cheeseunderground Uncategorized

2020 Cheese & Pairing Classes at Firefly Coffeehouse

It’s time to announce the first six months of our 2020 lineup of educational & tasting classes at Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese in downtown Oregon, Wisconsin. This year, we’re offering 6 different classes with Sara Hill, an inducted member of the Guilde Internationale Des Fromagers & Jeanne Carpenter, an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional and owner of Firefly Coffeehouse. (For their full bios, scroll down).

All tickets must be purchased in advance and may be found at www.cheesetickets.com.

January 26: American Artisan Cheese & Charcuterie Pairings
 Americans have come a long way from eating just summer sausage and cheddar. Today, there are a wide variety of artisan cheeses and small-batch charcuterie to discover. Taste and learn the stories of four such pairings, plus enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. Tickets: $27/each

February 16: Cheese & Wine of California
 Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, but California is America’s Wine Country. Many cheesemakers – some trained in Wisconsin – are opening farmstead and artisan cheese factories in northern California. Taste and learn about four favorite California wines and four favorite artisan cheeses, then enjoy perfect pairings. Tickets: $33/each

March 15: Hook’s Cheeses & Cider Farm Pairings
 Experience the terroir – or taste of place – of Mineral Point, Wisconsin, home to two of the country’s best cheese factories and cider farms. We’ll pair four artisan Hook’s Cheeses with four different ciders from The Cider Farm, where owners have spent the past 15 years painstakingly hand-grafting apple trees to grow heirloom varieties for English- and French-style ciders. Tickets: $33/each

April 19: Blue Cheese & Port – Made for Each Other
 Pairing Port and cheese is a classic food and wine combination, but have you paired Port with Blue Cheese? Brace yourself for magical goodness. Taste four stellar Blues and four amazing Port wines. Tickets: $33/each

May 17: Wine & Cheeses of Spain – Regional Pairings
 Spanish cheeses and wines are lesser known in America than their French or Italian counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t just as good. Your guides: Sara & Jeanne, have each traveled and visited several cheesemakers and winemakers in Spain. They bring their experiences and expertise to the evening. Tickets: $33/each

June 14: June Dairy Month: The Best of Wisconsin Artisan Cheese: Stories & Tastings
 Before buying a coffee shop, Jeanne spent 15 years working with Wisconsin cheesemakers, helping them develop new artisan cheeses and cultivating their stories in the American marketplace. Hear the stories of four of her and Sara’s favorites – the back stories of how some of Wisconsin’s most famous cheeses came to be. Tickets: $27/each

More about your class leaders:

Sara Hill has been involved in the specialty food world with a concentration on cheese for 37 years. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park N.Y in 1976 and cooked at clubs and resorts until 1982 when she was hired by the first cheese importer in the upper Midwest. She continued to be involved in cheese distribution and working with chefs and retailers, helping key store groups develop cheese programs, until 2006 when she left distribution to work with Sid Cook at Carr Valley Cheese as his first National Sales Manager. In 2008, she joined the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin as Manager of Cheese Education and was involved with training chefs and retailers about Wisconsin Cheese. In 2018 she joined Hook’s Cheese as National Sales Manager. She is a former board member of the American Cheese Society and has been inducted into the Guilde Internationale Des Fromagers.

Jeanne Carpenter is an award-winning journalist, former spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, and worked several years as a specialty cheese buyer for Metcalfe’s Markets in Wisconsin. Today, she and her husband, Uriah, own and run Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese in their hometown of Oregon, Wisconsin, and are committed to building a community gathering place for folks who like good coffee, good food & good cheese.

Jeanne Carpenter coffee, Uncategorized

I’m A Regular at an Unknown Cafe

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Tuesday is my day of rest. Before you start wondering whether I’ve joined some sort of religious sect where the divine creator declared the second day instead of the seventh day of the week to be holy, fear not, I’m still Methodist. Tuesday is just the day that comes after Monday (ordering day), which follows the weekend (two days of baking before the sun comes up and making coffee until the sun is on the homestretch of going down), which follows Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (more of the same).

Every Tuesday around 2 pm, before I go to the library to read a week’s worth of New York Times’, I drive to a small diner in a different town. Upon entering the front door, a no-nonsense, thin, tall waitress who banters proficiently with the regulars at the counter, takes one look at me and starts making my chocolate malt. Usually, before I’m even settled into the corner booth, a chef’s salad sans mushrooms has appeared before me with an extra cup of ranch dressing: my standard order.

I am both a regular and an unknown at this diner. I’m fairly certain they have no idea I own my own cafe a few miles away, but that may not be the case, as today when I sat down at the counter and ordered coffee, Ms. No-Nonsense came to a full stop. Full. Stop.  I am pretty sure this is not the kind of woman who ever stops moving. And anyone who’s ever been to a busy diner knows waitresses are usually overwhelmed and underpaid. The more tables they can turn in an hour, the greater the chance their kids get new shoes in time for the start of school.

“Coffee??” she said incredulously. “Well that is just absurd.” She walked away. I started wondering if my anonymous gig was up. But she reappeared with my coffee, and asked if I was changing my regular order, too. “Nope,” I said. “Still the same salad, no mushrooms, extra ranch.” Moments later, my salad appeared, along with a refill. We both went back to our normal routine of rolling our eyes at the portly, elderly male customers walking behind the counter. I used to figure these guys had to be the owners, because who else goes behind the counter of a diner? But after a few visits, I figured out these men were just too fat, too old, and too stiff to navigate the chairs and tables of the dining room, and the space behind the counter was wider for them to get through to go to the bathroom. Which they frequented, often.

After my salad, I decided to order a piece of pie. I figured I’d already upset the usual pattern, and I’d been sitting across from the pie cabinet for 30 minutes, with nothing to do but try and decipher what flavors were underneath which home-made crusts. I caught Ms. No-Nonsense’s eye, and asked her which pie I should order. She blinked at me twice. I took this as an invitation to ask her which one she might recommend. “I don’t eat pie,” she responded. Helpful. So I ordered the one with most fanciful name, where I’m pretty sure none of the fruits were actually from the forest, but the crust alone was worth it. Flaky, buttery and super fattening. Oh yeah, baby.

One of the reasons I enjoy frequenting this diner, is that by 3 pm, the only people left are the regulars who have nowhere else to be. So they talk with the waitresses, who talk with the cooks, and by the time you leave, you’re pretty much caught up on all the week’s gossip. The waitresses are all Democrats. The regulars are all Republicans. The regulars like to tease the waitresses and the waitresses tell them to shut up. They all talk about Sharon, who lives just outside of town and her no-good juvenile delinquent kids. I wouldn’t know Sharon if I met her on the street, but I probably know more about her living situation than her relatives. That’s the beauty of being both a regular but an unknown: I listen to the conversations, follow along, and just pretend I’m reading my magazine.

At about 3:15 pm, I give up on ever getting a check and wander to the check-out station, where I tell the cashier what I ordered and pay in cash. Today, when I announced I’d had coffee and pie instead of a chocolate malt, the cashier looked at me in confusion. I literally had to talk her into taking my money for these different items and reassure her it would be alright. “See you next week!” she said with a smile. I looked back, only to see Ms. No-Nonsense waiting for a portly, elderly man to get out of her way behind the counter so she could deliver a plate of steaming mashed potatoes and gravy to a table by the door. We rolled our eyes in unison and smiled.

Jeanne Carpenter Uncategorized

2019 Cheese Classes at Firefly Coffeehouse

It’s time to announce the 2019 lineup of educational & tasting classes at Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese in downtown Oregon, Wisconsin! This year, we’re offering 11 different classes with Sara Hill, an inducted member of the Guilde Internationale Des Fromagers & Jeanne Carpenter, an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional and owner of Firefly Coffeehouse. (For their full bios, scroll down).

All tickets must be purchased in advance and may be found here: https://store.fireflycoffeehouse.com/collections/cheese-classes

Here we go!

January 6: Wine & Cheese of France – Regional Pairings
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Taste and learn about exquisite French wine and cheeses, taste four regional pairings, and hear the stories of each from Jeanne & Sara, both of whom have traveled France extensively in search of good cheese. You’ll leave with a better understanding of terroir, or taste of place, and enjoy the magic of pairing the perfect wine with the perfect cheese. Ooh-la-la! $29/each.

February 10: Best of Wisconsin Cheese & Beer Pairings
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Wisconsin Craft beer and Wisconsin artisan cheese: could there be a more perfect pairing on a Sunday night in America’s Dairyland? You’ll taste four Wisconsin beers and four Wisconsin cheeses, and then learn the secrets of pairing two of Wisconsin’s favorite food groups. $29/each

March 3: Blue Cheese & Port – Made for Each Other
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Pairing Port and cheese is a classic food and wine combination, but have you paired Port with Blue Cheese? Brace yourself for magical goodness. Taste four blues and four Port wines. $29/each

April 7: Wine & Cheese of Spain – Regional Pairings
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Spanish cheeses and wines are lesser known in America than their French or Italian counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t just as good. Your guides: Sara & Jeanne, have each traveled and visited many cheesemakers and winemakers in Spain. They bring their experiences and expertise to the evening. $29/each

June 9: Cheeses of England
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
England, similar to America, is experiencing a renaissance in farmstead and artisan cheese, with much of the inspiration and credit going to the experts at Neal’s Yard Dairy, master affineurs of London. You’ll hear of Sara’s very recent experiences, and Jeanne’s experiences from her trip a few years ago as you taste four English cheeses. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each

July 21: Sheep Milk Cheese of Wisconsin
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
It’s hard to believe the American dairy sheep industry is less than 30 years old, and that Wisconsin sheep milk cheeses have only come of age in the last generation. Taste four of Sara & Jeanne’s favorite sheep milk cheeses. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each

August 11: Wine & Cheese of Italy – Regional Pairings
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Four years ago, Sara & Jeanne spent 10 days together, visiting cheesemakers and winemakers in Italy, learning ancient stories of cheesemaking and winemaking. Since then, they’ve put together countless pairings of Italian foods. Join them this evening and taste four Italian wines, each perfectly paired with four different Italian cheeses. $29/each

September 22: Mixed Milk Cheeses of Wisconsin
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Taste the complexity and hear the origin stories of four Wisconsin Original mixed milk cheeses, each crafted from the milk of goats, cows and/or sheep. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each

October 20: American Cave Aged Cheddar
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Learn and taste the distinct flavor differences in five American aged cheddars, each aged in either a cave-like environment or an underground cellar. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each

November 17: Understanding & Entertaining with Triple Cream Brie
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to taste and learn the different in Brie, Camembert and Triple-Cream Cheeses. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each

December 8: Cheese Duel – Wisconsin Vs. European Cheeses
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Old World favorites versus New World upstarts: you’ll taste and compare six cheeses in three different styles, then decide for yourself which side of the Atlantic makes better cheese. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer of your choosing. $25/each

More about your class leaders:

Sara Hill has been involved in the specialty food world with a concentration on cheese for 36 years. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park N.Y in 1976 and cooked at clubs and resorts until 1982 when she was hired by the first cheese importer in the upper Midwest. She continued to be involved in cheese distribution and working with chefs and retailers, helping key store groups to develop cheese programs, involving cheese mongers behind the counter, until 2006 when she left distribution to work with Sid Cook at Carr Valley Cheese as his first National sales manager. In 2008 she joined the WMMB as Manager of cheese education and was involved with training chefs and retailers about Wisconsin Cheese all over the U.S. and she steer headed the total update of the Cheesecyclopedia. In 2018 she joined Hook’s Cheese as National Sales Manager. She is a former board member of the ACS and has been inducted into the Guilde Internationale Des Fromagers.

Jeanne Carpenter is an award-winning journalist, former spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, and worked several years as a specialty cheese buyer for Metcalfe’s Markets in Wisconsin. Today, she and her husband, Uriah, own and run Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese in their hometown of Oregon, Wisconsin, and are committed to building a community gathering place for folks who like good coffee, good food & good cheese. She enjoys her involvement in local politics, and represents Oregon as a three-term elected member of the Village of Oregon Board of Trustees, the Oregon Planning Commission and Oregon Library Board. She was recently elected to the Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Jeanne Carpenter Uncategorized

Hoard’s Dairyman Launches Belaire Cheese

 

IMG_0795When you hear the words, Hoard’s Dairyman, former farm kids like me immediately think of the oversized magazine we used to pull out of the mailbox and hand to our dad. Today, Hoard’s Dairyman, established in 1885, is a still a national dairy farm magazine based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. It continues to be the leading dairy magazine in the nation.

This week, however, Hoard’s Dairyman launched a new brand called Hoard’s Dairyman Farm Creamery. The company’s first cheese is Belaire, an American-style Port Salut that’s mild, classic and instantly meltable. The cheese is made by Master Cheesemaker Bruce Workman at his Edelweiss Creamery in Monticello, Wisconsin, and the milk comes from the oldest continuously registered Guernsey herd in North America at the original Hoard dairy farm. In fact, the cows producing milk for Belaire are descendants of the herd W.D. Hoard himself first established in 1899.

I first began meeting with the current generation of the Hoard family years ago and gave input on cheese styles, label design and marketing ideas. In fact, my last contact with them was so long ago, I figured they had given up on the project. But a few months ago, Sandy Speich, whom the Hoards persuaded to join them earlier this year, contacted me with some prototypes of cheese, and just like that, the project was back on track, but this time, with a new style of cheese and a new label.

In America, it is virtually impossible to get historic Port Salut, a stinky, Trappist-style cheese, also known as Saint Paulin, and which is closely linked to the French Revolution of 1789. Trappist monks fled the persecutions of the “Terror”, and in order to survive, relocated their congregation and learned how to make cheese. When they returned to France in 1815, they built a new abbey and continued to make it.

Today, Port Salut is a semi-soft natural cheese that is easily recognized by its painted-on orange rind. You most likely see it in the store as “Genuine Port Salut” and the Hoard’s Dairyman version mimics this modern version. However, the Hoard’s version is smoother, creamier and fresher-tasting than the Port Salut that’s imported, and the natural golden-color of the milk produced by the Hoard Guernseys is a sight to behold. And the name, Belaire? It’s in honor of Captain Belaire, the first to bring Guernsey cattle to the United States.

The folks at Hoard’s are just starting to market this cheese, so it is in extremely limited distribution. You can find it (of course) at my Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese in downtown Oregon, Wisconsin, as well as Edelweiss Cheese Authentic Wisconsin in New Glarus, Clock Shadow Creamery in Milwaukee, and Larry’s Market in Brown Deer.

 

Jeanne Carpenter Uncategorized

Reading Between the Lines in the Obits

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I’m never sure what normal people do for fun, but on Sunday mornings, between the before-church coffee rush and after-church breakfast sandwich rush, I sit down and read the obituaries in the Sunday paper at my coffeeshop.

I’ve done this for years at the Firefly, even before I owned it, because as a writer, I’ve always found it fascinating to see how people (or their families) sum up someone’s entire life in 300 words or less.

Most of the time, reading a poorly-written obituary makes me feel compelled to write my own, but then a sense of morbidity sets in and I’m not ready yet.

I’ve always particularly gravitated toward the obituaries of old women. While old man obituaries are often filled with long and distinguished career paths, professional affiliations, organizational accomplishments and military records, old woman obituaries are different. For the most part, I can’t help but think they don’t do the woman justice. Let’s face it, many of the 80- and 90-year-old women dying today did not have professional careers or affiliations. They were too busy raising a houseful of children, keeping a marriage together, cooking three meals a day and trying not to collapse at the end of the day.

I find myself reading between the lines of many of these obituaries, especially short ones like Joanna Pasowicz, age 82, of Madison, who “was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Pasowicz Jr., with whom she shared a dedicated and supportive 55 years of marriage before his passing in 2009 … She was preceded in death by two children, Cynthia, in 1955 and Joseph III, in 1997.”

Think about that last sentence for a minute. In just 21 words, try to imagine the level of grief and sadness she survived through losing two children.  It’s amazing the woman ever found the strength to get out of bed, much less live a strong and fruitful life as a “loving mother, past president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 7444, member of the Florence County School Board and past president of the Madison Polish Heritage Club.” Joanna, I bet your life was an inspiration for many people, and your obituary is less than 200 words long.

Then there’s Dorothy Jean Houden, whom I’m gonna guess would have been my best friend if I were 45 years older. Her obituary starts the same as any other 91-year-old woman until we get to this jewel of a sentence: “After much persistence, she agreed to marry Richard A. Houden on May 14, 1949, as long as she could continue to pursue her nursing career.” There’s a show stopper of a statement. Reading between the lines, we can guess Dorothy was a strong woman, and Richard was progressive for his time, allowing his wife to work out of the home.

Dorothy went on to have a distinguished career in nursing, and was even presented with the “first Board of Trustees award for providing exceptional service in the healthcare field to the citizens of Dane County.” The obituary also includes this sentence: “Richard was the love of her life.” He died in 2012. Together, they had seven children, 18 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Dorothy’s obituary is longer than most women her age, because it lists her education (a degree from UW-Madison in nursing), her extended lifelong training and affiliations, and this: “She firmly believed in social justice instilling the belief in her children that everyone should have the opportunity to live their life to the fullest.”

And these sentences, which I’m guessing her family felt needed to be included because her obituary is so unusual for a woman of her time: “Dorothy maintained a household while also working outside the home. She always found time and energy to share and revel in what the world had to offer with her children.”

Before it was socially acceptable to do so, Dorothy did what many women today don’t think twice about: work full-time and participate in professional affiliations while being a mother and wife. I think most modern woman will tell you this juggling routine is a constant struggle, both physically and mentally, because at the end of the day, we often don’t feel like we’re doing either particularly well, and the most we can hope for is that at the end of our final day, our children write an obituary reflecting the way we tried to live our lives. In 300 words or less. It seems a tall order.

 

Jeanne Carpenter Hidden Springs Creamery, Uncategorized

Driftless Cheese Reigns Supreme on Avocado Toast

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If you think you’ve had every imaginable version of avocado toast, think again. Sheep milk cheese is the secret ingredient you didn’t even know you’ve been missing.

When Wisconsin Cheesemaker Brenda Jensen once again swept the entire fresh sheep milk cheese category at the World Championship Cheese Contest with her fresh Driftless  cheeses, I had one thought: I bet it would make an amazing avocado toast.

That’s because six months ago, my husband and I purchased a coffeehouse and added an artisan cheese case. We revamped the menu using local foods and Wisconsin artisan cheese (shocking, I know).

On May 1, we launched a newly-tweaked menu with our own Firefly Avocado Toast featuring two slices of Madison Sourdough bread, avocado and a healthy dose of Driftless cheese. Simple, yet delicious. In less than a month, it’s proven so popular that Brenda has twice had to make special “emergency cheese” deliveries to our place, bringing 5-pound tubs of Driftless cheese with her.

Since launching Hidden Springs Creamery, near Westby 12 years ago, Brenda has earned more than 80 awards for her original sheep milk and mixed-milk cheeses. Driftless is a perennial winner. Deliciously simple and crafted from fresh sheep’s milk, it is wonderfully light, creamy and spreadable. It is also available in array of flavors, including Cranberry, Honey Lavender, and Sundried Tomato, each of which took first, second and third place at the World Championship Cheese Contest in March.

“To have my cheeses consistently earn awards in the same realm as some of the greatest cheeses and most famous cheesemakers in the world is an honor,” Jensen says. “We are especially grateful to everyone for supporting our signature Driftless cheese – a cheese we simply made up 12 years ago – and today are lucky enough to have featured in specialty shops across the nation.”

The fact is that luck doesn’t have much to do with Jensen’s success. The truth is that while Wisconsin is home to many an amazing cheesemaker, Brenda Jensen is simply one of the best. For 12 years, she and her husband, Dean, have dedicated themselves to growing their farm and improving the genetics and milk quality of their sheep. They reap the rewards from that hard work with award-winning cheese. I can’t think of a better cheese to celebrate with a good avocado toast.

Jeanne Carpenter firefly coffeehouse, Uncategorized

End of One Chapter, Start of Another

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As many of you know, after living in Oregon for 20 years, my husband and I recently purchased a coffee shop, bakery and restaurant in downtown Oregon and renamed it
Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese. After five months of steadily growing this new business with a new breakfast, lunch & dinner menu, daily specials, and an expanded bakery, drink and espresso menu, we are taking it to the next level and adding an artisan cheese case and retail space on May 2, featuring the best artisan cheeses and local foods from Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.

In fact, my office at the Firefly is currently filled with boxes of Gail Ambrosius Chocolate, Quince and Apple Preserves, Treat Nuts, Potter’s Crackers, Bee Barf Honey and bags of Kickapoo and Anodyne Coffee, all waiting to be put onto shelves next week. Meanwhile, every square inch of cooler space not occupied with Sassy Cow milk is filled with cheese wheels that have been arriving all week and which I will furiously be cutting and wrapping next week. Did I mention we’re also adding a full array of different cheese boards with wine and craft beer pairings?

As a result of this flurry of new activity in my life, last week I announced to members of Wisconsin Cheese Originals that I would be sunsetting the member-based organization. After 10 years of running a non-official non-profit (thanks to a husband with a good heart and a good job), it’s simply time for me to focus on three newer passions:

1) Building a community around good food & good coffee.

2) Bringing artisan cheese and local foods to the heart of my hometown.

3) Continuing to help steer smart and steady growth as a three-term elected member of the Oregon Village Board, a member of the Oregon Planning Commission and the Oregon Library Board. In fact, in the spring of 2019, I plan to run for Village President.

Operating a 5,000 square-foot coffeehouse, restaurant, bakery and retail shop brings a an exciting opportunity to reach a wider audience and share the gospel of good food. After 15 years of marketing, retailing, buying and educating folks about artisan cheese, I am expanding that passion to supporting local farms by purchasing not only local cheese, but local eggs, milk, produce, meats, and educating customers on the importance of sustainable eating with descriptions of daily specials and new signage.

So fear not, if you would like to stay connected to the many events, classes and activities that I used to offer through Wisconsin Cheese Originals, I’ll still be offering many of those things through Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese.  Be sure and visit this website for a continually updated listing of classes taking place at the Firefly, and keep reading Cheese Underground, where I will continue to write about cheese and announce events, including a new season of Cheese Underground Radio debuting this summer.

Lastly, if you live anywhere near Oregon, Wisconsin, or have a road trip planned this summer, please stop in at the Firefly at 114 N. Main Street and say hello. So many of you have become my family over the years, and there is nothing better than having family share in your success. The Firefly is my next 20-year project, and I look forward to sharing that journey with you.

— Jeanne Carpenter, ACS CCP
Owner, Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese

Jeanne Carpenter Uncategorized, world championship cheese contest

The Big Winner at The World Championship Cheese Contest? The Consumer.

marieke

I’m writing this six hours before the World Champion Cheese is named. That’s because no matter who wins – whether it be a little-known cheesemaker from the Alps, an artisan cheesemaker from Wisconsin or a woman who’s making donkey cheese on a farm in Turkey – the winner of this year’s contest has already been determined. It’s us. The consumers. The cheese eaters.

Media interest in this year’s World Championship Cheese Contest is unreal. There are television cameras, documentary crews and print journalists from around the country camped out at Monona Terrace. I find myself looking around for Hollywood celebrities, given the amount of paparazzi that’s patrolling the place. And, I keep comparing today’s scene to 10 years ago, when the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association asked me to help organize the first-ever evening public event. I was thrilled when two local tv news crews showed up, 300 people bought tickets, and we sampled 30 cheeses. Tonight, we’re expecting more than a dozen tv crews, 800 attendees, and 30 volunteers will work with me all afternoon to cut up and sample 100 cheeses from 25 different countries. Why? Because all of you demanded it.

Since 2008, consumer interest in good cheese – whether it’s made in a big factory, little factory or on someone’s farm – has skyrocketed. I emphasize GOOD in that first sentence. Consumers want food that tastes good. In a country where half of us are overweight and the other half are on a perpetual diet (I fall into both of those camps), all of us are looking for cheese that awakens our taste buds and satisfies our stomachs without eating half a pound of it with a box of crackers. Today’s cheeses are doing that.

In the last 10 years, it’s been heart-warming to watch the camaraderie between cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese scientists and judges from across the country and the world bloom and grow at the World Championship Cheese Contest. My Facebook feed has lit up all week with photos like the one below, showing Kari Skibbie and Lisa Hall, two women who work for different companies in the Wisconsin cheese industry, and perhaps who only see each other only a few times a year, volunteering to slog cheese all day on the B Team:

camOf course, winning the World Championship Cheese Contest is a BIG deal. Two years ago, Emmi Roth from Monroe, Wisconsin, took home the big trophy. It was the first time in decades Wisconsin had won the top prize.

So who will be the big cheese this year? For a preview of the cheeses in contention, you can peruse the list of first place winners on the contest’s official website. As I write this, every first-place cheese is being judged from scratch by nearly 60 accredited cheese experts from around the world. The top 20 cheeses, and finally the big winner, will be revealed at tonight’s sold-out shindig. No matter who comes out on top, we’re all winners. Good cheese is in our future.

Jeanne Carpenter Uncategorized

Cheesetopia Milwaukee: Thank You Marieke Gouda

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Here’s a huge shout out to Wisconsin Cheesemaker Marieke Penterman, her amazing family and all the staff at Marieke Gouda for making Cheesetopia possible this year in Milwaukee.

What is Cheesetopia, you ask? It’s a festival I organize with the goal of bringing some of the best artisan cheesemakers from the Midwest to the heart of a different city every year. This year, Cheesetopia calls Milwaukee home, and thanks to the sponsorship of Marieke Gouda, the event is sure to be a success.

Already, the event is nearly sold out, with little to no publicity, thanks to the hundreds of loyal members of Wisconsin Cheese Originals. Today, less than 100 tickets remain on sale. Act quickly if you’re interested in attending.

Here’s the scoop:

Cheesetopia Milwaukee 2018
Presented by Marieke Gouda & Wisconsin Cheese Originals
April 8, 2018
The Grain Exchange, 225 E Michigan St, Milwaukee, WI
Noon – 4:00 PM

Cheesetopia 2018 returns to downtown Milwaukee in the historic Grain Exchange room of the Mackie Building. Finished in 1880, the room was built as a sunken trading pit, where traders set the price of wheat. It was considered to be the most lavishly decorated public space of its time. The walls are adorned with large murals depicting the themes of transportation, agriculture, trade and commerce. Colossal faux-marble pillars boast carved depictions of locomotives and steamships. It is inside this room that 40 of the best artisan cheesemakers from across the Midwest will sample and sell more than 150 artisan cheeses.

Tickets
$35. Includes appetizers & samples of 150 cheeses. Cash bar. Click here to purchase.

More Information
Cheesetopia brings a star-studded line-up of award-winning cheesemakers and artisan food producers to a unique venue in the heart of a different city every year. A cheesemaker, company owner, farmer or senior representative is required to be present for each company, ensuring attendees meet the makers of their favorite cheeses.

Here’s the line-up in 2018:

  • Alemar Cheese Company, Mankato, Minnesota – Cheesemaker Craig Hageman sampling Bent River, Blue Earth Brie & Good Thunder
  • Ames Farm Honey, Delano, Minnesota – Artisan Sarah Mogilevsky sampling Single Source Raw Honey
  • Caprine Supreme, Black Creek, Wisconsin – Cheesemaker and Owners Todd & Sheryl Jaskolski sampling Goat Milk Cheese Curds, Feta, Lavender Jack, Brie, Cheddar & Chevre
  • Carr Valley Cheese, LaValle, Wisconsin – National Sales Director Dave Christoff sampling Marisa, Black Sheep Truffle, Porto Duet, Billy Blue, Cocoa Cardona, Menage, Mobay, 6-Year Cheddar, Wildfire Blue, Penta Creme, Fontina de Provence, Cheese Stix & Flavored Butters
  • Caves of Faribault, Faribault, Minnesota – Head Cheesemaker Rueben Nilsson Cheese Plant Manager Jill Ellingson sampling St. Pete’s Select Blue Cheese, Jeff’s Select, St. Mary’s & Smoked Amablue
  • Cedar Grove Cheese, Plain, Wisconsin – Master Cheesemaker Bob Wills sampling Olive Cheese Spread, Quark with S.A. Braai Chutney, Montague, Extra Sharp Organic Cheddar & Ovella
  • Cosmic Wheel Creamery, Clear Lake, Wisconsin – Cheesemaker Rama Hoffpauir sampling Circle of the Sun, Antares & Moonglow
  • Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, Wisconsin – Owner George Crave sampling Fresh Mozzarella, Marinated Fresh Mozzarella, Part-Skim Mozzarella, Mascarpone, Cheese Curds & Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Curds
  • Deer Creek Cheese, Sheboygan, Wisconsin – Representative Kayla Immel sampling The Doe, The Rattlesnake, Vat 17, The Blue Jay, 5-Year Cheddar, Stag & Moonrabbit
  • Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello, Wisconsin – Master Cheesemaker Bruce Workman sampling Grass Based Raw Milk Aged Gouda, Havarti, Dill Havarti, Butterkase & Tuscan Dream
  • Hidden Springs Creamery, Westby, Wisconsin – Cheesemaker Brenda Jensen sampling fresh Driftless in various flavors, Wischago, Ocooch, Vernon Renegade & Bohemian Blue
  • Hook’s Cheese, Mineral Point, Wisconsin – Cheesemaker Tony Hook and National Sales Manager Sara Hill sampling Colby, 5-Year Cheddar, 10-Year Cheddar, Galway Bay, Triple Play, Goat Pepper, Sheep Milk Cheddar, Sheep Milk Butterkase, Blue, Blue Paradise & Little Boy Blue
  • Jacobs & Brichford Farmstead Cheese, Connersville, Indiana – Owner Matthew Brichford sampling Everton, Everton Premium Reserve, Tomme de Fayette, Briana & Ameribella
  • Kettle Range Meat Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Artisan Mark Bearce sampling Kettle Range Cured and Charcuterie products including Guanciale, Pancetta, Summer Sausage, Snack Sticks, Bacon Jam, Nduja & Smoked Sausages
  • LaClare Farms Specialties, Pipe, Wisconsin – Cheesemaker Katie Fuhrmann & owners Larry & Clara Hedrich sampling Evalon, Martone, Cave Aged Chandoka, & Raw Cheddar
  • Landmark Creamery, Albany, Wisconsin – Cheesemakers Anna Landmark and Anna Thomas Bates sampling Petit Nuage, Aged Anabasque, Samwell & Pecora Nocciola
  • Maple Leaf Cheesemakers, Monroe, Wisconsin – Owner Shirley Knox & Cheesemaker Jake Huffman sampling English Hollow Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, Jalapeno Jack & 10-Year Cheddar
  • Marieke Gouda, Thorp, Wisconsin – Cheesemaker Marieke Penterman sampling Belegen 4-6 month Gouda, Marieke Golden, Foenegreek Gouda, Truffle Gouda & Summer Fields
  • Potter’s Crackers, Madison, Wisconsin – Owner Nancy Potter sampling crackers, crisps and oyster crackers
  • Quince and Apple, Madison, Wisconsin – Owners Clare & Matt Stoner Fehsenfeld sampling a variety of small-batch preserves
  • Redhead Creamery, Brooten, Minnesota – Cheesemaker Alise Sjostrom sampling Lucky Linda Clothbound Cheddar, Little Lucy Brie, North Fork Whiskey Washed Munster & Cave Aged Garlic Cheddar
  • Renard’s Cheese, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin – Master Cheesemaker Christopher Renard & Sales Director Samuel Perlman sampling Farmers Cheese with Pesto, Sriracha Cheddar, Legacy, Morel & Leek Monterey Jack
  • Roelli Cheese, Shullsburg, Wisconsin – Master Cheesemaker Chris Roelli sampling Dunbarton Blue & Red Rock
  • Sartori Company, Plymouth, Wisconsin – Master Cheesemaker Pam Hodgson & Master Cheesemaker Apprentice Jeremy Werdeo sampling Black Pepper BellaVitano, SarVecchio Parmesan, Merlot BellaVitano & MontAmore
  • Saxon Creamery, Cleveland, Wisconsin – Cheesemaker Eric Steltenpohl & Anthony Servais sampling Saxony Alpine, Snowfields, Asiago Fresca, Big Ed’s Gouda & Various Spreads
  • Sheep Dairy Association of Wisconsin – Sheep Dairy Farmer Laurel Kieffer sampling a variety of Wisconsin sheep milk cheeses
  • Shepherd’s Way Farms, Nerstrand, Minnesota – Cheesemaker Jodi Ohlsen Read sampling Friesago, Big Woods Blue, Hidden Falls, Shepherd’s Hope, Friesago & Sogn Tomme
  • Tulip Tree Creamery, Indianapolis, Indiana – Cheesemaker Stephanie Montalban & Sales Director Laura Davenport sampling Trillium, Tigerlily, Foxglove, Fromage Frais, Nettle & Dutch Tulip
  • Uplands Cheese, Dodgeville, Wisconsin – Cheesemaker Andy Hatch sampling Pleasant Ridge Reserve
  • Vermont Creamery, Websterville, Vermont – Representative Molly Browne sampling St. Albans, Bonne Bouche, Cremont & Fresh Chevre
  • Widmer’s Cheese Cellars, Theresa, Wisconsin – Master Cheesemaker Joseph C. Widmer, Sr. and Cheesemaker Joseph C. Widmer, Jr. sampling Aged Brick, Mild Brick, 4-Year cheddar, 12-Year Cheddar, Caraway Colby & Brick Spread
Jeanne Carpenter Uncategorized, world championship cheese contest

3,000 Cheeses. 25 Countries. 1 Winner. Tickets to Cheese Champion on Sale

World Champion Cheese 3

Big news, people! The world’s largest technical cheese competition is coming to Madison, giving the public a rare opportunity to taste more than 50 cheeses from across the globe and witness the reveal of the 2018 World Champion Cheesemaker.

Tickets to Cheese Champion, an evening of global cheese tasting presented by Wisconsin Cheese Originals and the World Championship Cheese Contest, are $25 and went on sale today. Held on Thursday evening, March 8, in the Monona Terrace Exhibition Hall, this signature event of the biannual contest is open to only 500 attendees, with all tickets sold in advance. Click here to get yours!

In addition to tasting more than 50 cheeses from 20 countries, you’ll learn cheese evaluation from international cheese experts while enjoying local specialty foods and craft beer samples, all the while tasting samples of some of the rarest cheeses from every corner of the globe. Plus, you’ll be on hand for the reveal of the 2018 World Champion Cheese, as 53 expert judges from 20 countries stand in salute of the winner. Doors open at 6:30 pm. See you there!