As anyone who's tasted the delightful sweetness of a Wisconsin cheddar or the creamy, smooth finish of a goat cheese from Minnesota can attest: The Midwest is a cheese powerhouse. The area churns out delicious curds and whey made from exceptional ingredients in an area with the largest concentration of creameries in the country—Wisconsin alone has 129 cheesemaking plants, surpassing every state and producing more than 600 types of cheese.
Now, an annual cheese festival dedicated to sampling and buying small-batch, artisan cheeses made specifically in the Midwest celebrates that cheesy legacy. Cheesetopia is in its second year—the first was in Milwaukee and this year’s is in Chicago on April 10—and brings together around 40 cheesemakers. Attendees can sample more than 200 specialty cheeses that usually aren’t available in stores. It's pure cheese heaven, Midwest style.
Jeanne Carpenter, Cheesetopia’s founder, requires that the actual cheesemaker come to the show and exhibit the cheese. The reason behind the rule is simple, she tells Smithsonian.com: People want to meet the people who make their food. For some, meeting the person who makes their favorite cheese is like a brush with celebrity. Carpenter has seen people almost start to cry when they're introduced to the farmer behind their favorite variety. “It’s like meeting a rock star,” she says.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Smithsonian.com
