THE CHEESE (B)LOG

July 13, 2023

The Cheesemonger Invitational – a.k.a. the “Cheese Olympics”

by Katie Glaudell feat. Molly Hess What is the Cheesemonger Invitational? Called CMI for short, the Cheesemonger Invitational is a U.S.-based multi-day conference and competition hosted twice a year–usually in New York and San Francisco–by artisan importer Maker to Monger. Founded in 2010 and sponsored by a variety of organizations, from European dairies like Isigny Ste-Mère to domestic interest groups […]

June 16, 2023

Gorgonzola, June 16th, & Ulysses

by Katie Glaudell Did you know that Gorgonzola cheese has a starring role in one of the greatest novels ever written? On June 16th, 1904, Mr. Leopold Bloom, protagonist of Ulysses, walks into a pub in Dublin and orders a Gorgonzola sandwich and a glass of red Burgundy wine for lunch. As he mulls over the sensory pleasures of the […]

May 4, 2023

A Cheese Monger Abroad: Tasting Notes from New Zealand

by Katie Glaudell While Aotearoa New Zealand’s landscape of volcanoes, glaciers, and mossy rainforests stands in sharp contrast to the Midwest, when I took a trip there last month with a friend, I found myself looking upon some familiar scenes: long stretches of rural highway, and pastures upon pastures of cows and sheep. Agriculture is New Zealand’s largest industry, and […]

May 3, 2023

Soul-Warming Cheeses & Seasonal Traditions

by Katie Glaudell Every year in December, I love asking people about the holiday traditions they enjoy with their family. The American Melting Pot never disappoints with the variety of answers–for example, my dad’s family makes baked mac ‘n cheese, Swedish meatballs, and Norwegian flaming gløgg on Christmas Eve, while my mom’s Italian American family eats homemade ravioli and braciole. […]