If you noticed the post a while back, I spent several months this year trying to make cheese. Some attempts turned out surprisingly tasty (yogurt, mozzarella, manchego), others . . . not so much (a “quick” cheddar gave meaning to the phrase “chalk and cheese”).
What my self-guided apprenticeship taught me was a deep, worshipful respect for artisan cheese makers. They combine science and art in a way that now seems miraculous. And what better time to pay homage to miracles than the Holidays.
For a thorough guide to Northwest artisan cheeses and the story behind them, check out Tami Parr’s website The Pacific Northwest Cheese Project. A self describes cheese nerd, Parr offers last minute cheese gift suggestions from producers in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia, a book on the region’s cheeses, Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest, and a lot more.
Here’s a list of some of the cheeses Parr suggest for mail ordering (perfect for the New Year):
Oregon
Rogue Creamery
Tumalo Farms
Juniper Grove Farm (call farm for direct shipping)
Goldin Artisan Goat Cheese (call farm for direct shipping)
Washington
Beecher’s
Golden Glen Creamery
Mt. Townsend Creamery
Rosecrest Farm
Washington State University Creamery
Willapa Hills Farmstead Cheese
Idaho
Ballard Family Dairy and Cheese
British Columbia
Gort’s Gouda
Moonstruck Organic Cheeses
The Farm House Natural Cheeses
The Village Cheese Co.
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Guy Hand is a writer, public radio producer and photographer specializing in food and agriculture. |
