This Thursday marks our third weekend at the Minneapolis Farmers' Market. Today promises to be the best, weather-wise, of the lot: the kind of Spring day you dream of when you're cooped up inside on a frigid January day. Before I dash, a few mentions:
--D'Amico & Sons has created a featured panini for May with asparagus, Bent River, cotto ham and an onion marmalade. You can find it at all Minnesota locations. I love seeing a chef put together flavor and texture combinations well beyond my culinary imagination--so thanks, Jim, for your talent and decision to use our cheese!
--This will be a busy weekend: Friday evening is the 17th annual Winefest benefiting the Amplatz Children's Hospital. The good folks at Kowalski's Markets have invited me to join their tasting table. Great event, great cause. Saturday, I'll be at stall 343 for the farmers' market (weather again looking very nice), then off to Kowalski's Woodbury for a demo from 2-5.
--Bent River has found its way to NYC! Thanks to our newest distributor, Food Matters Again, you can now find our cheese at a number of cheese shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn. While we are only in a few pockets of the country, I can legitimately say we are carried coast-to-coast.
--Lunds and Byerly's Markets are featuring Bent River this month. Thanks John, Jenny, and all the great cheese people there!
Enjoy this beautiful day, Minnesota, and stop by today if you are in the Twin Cities--we'll be at the corner of Nicollet and 8th St.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
North, Further North, and Way Out West
I've got a busy couple of weeks coming up, and wanted to post a brief itinerary:
Tomorrow, I'll be at the Continental Ballet Gala in Bloomington, which starts at 7 p.m.
Saturday, I'll be teaching a short class on things cheese at the Sustainable Farming Association Conference at St. Benedict's College in St. Joseph. There is an evening gathering featuring Minnesota cheese, beer and wine.
Next week, I'm heading to California, mostly for business. I'll be at Surfas Restaurant Supply in Culver City on either Thursday or Friday (confirmation imminent).
I'm also attending the Sonoma Valley Cheese Conference February 26th-28th. There is a tasting event in Sonoma Sunday the 26th from 1-4--this is open to the public and there looks to be a great representation of local and not-so-local cheeses, along with beer and, naturally, plenty of wine.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to include a few photos along the way. If you're on Twitter, you are welcome to follow along @alemarcheese. Thanks!
Tomorrow, I'll be at the Continental Ballet Gala in Bloomington, which starts at 7 p.m.
Saturday, I'll be teaching a short class on things cheese at the Sustainable Farming Association Conference at St. Benedict's College in St. Joseph. There is an evening gathering featuring Minnesota cheese, beer and wine.
Next week, I'm heading to California, mostly for business. I'll be at Surfas Restaurant Supply in Culver City on either Thursday or Friday (confirmation imminent).
I'm also attending the Sonoma Valley Cheese Conference February 26th-28th. There is a tasting event in Sonoma Sunday the 26th from 1-4--this is open to the public and there looks to be a great representation of local and not-so-local cheeses, along with beer and, naturally, plenty of wine.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to include a few photos along the way. If you're on Twitter, you are welcome to follow along @alemarcheese. Thanks!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
All The News
This past Saturday, I did a radio interview on the Fresh and Local Show in Minneapolis. I was more than a little nervous approaching the microphone, but Susan Berkson, the able host, made it almost painless, guiding me from one topic to the next with grace and ease. You can hear the podcast by clicking the link above.
While there, I met Stephanie Meyer, writer, food blogger and photographer extraordinaire, who was kind enough to invite me to be a part of the group Minnesota Food Bloggers. And, while I've been posting bits and pieces to facebook over the past several months, I haven't blogged since August. Consider this my re-entry into the blogosphere. I'll catch you up on what has definitely been the most eventful stretch of Alemar Cheese's existence.
Even before we placed at the American Cheese Society conference, I knew we were going to be included in last fall's issue of Culture Magazine. They do a cheese plate each issue, and I was thrilled to get a call from Kate Arding, one of the magazine's founders, asking if I'd like to have our cheese included in an upper Midwest collection. Ken Monteleone of Fromagination in Madison, Wisconsin, has been a fan and suggested Bent River's inclusion. Of course I was thrilled to say yes.
Also last summer, I got a call from Darren Ryan, owner of Cream and the Crop Cheese Selections out in northern California. He'd visited a cheese shop whose buyer had been in Wisconsin, tasted Bent River, and said he'd like to sell it if possible. Darren was just getting started, but the idea of bringing Alemar Cheese to my home state has been a long time goal. Plus, he seemed like a really great, earnest guy, so why not give it try?
The results have been a terrific. Darren has gained entry into numerous markets, cheese shops, and restaurants. Over the holidays, he worked out a deal with Teatro ZinZanni, a high end dinner-theater-meets-Moulin-Rouge production that runs from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Over the course of the performances, over nine thousand people started the evening off with Bent River. Cool, huh?
While we're on the subject of distributors, I must give much love to Classic Provisions. Based here in the Twin Cities, they have taken over the delivery and sales for Alemar in Minnesota, and what a stellar job they've done. With the help of Sally, John, and everyone at Classic, demand for our cheese has risen, and I have more time to make cheese. They have been a joy--no exaggeration--to work with.
And make cheese I have. I doubled production over last year's holiday season, and with all the help and another year under my belt, it almost seemed easier. Credit is also due to my new right hand, Josh Gravelin. Josh and I worked together years back in the bagel business. He went on to play bass for a number of national acts in Austin, Texas, but eventually the call of Minnesota held sway. He still plays locally, and has a pickup business (for guitars and basses), but he's had enough time to intern with me, and that has made a huge difference. Thanks, Josh!
A few other notable press mentions: The Heavy Table featured us on a Minnesota cheese plate, and local cheese blogger Jill Lewis gave us a rave in her blog, Cheese and Champagne (she also wrote the HT article). Also, this nice post--from Wisconsin, no less. The biggest story came from Dara Moscowitz Grumdahl, one of the giants of Minnesota food and wine writing. She did a segment on All Things Considered on MPR, and filed this article. Last, a rave from David Rosansky, cheese buyer at Surfas in Los Angeles. Surfas sells to many of the top restaurants in LA. Heady and humbling stuff to have this kind of positive attention.
So, the final half of 2011 was busy, fun, and memorable. It is so gratifying to get recognition, not to forget make a living, doing something this personal and important to me. My profound thanks to everyone who has played a part in moving Alemar Cheese forward.
What did this lengthy missive teach me? To blog more often. Which I probably will.
While there, I met Stephanie Meyer, writer, food blogger and photographer extraordinaire, who was kind enough to invite me to be a part of the group Minnesota Food Bloggers. And, while I've been posting bits and pieces to facebook over the past several months, I haven't blogged since August. Consider this my re-entry into the blogosphere. I'll catch you up on what has definitely been the most eventful stretch of Alemar Cheese's existence.
Even before we placed at the American Cheese Society conference, I knew we were going to be included in last fall's issue of Culture Magazine. They do a cheese plate each issue, and I was thrilled to get a call from Kate Arding, one of the magazine's founders, asking if I'd like to have our cheese included in an upper Midwest collection. Ken Monteleone of Fromagination in Madison, Wisconsin, has been a fan and suggested Bent River's inclusion. Of course I was thrilled to say yes.
Also last summer, I got a call from Darren Ryan, owner of Cream and the Crop Cheese Selections out in northern California. He'd visited a cheese shop whose buyer had been in Wisconsin, tasted Bent River, and said he'd like to sell it if possible. Darren was just getting started, but the idea of bringing Alemar Cheese to my home state has been a long time goal. Plus, he seemed like a really great, earnest guy, so why not give it try?
The results have been a terrific. Darren has gained entry into numerous markets, cheese shops, and restaurants. Over the holidays, he worked out a deal with Teatro ZinZanni, a high end dinner-theater-meets-Moulin-Rouge production that runs from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Over the course of the performances, over nine thousand people started the evening off with Bent River. Cool, huh?
While we're on the subject of distributors, I must give much love to Classic Provisions. Based here in the Twin Cities, they have taken over the delivery and sales for Alemar in Minnesota, and what a stellar job they've done. With the help of Sally, John, and everyone at Classic, demand for our cheese has risen, and I have more time to make cheese. They have been a joy--no exaggeration--to work with.
And make cheese I have. I doubled production over last year's holiday season, and with all the help and another year under my belt, it almost seemed easier. Credit is also due to my new right hand, Josh Gravelin. Josh and I worked together years back in the bagel business. He went on to play bass for a number of national acts in Austin, Texas, but eventually the call of Minnesota held sway. He still plays locally, and has a pickup business (for guitars and basses), but he's had enough time to intern with me, and that has made a huge difference. Thanks, Josh!
A few other notable press mentions: The Heavy Table featured us on a Minnesota cheese plate, and local cheese blogger Jill Lewis gave us a rave in her blog, Cheese and Champagne (she also wrote the HT article). Also, this nice post--from Wisconsin, no less. The biggest story came from Dara Moscowitz Grumdahl, one of the giants of Minnesota food and wine writing. She did a segment on All Things Considered on MPR, and filed this article. Last, a rave from David Rosansky, cheese buyer at Surfas in Los Angeles. Surfas sells to many of the top restaurants in LA. Heady and humbling stuff to have this kind of positive attention.
So, the final half of 2011 was busy, fun, and memorable. It is so gratifying to get recognition, not to forget make a living, doing something this personal and important to me. My profound thanks to everyone who has played a part in moving Alemar Cheese forward.
What did this lengthy missive teach me? To blog more often. Which I probably will.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
ACS
What a week it's been here in Montreal. More to come, but I have to mention that Bent River received a third place ribbon in the Camembert category at the (North) American Cheese Society competition, topping dozens of other entries. One of my first posts covered my trip to the ACS conference three years ago in Chicago. I knew next to nothing about making cheese. As it turned out, a few weeks after, I made the decision to start Alemar Cheese, fully committing myself to this journey. What a nice affirmation, and my sincerest thanks to all those who had a stake or interest in our success. Au revoir for now!
www.cheesesociety.org
www.cheesesociety.org
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Return
I'm back in Mankato, and despite good intentions, never found time to post again from the road.
Perhaps it's for the best, as a little time to reflect can often help. I had a great weekend, half work, half pleasure.
The work, and I use the term loosely, continued on Saturday with a drive down to Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park, Illinois, the city of Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright. I started sampling around 11, and stayed until 2:30. I met the owner, Eric, and several great workers: Charlie, Marcus and Eva, thanks for your help! We paired the cheese with both wine and beer selections; I had to check each a couple of times to be sure we had it right. And great thanks to Lydia, the Cheesemonger, who brokered the visit and had the good fortune to be in Europe on a cheese tour.
The Market is very well appointed, and has a restaurant all under the same roof. Definitely worth a drive if you're anywhere in the Chicago area.
On my drive into Chicago, I learned that the Cubs were playing the San Francisco Giants, my boyhood, and still, heroes. After 50 years in San Francisco, they finally won the World Series last year. So, though the weather forecast was gloomy, I went.
I scalped a ticket along the first base line, normally a great place to watch a game. However, in this instance, the rain and the wind combined to make it a most inhospitable position. I toughed it out a few innings, thrilled to see the team in the flesh. After that, I retreated to covered ground and stuck it out until the seventh inning. Shorty after my departure, the game was called. The Giants won, though the game was much more about the weather than good play. No matter, I was glad I made the effort.
One of my first posts mention Nick and Nora Weir, who put me up when I attended the American Cheese Society Conference in 2008. They lived in the suburbs then, but are now empty-nesters and have a condominium in the heart of the city.
They were kind enough to loan me a bedroom for the weekend. Nick's brother John, my dear friend, flew down on Sunday to gild the lilly of the weekend: Elvis Costello, my favorite, was in town. John and I went The Purple Pig mid-afternoon and held court there for a long while. The food there is spectacular (thanks for the recommendation, Meg from Pigtale Twist!); if you are anywhere near downtown Chicago, go there, now. Order everything, but especially the "neck-bone gravy". This was Nick's recommendation, and it was an incredible winner. The kind of dish that drives you to plot an imminent return.
The show was amazing. It should be noted that I would yell "bravo" if Costello came out and sang show tunes. in this case, he reprised the spinning songbook, a tour he did in the mid-Eighties. A large Price is Right wheel with 40 songs, with guests invited to spin. Elvis plays whatever the arrow points to, and it is a laugh; was then and was now.
What a great blend of commerce and culture. This was what I had in mind when I started this venture.
Perhaps it's for the best, as a little time to reflect can often help. I had a great weekend, half work, half pleasure.
The work, and I use the term loosely, continued on Saturday with a drive down to Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park, Illinois, the city of Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright. I started sampling around 11, and stayed until 2:30. I met the owner, Eric, and several great workers: Charlie, Marcus and Eva, thanks for your help! We paired the cheese with both wine and beer selections; I had to check each a couple of times to be sure we had it right. And great thanks to Lydia, the Cheesemonger, who brokered the visit and had the good fortune to be in Europe on a cheese tour.
The Market is very well appointed, and has a restaurant all under the same roof. Definitely worth a drive if you're anywhere in the Chicago area.
On my drive into Chicago, I learned that the Cubs were playing the San Francisco Giants, my boyhood, and still, heroes. After 50 years in San Francisco, they finally won the World Series last year. So, though the weather forecast was gloomy, I went.
I scalped a ticket along the first base line, normally a great place to watch a game. However, in this instance, the rain and the wind combined to make it a most inhospitable position. I toughed it out a few innings, thrilled to see the team in the flesh. After that, I retreated to covered ground and stuck it out until the seventh inning. Shorty after my departure, the game was called. The Giants won, though the game was much more about the weather than good play. No matter, I was glad I made the effort.
One of my first posts mention Nick and Nora Weir, who put me up when I attended the American Cheese Society Conference in 2008. They lived in the suburbs then, but are now empty-nesters and have a condominium in the heart of the city.
They were kind enough to loan me a bedroom for the weekend. Nick's brother John, my dear friend, flew down on Sunday to gild the lilly of the weekend: Elvis Costello, my favorite, was in town. John and I went The Purple Pig mid-afternoon and held court there for a long while. The food there is spectacular (thanks for the recommendation, Meg from Pigtale Twist!); if you are anywhere near downtown Chicago, go there, now. Order everything, but especially the "neck-bone gravy". This was Nick's recommendation, and it was an incredible winner. The kind of dish that drives you to plot an imminent return.
The show was amazing. It should be noted that I would yell "bravo" if Costello came out and sang show tunes. in this case, he reprised the spinning songbook, a tour he did in the mid-Eighties. A large Price is Right wheel with 40 songs, with guests invited to spin. Elvis plays whatever the arrow points to, and it is a laugh; was then and was now.
What a great blend of commerce and culture. This was what I had in mind when I started this venture.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Road Trip
Here I sit, sated from a delicious meal at the Underground Kitchen in Madison, Wisconsin. They've had Bent River in their menu for the past few months, so I had to pay them a visit.
Earlier, I spent a couple of hours sampling cheese at the Willy St. Co-op. This is the first time I've ever sampled outside of Minnesota, and, here in the heart of cheese country, I felt more than slightly weird giving my spiel, which usually includes "made right here in Minnesota". Thankfully, the people of Madison were gracious and appreciative.
Tomorrow I hit the road to the Windy City to demo at the Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park. It's always a pleasure to meet customers face to face, and equally enjoyable to spend time with the cheese professionals who sell Alemar Cheese.
I'll post more this weekend, but a final note of thanks to Justin Nolan, my host this evening. Before I knew much of anything about cheesemaking, I enrolled in a short course class here at the University of Wisconsin. Justin was kind enough to loan me his couch for the week, and this is the first time I've been back in town. Dinner was on me, a small gesture of thanks for his generosity. He was a great dinner companion, and I hope we get the chance to do it again soon.
Earlier, I spent a couple of hours sampling cheese at the Willy St. Co-op. This is the first time I've ever sampled outside of Minnesota, and, here in the heart of cheese country, I felt more than slightly weird giving my spiel, which usually includes "made right here in Minnesota". Thankfully, the people of Madison were gracious and appreciative.
Tomorrow I hit the road to the Windy City to demo at the Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park. It's always a pleasure to meet customers face to face, and equally enjoyable to spend time with the cheese professionals who sell Alemar Cheese.
I'll post more this weekend, but a final note of thanks to Justin Nolan, my host this evening. Before I knew much of anything about cheesemaking, I enrolled in a short course class here at the University of Wisconsin. Justin was kind enough to loan me his couch for the week, and this is the first time I've been back in town. Dinner was on me, a small gesture of thanks for his generosity. He was a great dinner companion, and I hope we get the chance to do it again soon.
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