Wonderful Wisconsin…

Hello fellow traveler!

Last week, I had the opportunity to head to Wisconsin. It had been a while since I had been there, so I wanted to rent a car so that I could go find some good cheese shops in the area.

Don’t try and adjust your computer screen color…That is the actual color of my car. Affectionately called “Sap Sago” (my cheesemonger friends will understand), this little car was perfect to get around in. I felt at ease knowing that I could always find this in a parking lot…and that no one would ever steal it! :-)

Charles de Gaulle, the late President of France once said: “How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?” I know that France has more than that by now, but Wisconsin seems to take their love of cheese to a whole new level. From the minute I stepped off of the plane, I was reminded (everywhere) just how much they adore it. Even the cheese departments in the traditional grocery stores: both the service cheese area and wall deli area were three to four times larger than in most parts of the country.

While I found many cheese shops along the way, the one that seemed to have everything I was looking for was Fromagination. Kristi, my cheesemonger led me through their beautifully displayed cases and here is what we picked out to share with you:  

Roelli Haus Select Cheddar Cheese – This beautiful cheddar is produced by a 4th generation cheesemaker, Christopher Roelli.  This Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker is based in Shullsburg, WI where he produces many award winning cheeses. Made from pasteurized cow’s milk, this deeply rich colored cheddar was as stunning as the color of my car! It was the first cheese I noticed and it did not disappoint. It had a rich flavor which is aged anywhere from three months to three years

Marieke Gouda with Foenegreek – Maybe it was the connection with Sap Sago, or maybe it was just that it sounded so unusual that I needed to try it. If you are not familiar with Foenogreek (or Fenugreek) it is a Middle Eastern herb that is quite common in East Indian cooking. It has a slightly sweet, toasted flavor that some have described as a cross between celery and maple syrup. No matter how you try and describe it, your tastebuds will describe it as delicious!...No wonder this cheese was an American Cheese Society award winner! Proudly produced in Thorpe, WI.

Roth Cellars Monroe Cheese – This amber beauty is produced from cultured, pasteurized cow’s milk in Monroe, WI. The cheese makers at Roth lovingly wash this surface-ripened cheese to bring out all of those classic “Trappist-Style” tasting notes and turn it each day as it ages. This cheese can have a bold scent, but it pairs perfectly with most ales (most monks would agree, I believe). For a regional pairing, I found 3 Sheep Brewing Waterslides…A wonderful IPA brewed and bottled in Sheboygan, WI. This hoppy, citrusy IPA paired perfectly with this handcrafted cheese.

Lastly, one cannot live by cheese (and beer) alone, so Kristi suggested that I include Potter's Crackers organic, artisan crackers which are produced right in Madison, WI. 

These three cheeses were perfect for this road trip!

So where to next?....I am not quite sure (and I am okay with that). I never know what each new day, new city, or new cheese will be waiting around the corners. I guess I need to return to the wittiness of Charles de Gaulle reminding me that “Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown”.

Until next week…

 Trevor