What Does Cheese Mean?

[Note: The recent link reminded me what a good post this is, so I've decided to run it again] A certain euro-centrism reigns in cheese appreciation circles. When I think of good cheese (really good cheese), what immediately comes to mind is an imaginary French or Italian sheep’s milk gem crafted from the milk of herds grazing in the Alps. On some level, there’s a logic... [Read more]

Interview – Steve Jones of Cheese bar

Note: Steve’s Cheese moved, and changed the name to Cheese Bar in 2010. The new address is below. Steve Jones A couple of weeks ago, Steve Jones celebrated the one year anniversary of Steve’s Cheese, his cheese and cured meats shop located in Northwest Portland. The anniversary was a milestone of sorts for this city, which up until a few years ago had only a couple... [Read more]

Five Oregon Artisan Cheeses You Shouldn’t Miss

by Tami Parr Artisanal Cheese Now that spring has officially arrived you’ll be seeing more and more local cheeses in stores as Oregon’s artisan cheesemakers go into full production for the year. You might even say cheese season has arrived! And with the start of the Portland Farmer’s Market (as well as others around the area) local cheese is now readily available directly... [Read more]

Cheese – Care and Storage

Let’s start with a basic precept: cheese is high maintenance. From production to storage to consumption, cheese demands the full attention of the cheesemaker, the cheesemonger and the cheese enthusiast. Cheese is not a food specially developed to have a long stable shelf life; you have to approach cheese storage with more patience (and perhaps a sense of adventure) than you... [Read more]

Cheese and the Seasons

You might notice that you aren’t seeing as much local artisan cheese in stores the past few months. Winter months divulge cheese-making secrets: it’s a seasonal activity. Goat and cow milk production naturally follows seasonal cycles, waning in the fall and winter and escalating in the spring and summer after pregnancies and spring births have stimulated milk production.... [Read more]

On the Price of Cheese

Montana Cheese In my last discussion about cheese here at Portland Food and Drink, several commenters mentioned price as a big part of their decision to buy (or not to buy) domestic artisan cheese. This intrigued me, so I’ve been pondering the issue for awhile. The first part of my thinking involved some retail research. I visited a local cheese purveyor a few days ago... [Read more]