrudgingly navigated the school parking lot from hell at 7:45 am. Stopped for coffee, the morning paper and checked in with the locals at 8 a.m. Sat at my desk for too long trying to meet writing deadlines so clients don’t fire me. Picked up the kids from school at 3:30. Got another coffee.
And then at 4:30 p.m., the UPS truck backed up the driveway and delivered 14 boxes of cheese to my garage.
Holy crap.
That wasn’t all. Those 14 boxes of cheese joined 11 other boxes, bags and totes that today all came together for the first ever “25 Best Cheeses of Wisconsin” photo shoot. Five hundred pounds of cheese and five hours later, we have the shot I want. It will debut on April 16 at a Wisconsin Cheese Originals Gala Tasting at Olbrich Gardens.
What possesses someone to take on such a project, you ask? Blame Dan Carter, a legend in the specialty cheese business. A year ago when Dan handed me a marketing poster in Italian featuring a glamour shot of 30 different Italian cheeses, he said he thought I’d know what to do with it. After months of studying the poster, I a) still can’t speak Italian and b) decided to do a similar shot of 25 Wisconsin cheeses. So I hired a designer, a photographer and a printer. That was the easy part. What was more difficult was selecting 25 favorites out of 600 Wisconsin cheeses.
Gulp.
The task proved so tough, in fact, – and please don’t tell anyone – that there are actually 26 different cheeses from 26 different companies featured in the 2-by 3-foot art poster. I realized this gaffe halfway through the shoot today. After slapping myself upside the forehead, I chalked it up to “oh well – who doesn’t love a bonus cheese?” So while the “25 Best Cheeses of Wisconsin” project will actually be 26 awesome cheeses, I figure they’re all winners.
If you’re interested in finding out which Wisconsin cheeses I picked, meet me on April 16 at Olbrich Gardens, where we’ll taste each and every one, and I’ll send you home with a super cool cheese poster.* Because really, who doesn’t want a giant picture of Wisconsin cheese on their wall? I know I do.
*Fine Print: all tickets sold in advance. Evening includes tasting 25 cheeses, appetizers from Bunky’s and a signed & numbered Wisconsin Cheese art print. See you there!
I would love 500 lbs of cheese delivered to my front door! I'm interested in doing a cheese wine and chocolate theme for next years November Cheese Festival. Let me know if you are interested – Megan
OMG. This is beyond awesome. Love, love, love it! I wonder if Cedar Grove's fresh buffalo mozzarella will be on the list? Any chance that I could get my mitts on a poster without attending the event? Sadly, I can't attend.
Way cool!!! I would love to get 2 or 3 of your posters to proudly display in Boston. Iis there a place I could order a few?
Congratulations!
Dan Carter's daughter,
Sue Muller
What an ambitious shoot! I really enjoyed working with you guys and can't wait to see the poster.
Wow! I can't wait to see the poster. Will you sell copies online?
I may sell copies online after April 16, but shipping will be a bit expensive, as they will need to ship flat. The prints are being developed on thick paper that won't like to be rolled. So as soon as I can figure out how to ship, I'll put them in my online store!
Sure wish I could be there; I'll post the results once you have had your gala!! LOVE your blog!!
Good news — I found some larger boxes that measure 5 inches in diameter, so I can roll up the poster without it suffering and ship it at a reasonable price. I have 45 prints left. So if you're interested in your very own copy, order one here: https://www.wicheesefest.com/store/buy-stuff/25-cheese-print