I first joined Formaggio Kitchen as an assistant to Julie, our charcutière. As she taught me to make the shop’s range of sausages, pâté, and other cured meats, she talked a lot about sourcing—what she buys from farms in Connecticut, the turnaround time needed for an order of rabbit from Vermont, the best uses for bellies from Massachusetts-raised Berkshire hogs, and the like. For Julie, small, local farms are a natural and non-negotiable part of her work. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘cheesemakers’
Announcing the Formaggio Food Community
Posted in About Us, Cheese, Meats & Charcuterie, United States, tagged Cheese, cheesemakers, CSA, food, local farms, Meats & Charcuterie, Vermont on April 4, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Making Cheese at Jasper Hill: Acidity, Flocculation and New Wheels
Posted in Cheese, Cheesemaking, Food Science, Local, Producer Profile, Travelogues, United States, tagged Cellars at Jasper Hill, Cheese, cheesemakers, cheesemaking, curds, food, Jasper Hill, Jasper Hill Farm, Landaff, rennet, whey, Winnimere on January 30, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Last year, I visited the Cellars at Jasper Hill and had the opportunity to participate in the Winnimere cheesemaking process. It was a very educational experience as there are some interesting new developments going on at Jasper Hill. I thought I would share a little about the cheesemaking process, as well as give a sneak peek into a couple of new cheeses:
Flocculation
Flocculation is a test conducted with a rounded knife. The knife is put into the renneted milk. When the milk starts to curdle and grab onto the knife, an experienced cheesemaker is able to determine the exact time to cut the curd. (more…)
A Visit to Mozzarella House: An Italian Classic Made in Massachusetts
Posted in Cheese, Cheesemaking, Producer Profile, United States, tagged burrata, Cheese, cheesemakers, cheesemaking, food, Massachusetts, mozzarella, Mozzarella House on November 29, 2011 | 3 Comments »
It’s a rare day on the cheese counter that we mongers don’t dip into our bucket of fresh mozzarella from the Mozzarella House at least a couple of times. This small operation in Everett supplies Formaggio Kitchen with most of its fresh cow’s milk mozzarella and burrata. My fellow cheesemonger, Jess, and I recently dropped in for a visit to their cheese room. While we never pass on a chance to match faces, places, and processes to our products, we had an additional motive behind this visit to Mozzarella House. Jess, who’s worked as a cheesemaker in France and Washington, is teaching a series of cheesemaking classes in February. Our time with the pros at Mozzarella House gave her a chance to refine the mozzarella technique she’ll use in the course. Mozzarella House owner, Giuseppe, was kind enough to let us have a look around the facility, as well as share some background on their process. (more…)
Italian Cheese: The Makings of Parmigiano Reggiano
Posted in Cheese, Cheesemaking, Education, Italy, Travelogues, tagged casaro, Cheese, cheesemakers, cheesemaking, Cravero, curds, DOP, food, Italy, parm, Parmigiano Reggiano, ricotta, whey on November 26, 2011 | 1 Comment »
On a recent trip to Italy, I had the opportunity to visit a co-op that makes Parmigiano Reggiano. It was a first for me – I have witnessed the cheesemaking process before and have even tried my hand at making chèvre but I had never before observed the making of a hard, aged cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano. (more…)
The Cellars at Jasper Hill: Researching for Our Cheese Caves
Posted in About Us, Cheese, Food Science, Local, Producer Profile, Travelogues, United States, tagged Ascutney Mountain, Bayley Hazen Blue, Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, Cellars at Jasper Hill, Cheese, cheesemakers, cheesemaking, Constant Bliss, curds, food, Jasper Hill, Jasper Hill Farm, Landaff, Moses Sleeper, Oma, rennet, whey, Winnimere on September 9, 2011 | 2 Comments »

TOP ROW (L-R): Cabot airing, Bayley Hazen salting, Bayley Hazen pH graph + rocks under the cheese racks help with moisture control. BOTTOM ROW (L-R): Moses Sleeper in 20% brine, Landaff cheese and Bayley Hazen in its forms.
Some weeks ago, I made an immensely informative and inspiring trip to Jasper Hill Farm and The Cellars at Jasper Hill in Greensboro, Vermont.
The Jasper Hill enterprise was started by two brothers, Andy and Mateo Kehler. The determination that they have towards revolutionizing and solidifying the cheese-making industry in their state and in this country is unmatched in its political, scientific, and pastoral fervor. As a result, I want to share a bit of what got me so excited! (more…)
Alpage Cheesemaking in the Savoie: A Visit with the Burgat Family
Posted in Cheese, Cheesemaking, France, Producer Profile, Travelogues, tagged Cheese, cheesemakers, cheesemaking, curds, food, France, Manigodine, Reblochon, Savoie, tomme, Tomme de Savoie, whey on December 29, 2010 | 2 Comments »
The evening light was fading as we ascended the mountain up to the Burgats’ alpage home outside of Manigod. With every turn that the car made, the views got even more splendid. Darkening clouds provided a sense of atmosphere and the cool air was deliciously fresh. Pulling up to the Burgats’ farmhouse, the sun was just about to disappear and the warm, yellow glow from inside their home was a welcome sight. (more…)







