Where the best cheese is made on the West Coast (Did you know there are cheese schools?)

SFGate.com ^ | 1/1/12 | Diane Susan Petty

[NormsRevenge]

Soft, stinky, blue, raw and fresh. No, not oysters; rather, different types of cheese. With evidence of production dating to 2000 B.C. in Egypt, cheese was likely invented by accident when milk was transported across the scorching desert in the cleaned-out stomach of an animal (an ancient milk jug). Milk + Heat + Acid = Cheese. While it can be made from yak milk in Iceland, or moose milk in Sweden, local turophiles should be thrilled that some of the world's best cheese can be found right here on the West Coast.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Come to Tillamook, Oregon and see what you think!

[TaMoDee]

Sand Point = Sandpoint

Light House = Litehouse

[stormer]

For an "off the shelf" cheese, I'd have to agree with the Tillamook advocates. I was born not far from there, and I guess I've just got a natural affinity (just bought a block yesterday). Eat it with some Harry & David Riviera pears or Royal white peaches and it's just like being in Oregon. That said, I really love Cougar Gold, produced by the Experimental Creamery in the School of Food Science at Washington State University. If you're uninitiated and love cheese, get yourself some of this:

[alloysteel]

Been there, done that, also have been to Monroe, Wisconsin.

They have “Cheese Days” in Monroe. First and second generation Swiss cheesemakers live there, and create cheeses with all the Old World skill and craftsmanship they brought with them.

[Keith in Iowa]

http://www.oldcountrycheese.com/

I’ve procured some very good 12 year old cheddar at their brick & mortar shop...

[tubebender]

Contest is over... http://www.cypressgrovechevre.com/cheeses.html

[exDemMom]

Having been raised in the north Bay Area, I have fond memories of the Sonoma Cheese Factory, http://www.sonomacheesefactory.com/.

I’m disappointed that it isn’t mentioned in the Sonoma Marin Cheese Trail that someone linked.

[stormer]

What makes you think that anything produced west of the Mississippi is comparable to Kraft Foods? I think you need to get out a bit more. Washington State University has been producing and experimenting with dairy products since 1889, not exactly just getting started. Here are some recent awards:

Santé Magazine Gold Star Award 2009 and 2010, Cougar Gold®
American Cheese Society 2nd Place 2008, Cougar Gold®
World Cheese Awards Gold Medal 2006, Cougar Gold®
American Cheese Society Red Ribbon 2006, Crimson Fire
World Cheese Awards Silver Medal (1st in Class) 2000, Cougar Gold®
United States Cheese Champion Silver Medal 1995, Cougar Gold®
American Cheese Society Blue Ribbon 1993, Cougar Gold®
American Cheese Society Blue Ribbon 1993, Italian
American Cheese Society Blue Ribbon 1987, Smoky Cheddar

The creamery was included in the Atlas of American Artisan Cheeses and was ranked as one of America’s best university cheese producers. They don’t call WSU ‘Moo U’ for nothing...

[representativerepublic]

Maytag is absolutely the best, not just blue cheese, but other varieties as well

[Moltke]

some of the world's best cheese can be found right here on the West Coast.

I thought this article was going to be about Hollywood film studios.

[Daffynition]

Cowgirl Creamery cheeses...some of the BEST on the planet.

[artichokegrower]

Best I had was while traveling in Israel. Small place called Cheeses of Nazareth.

[Cold Heart]

Received for Christmas but have not yet read “The Guide To West Coast Cheese” by Sasha Davies. Over 300 handcrafted cheeses CA, OR, WA

Looks to be the definitive for what you are looking for.

[Daffynition]

Sorry. Tillamook is over-rated... it can’t stand up to an aged Vermont Cheddar. Grafton Classic Reserve or 5 y/o Cabot.

Tillamook is for metrosexualls. Don ‘t take that personally....but the cheese just isn’t that great.

[cmsgop]

Beechers Cheese, Seattle, there I win.....

[Cold Heart]

Tillamook bought the Bandon label and is making that cheese.
Compared to Tillamook, Bandon is more moist, less aged and made from a pasturized milk. That’s all I could get out of my sources:) You would have to talk to someone who remembers the before & after taste.

It is a shame Bandon shut down. Bandon was going out of business and Tillamook was more or less forced to buy it before Kraft did.

[Lurker]

This is probably the best west coast cheese I've ever had. The ash coated TAUPINIÈRE is outstanding.

L

[Cold Heart]

I just randomly opened the book and came to the authors top ten favorites:)

Brindisi, Burrata, Caldwell Crik Chevrette, California Crottin, Cougar Gold, Creamy Bleu, ElDorado Gold, Inverness, Jupiter Moon, Scio Heritage

You would still want to get the book.

[usadave]

I’ve procured some very good 12 year old cheddar at their brick & mortar shop...

Do you mean they sell bricks and mortar, in addition to cheese, at their shop?

[Joe Boucher]

Been all over the Tillamook-Cape Meares area.
WOW, there is a type of moss that grows off the trees because of all the cool humid air off the ocean. It will grow off branches to the ground. And the green grass.
Man, I’d be a cow there.