Welcome to the cheese of the month! Every month, I aim to introduce to you a little wedge of glory that will awaken your inner curd nerd. Without further ado, say hello to Bloomsdale, a soft-ripened goats milk cheese dusted with ash from Baetje Farms in Missouri.
Baetje Farms is a farmstead creamery, meaning they own, pamper, and milk all of their little goats. Steve and Veronica Baetje have made cheese for more than 10 years and owned goats since 1998. Their herd is about as loved as your aunt’s toy poodle: the goats sip an unlimited supply of filtered spring water as well as warm organic herbal teas (seriously). Their diet consists of organic mineral supplements, locally grown alfalfa hay and antibiotic-free whole grains, customized to provide the perfect ratio of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Naturally, they are never confined, but free to romp and play as they please. Baetje Farms is a goat’s paradise, and that shows in the luscious goat milk, and eventually the cheese.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Chicagoist