When the joy of seeing and smelling Fairway’s huge display of cheeses leaves you giddy but indecisive, because you want it all, here is a must-eat list of tried-and-true local, affordable cheeses (in all stores, subject to availability, with the lowest prices around) -- complete with the cheesy details we know you love to read.
These standbys – perfect to have on hand for dinner parties, or to pair with lunch or dinner – are recommended straight from the lips of Fairway’s resident and celebrated cheesemongers Steve Jenkins and Avanelle Rivera. How does Jenkins pick his favorites time and time again? “It makes my eyes widen and makes me happy,” he says matter-of-factly. That says it all boys and girls – lead with your gut!
Cheesemaker:
Coach Farm
Location:
Gallatinville, NY
The Cheese:
Triple Cream Wheel
Why it's great:
With an incredibly creamy texture, this cheese showcases Coach Farm’s art, explains Jenkins. “It’s like ice cream without the sugar.”
Tidbits:
Does the name “Coach” ring a bell? That’s right – the high-end leather bag company and this goat-cheese producing farm have more than a name in common. They share the same founders. This cheese is also a celebrity-chef darling; Mario Batali is married to the founders’ daughter. Yep, it couldn’t be more fashionable to eat goat cheese.
Cheesemaker:
Crowley Cheese
Location:
Healdville, VT
The Cheese:
Crowley
Why it's great:
“It’s not Colby or Cheddar – it’s in between,” says Jenkins.
Tidbits:
Crowley was first produced in 1824, possibly making it the oldest continuously produced cheese in the U.S. This time-honored cheese hasn’t changed, so tasting Crowley today is like stepping back into the early nineteenth century, minus having to wear the bonnets and britches.
Cheesemaker:
Grafton Village Cheese Co.
Location:
Grafton, VT
The Cheese:
Two Year Cheddar – Classic; Four Year Cheddar - Four Star; or Grafton Maple Smoked Cheddar
Why it's great:
“Grafton is the artisanal benchmark for serious cheddar,” says Jenkins. “It’s handmade in the old tradition.”
Tidbits:
This cheese company is part of the not-for-profit Windham Foundation that was established to support and educate Vermont’s rural areas. Eating cheese has never felt so good!
Cheesemaker:
Major Farm
Location:
Vermont
The Cheese:
Vermont Shepherd
Why it's great:
“It’s a sheep’s milk Pyrenees-style cheese – an artisanal superstar,” declares Jenkins.
Tidbits:
Major Farm built the first cave in Vermont to age cheeses. Our own Steve Jenkins once spat out one of Cindy Major’s early cheeses, inspiring her to work toward winning over his palate, which she eventually conquered. A lesson in if at first you don’t succeed to impress the cheese purveyor, try and try again.
Cheesemaker:
Shelburne Farms
Location:
Shelburne, VT
The Cheese:
2-Year Aged Cheddar or 3-Year Aged Cheddar
Why it's great:
They have balanced flavor with a lingering aftertaste – hallmarks of great Cheddar, says Jenkins.
Tidbits:
Shelburne Farms is a working farm that runs educational programs and summer camps for kids. It’s enriching young children’s minds as it feeds our stomachs, and here at Fairway, we find that extremely satisfying.
