| Join My Mailing List! |
A lot of people ask, "What is artisan cheese?" In this video made by Christine Hyatt, the Cheese Chick, the words and pictures from the cheesemakers themselves capture the essence of what it means to be an artisan cheesemaker. I've tasted the cheeses made by many of the cheesemakers in the video, so I can vouch for their artistry first-hand. Raw, honest, and true -the video, the artists, and their products are one in the same.
Watch the video.
A few tidbits:
• February is baby month, as in baby goats. That means super fresh goat cheese, so be on the lookout in your local markets.
• The annual Artisan Cheese Festival is coming up in Petaluma, California, at the end of March, and tickets are going fast. This is unquestionably one of the best cheese festivals anywhere in the world. Cheese, wine, and great food are what this weekend is about, and it all takes place in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country.
• From now on, I'll be posting grilled cheese sandwich recipes on my site from my book Great Grilled Cheese in anticipation of National Grilled Cheese Month, which begins April 1st (no fooling!). Actually, I'll probably post grilled cheese sandwich recipes beyond April. I just can't help it. Click here for the grilled cheese recipe of the moment. This sandwich, which I call Salami and Cheese #2 (Salami and Cheese #1 precedes it in the book, hence the name), is simple but because of one special ingredient and an unusual cooking instruction (hint: you cook the salami first) it's really, really good. Check it out.
Because I can't get grilled cheese off my mind, here it is again:
And for those who can't get mac 'n' cheese off their minds, click on this. You'll get my recipe for my BLT Mac 'n' Cheese that I created for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB). You'll also get 29 other mac 'n' cheese recipes created by food bloggers across the country. A few of them will really knock your socks off.
Say Cheese!
AWARD-WINNING
BOOKS
BY LAURA WERLIN
James Beard Award-Nominated
CHEESE ESSENTIALS
An insiders guide to cheese with 50 recipes.
An Insider's Guide to Buying and Serving Cheese. With 50 Recipes. By Laura Werlin with photographs by Maren Caruso.
GREAT GRILLED CHEESE
50 Innovative Recipes for Stovetop, Grill and Sandwich Maker
Discover 50 new recipes for America's favorite sandwich and the best method for making a perfect grilled cheese sandwich every time.
THE ALL AMERICAN CHEESE AND WINE BOOK
Winner of the James Beard Award! A comprehensive guide to pairing cheese and wine American style and entertaining with cheese.
THE NEW AMERICAN CHEESE
This IACP award-winning book explores the cheeses of America and the people making them as well as features 80 cheesy recipes.