Chicago, Illinois – For nearly five years, Standard Market, a gourmet grocery retailer in Chicago’s western suburbs, has been introducing its customers to high-quality varieties of cave-aged cheese. As one of the only independent aging operations in the Midwest, its affinage program has garnered national attention for creating award-winning aged cheeses, including a recent second place Best of Show at the American Cheese Society awards in 2015. As the demand for artisanal cheese continues to rise and small creameries look to be part of a cave aged cheese program, Standard Market will meet these growing needs by opening a new facility.
The 1,000 square feet, state-of-the-art cave will be located in the Chicago suburb of Countryside and will provide a controlled environment that will help to develop the cheeses’ distinct flavor profiles and textures. The cave will house 20 tons of cheese and increase Standard Market’s aged cheese production by 700%.
David Rogers, Standard Market’s Maitre Fromager Affineur, says, “The popularity of artisanal cave aged cheeses is growing. By expanding our operation, we will be able to curate a larger collection of one-of-a-kind cheeses that are uniquely aged and with flavors unlike anything you can find at other gourmet shops. It starts when we carefully select independent creameries, primarily in the Midwest, to find quality, early-stage cheeses to transform. We cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships and work closely with the creameries throughout the affinage process as we mature cheeses to perfection.”
Standard Market’s expert cheesemongers conduct tastings with local, artisanal cheese makers to determine which young cheeses to collaborate on and then use precise affinage techniques, such as bandage wrapping, or using a beer-wash, to mature the flavor even further. The cheeses are then aged in carefully controlled temperature and humidity aging rooms for up to 18 months.
This unrivaled program also provides small creameries with an economical solution. By purchasing the young cheese in large amounts, Standard Market assists artisanal creameries, like LaClare Farms in Wisconsin, by freeing up space at their farms as well as more time and resources to devote to the production of their other cheeses.
Ken Tsang, Standard Market's director of technology and marketing, says, “We want this expansion to show we are more than just a specialty grocery store; we are also one of a few independent cheese-aging operations in the entire US. Growing our affinage operation will help us maintain our leadership in the Midwest by continuing to support the local cheese industry, as well as increase our presence in gourmet retailers and cheese shops nationwide.”
Over the last few years, Standard Market is the proud affineur of the Cave Aged Chandoka, which received two prestigious American Cheese Society awards in 2015, including second place Best of Show and first place in American Originals (original recipe from mixed milks). In addition, Standard Market has aged other industry favorites including Cave Aged Pauline and Cave Aged Tomme de Nena.
The new cheese-aging cave will be in full operation in December 2015, with increased production available in the spring. Standard Market cave aged cheese is available at its two gourmet markets in Chicago’s western suburbs (Westmont and Naperville), at Eataly in Chicago, and at select Mariano’s in the Chicago area. For more information, visit www.standardmarket.com.
About Standard Market
At Standard Market, the focus is on making the best tasting foods and providing the highest quality products at their two chef-driven gourmet markets in Chicago's western suburbs. Since 2011, Standard Market has been offering a unique food shopping experience, featuring an award-winning cheese aging cave, scratch bakery, fresh-squeezed juice bar, whole animal butcher and seafood counters, complete in-house deli, wine bar & gastropub, local- and artisan-crafted products, and fast-casual restaurant showcasing the bounty and chef talent contained in each store. Standard Market has two locations at 333 East Ogden Avenue, Westmont, Ill. 60559 and 1508 Aurora Avenue, Naperville, Ill. 60540, with a standalone Standard Market Grill located at 444 W Fullerton Pkwy, Chicago 60614. Learn more at standardmarket.com.
About Standard Market’s Creamery Partners
Proudly hailing from the Midwest, Standard Market has created industry-recognized cheese by aging young cheese from its creamery partners. Among those are: Lovera’s in Oklahoma (with whom Standard Market has won two American Cheese Society awards), Kenny's Farmhouse in Kentucky (makers of the popular Tomme de Nena and Pauline cheeses), LaClare Farms in Wisconsin (makers of the American Cheese Society award-winning Chandoka cheese), Jacobs and Brichford in Indiana, Fayette Creamery, Milton Creamery, Frisian Farms, Zingerman’s Creamery, and Landmark Creamery in Wisconsin.
Source: Standard Market
