In early December, we saw the triumphant return of Rush Creek Reserve. I thought it appropriate to share how powerful one cheese can be...I'm not kidding...cheese (not just this one) starts new relationships, nourishes old ones, and helps us remember what is most important in life...Yes, cheese can do that!
Some background on Rush Creek Reserve:
Where: Dodgeville, Wisconsin...30 minutes west of Madison, WI
When: Only once a year when the cows come in from pasture in the fall
Taste: Savory custard...lusciously creamy, brothy, and savory
Pairings: We went the whole nine yards with prosciutto, pears, baguette, and Aspall dry cider. It really only requires a baguette loaf, your favorite beverage, and a few friends for sharing
And this is why cheese is so amazing...
Cheese inspires.
I sold a bottle of Soave Classico and a wheel of Rush Creek to a customer a few years ago, and since then, she's been a source of joy and business savvy. We shared a deep love for traveling in Italy, and she was always my biggest critic of the freshness of castelveltrano olives on the olive bar. "You have to stock the ones WITH the pits, Esther!" she would say in her East coast accent...Although she has moved cross country since then, I'll always have Rush Creek to thank for the introduction. She inspired me to be bold and independent, to dream big...and to finally get a Twitter account.
Cheese starts friendships.
I also talked about Rush Creek with a young couple who came to my counter...they were both really into food, and their toddler had an amazing palette. Turns out that the Mr. went to high school with Andy Hatch of Uplands...crazy. Mr. and Mrs. came to my cheese classes, I helped them celebrate a birthday with a private tasting event at their house, and even though I relocated to a different store, they still come and see me. I even got a holiday card this year and it's hanging on my fridge. Soon I'll get to meet another little cheese lover in their family come February. The Mrs. came in a few weeks ago and ended up buying Rush Creek along with some of their other favorites. We actually ended up simultaneously having date night in our respective houses with Rush Creek and accouterments. A virtual double date complete with instant messenger pics and commentary!
Cheese forces me to act.
I'm not proud of it, but I have a history of being politically lazy. Earlier this year, Mateo Kehler, co-founder of Jasper Hill, sent out a call to write our congressmen to petition against potential legislation limiting domestic raw milk cheese production. I heard about it and immediately thought of my favorite raw milk cheeses made right here in the US of A such as Rush Creek and Pleasant Ridge, and some new comers like Shake Rag Blue and Kinsman Ridge. For once, a policy battle has a tangible effect on me. Should certain laws go into effect, that means lots of holes in my cheese case. Even more important, family livelihoods are at stake...some of the effected cheese makers I've seen at conferences and I read about many of these fine folks daily...this is real, folks! So I wrote my congress woman and my two senators, and it felt good...The fact that I actually watched both democratic and republican debates this year? Coincidence? I think not...
Cheese makes a great date night.
Look, when I'm a cheese monger during the holidays, it can suck. It's exhausting. It is double the amount of customers, cheese ordering/receiving/rotating/cutting/wrapping/tagging/signing/sampling/selling. More often than not, I end up coming home imbibing multiple beers and pounds of chocolate on the couch while Netflix binge watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and passing out. Not much for great romance. My husband and I have cheese history in our relationship and it can usually patch up wounds...When Jeff worked for Whole Foods, back when they still did cool things and weren't penny pinching at every turn, his team went on a tour of Wisconsin breweries and creameries. He met Andy Hatch and formed in an instant man crush. Since then I buy him a piece of Uplands cheese every chance I get. It's usually Pleasant Ridge Reserve, which is available all year round. Recently, he made the statement that Rush Creek is indeed his favorite of the two sisters. So I brought a whole 3/4 lb wheel home for just the two of us. I'd like to say that we stared into each other's eyes and fed each other ever so slowly and tenderly, but let's be honest we devoured the whole thing in 20 minutes.
Spend time with people you love and share good cheese...that's what it's all about.
Cheers to a smokin' 2016 y'all. It's gonna kick ass.