Listen, people, I don’t play around when it comes to cheese. It’s a gouda thing that I have this job because I can’t think of a cheddar way to stay up to date on all things dairy. Nothing excites me more than new varieties, and Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. has answered my prayers. The company’s Caves of Faribault® division has added two new artisanal varieties to its ever-expanding line of specialty cheeses. Both cheeses were debuted at the Winter Fancy Food Show 2019, and were, unsurprisingly, met with great excitement.
The first variety is the St. Helga’s European Style Swiss, which is crafted in a European style to ensure a complex, full-bodied flavor with pronounced nutty tones, differentiating it from traditional Swiss. According to a press release, the cheese is made in Wisconsin and then matured in the company’s Faribault, Minnesota, historic sandstone caves for a mix of Norwegian heritage, Wisconsin pride, and Minnesotan affinage.
The second variety is a pioneer product of a completely new collection, dubbed the Commission™ collection. This collection is in line with the concept of commissioning fine art, allowing the company’s select cheesemaking partners to craft cheese to their standards of excellence. The inaugural cheese in this collection is the Cherubic™ Heavenly Young Gouda—also made in Wisconsin with a brief affinage period in the Faribault caves. The cheese’s flavor profile is bred for versatility and features a pungent, buttery flavor.
Both cheeses are available in 5 lb. random weight wheels and wedges.
For more cheesy updates, keep reading Deli Market News.
Evers is set to speak about current challenges and opportunities in Wisconsin’s dairy processing industry, as well as his plans to support growth.