Congratulations are in order for a prominent California goat cheese maker! Laura Chenel recently received Best of CA and Gold awards at this year’s California State Fair. I had a chance to discuss the awards with Durae Hardy, Brand Manager.
“Our Original Fresh Goat Cheese stands out because you can really feel and taste the quality of the milk used. We think it’s the creamiest, freshest, and most-delicious goat cheese out there and love that the judges appreciated those qualities!” Durae told me. “We were also thrilled to have our newest goat cheese log, Mango Habanero, receive its first Gold medal! This log was developed by chefs from CIA Consulting, a business unit of The Culinary Institute of America, and is the perfect marriage of sweet and spicy with a blend of ripe mango and piquant habanero peppers.”
Also awarded were Laura Chenel’s fresh goat cheese pillows, also known as Chabis, which have a creamy, fluffy texture, and a little bit of fresh tang. Their higher moisture content makes them ideal for spreading and piping, creating tasty dips, and thickening both sauces and soups.
“The judges appreciated the creamy texture and fresh flavor (with just a touch of citrusy tang) of our Original Fresh Goat Cheese,” Durae continued. “They also enjoyed the balance of our flavored cheese, and the brightness of the flavors.”
In total, Laura Chenel’s awards at the event included:
“We pride ourselves in celebrating the high-quality milk that goes into making our goat cheese, preserving its fresh flavor when turning it into silky smooth fresh cheeses that are enhanced with clean ingredients. Winning these awards are an acknowledgement of the deliciousness of these cheeses that we are so proud of,” Durae concluded.
Cheers to Laura Chenel!
