Cutting The Curd

Today on Cutting the Curd, Diane Stemple is joined by a panel of guests to talk about holiday cheeses and cheese gift ideas. Joining Diane in the studio are NYC cheese geeks Jessica Kesselman, Amy Sisti-Baum, and Sarah Zaborowski. Hear what cheeses to bring to your holiday gatherings! The studio decides what cheese books and accessories would be great holiday gifts! Diane asks the question, “What American cheeses do you bring as a gift to a steadfast Euro-phile?” Hear about some great American cheeses from Jasper Hill Farms and Pleasant Ridge Reserve! Hear about the cheesemongers’ role in introducing customers to new cheeses, despite customers’ initial hesitations. What cheeses do you bring to your Kraft-loving relatives, or your wine snob friends? Find out on Cutting the Curd! This episode has been sponsored by Tabard Inn. “I have decided that I would like to be able to give people spreaders that will not break and maybe even pair it with a cheese, so that they will know what knife to use for that kind of

On Cutting the Curd we have talked about the intersections between cheese and art on previous shows, but this week host Diane Stemple highlights three personal journeys with guests Aaron Kirtz of Forever Cheese, Beth Griffenhagen of Murray’s Cheese and Adam Moskowitz of Larkin Cold Storage. Find out how each guest found cheese and ended up transitioning artistic energy into their respective cheese careers and how the two worlds are not so dissimilar. Whether you’re a food professional with a creative passion or an artist with a love for food, this episode provides great insight into the fusion of expression, art and gastronomy. This program was sponsored by The International Culinary Center. “The overarching thing for me is always being able to take risks – so i jumped into a field that i really didn’t know much about but wasn’t afraid of.” [03:15] -Aaron Kirtz of Forever Cheese on Cutting the Curd “I love taking a big idea and making it small – it’s my favorite way to create things and look at the world.”

This week on Cutting the Curd, Diane Stemple is joined in the studio by two newly graduated Certified Cheese Professionals, Amy Thompson and Elena Santogade. Amy Thompson is the head cheesemonger at Lucy’s Whey in the Chelsea Market, and Elena Santogade is the head cheesemonger at Beecher’s Handmade Cheese. Hear how Amy and Elena studied for the certification exam, and learn about the different subjects that are on the test. How has passing the exam furthered their careers in cheese? Later, hear Amy and Elena’s cheese suggestions for the Thanksgiving dinner table! Hear what cheeses are ideal for cooking, for dessert, and as appetizers! This episode has been brought to you by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. “My advice to anyone who is taking the exam this year would be to really relate it back to the reality of being a cheese professional- to relate everything back in the body of knowledge to your daily work.” [14:30] — Elena Santogade on Cutting the Curd See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Ca

Diane Stemple debuts as guest host on this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd! Diane is speaking with Aaron Foster, the Head Buyer for Murray’s Cheese about the affect of Hurricane Sandy on the New York City cheese business. Tune into hear Diane and Aaron recount the events of the storm, and how the various Murray’s spaces in the West Village, Grand Central, and Long Island City fared in the weather. Aaron tells his story from the night of the storm; hear how Aaron waded through waistdeep water through Greenpoint to check on product! Hear about the storm’s aftermath, and the damage to the Murray’s warehouse. How was Murray’s able to band together and save 8 tons of cheese? Find out on this episode of Cutting the Curd! This episode has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch. “To their credit, almost all our staff came in- by foot, car, or bike- they came from almost every borough to help clean up at Bleecker Street.” [19:00] — Aaron Foster on Cutting the Curd See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and C

Cutting the Curd returns after a brief hiatus! This week, Anne Saxelby is joined in the studio by Diane Stemple of Jasper Hill Farm. Diane will be hosting Cutting the Curd while Anne is on maternity leave! Tune in to hear how Hurricane Sandy affected the cheese business in New York City. Bedford Cheese Shop, Saxelby Cheesemongers, and Murray’s Cheese are all located in Lower Manhattan and suffered because of the storm. Veronica Pedraza of Meadowood Farms calls in to talk about her experiences last year with Hurricane Irene in Vermont, and to talk about the Dairy Sheep Association of North America Symposium this year. What barriers do people face when starting a sheep dairy? Learn why people like sheep as a multi-purpose animal, but why sheep dairies are still suffering in the United States. This episode has been brought to you by Whole Foods. “If your parents have a cow dairy, and they’re struggling to find a way to make it viable, you can turn that into a cheese-making operation. But no one’s really inherit

On this episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are joined by Kate Arding of the American Cheese Society. Kate is also the founder of Culture Magazine, and British farmstead cheese expert. Learn about the decline of artisanal British cheeses after the Industrial Revolution. Hear about mechanized cheese production, and the practice of coloring cheese. How did Neal’s Yard Dairy revive the British cheesemaking? Learn more about the role of distributors in the cheese business, and how they help to popularize small producers. Tune in to find out more about Kate’s work with American cheese, including a delicious cheese accident that occured during her time at Cowgirl Creamery! This episode has been sponsored by Susty Party. “Farmhouse cheeses were increasingly on the back burner [after the industrialization of food]. The methods of production and efficiency for cheap food were eclipsing flavor.” [5:36] “A lot of the attention understandably gets put on the producers… You can be making the be

October is American Cheese Month! On this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are talking about the newly inaugurated American Cheese Month, and what it means for artisanal cheese enthusiasts. Learn how you can get discounted farmhouse cheeses with the American Cheese Month’s Passport Program! Later, Anne and Sophie call up Christine Hyatt of Cheese-Chick.com! Tune in to hear how Christine’s time at the American Cheese Society inspired her to help found American Cheese Month. Christine also share some of her current exploits as a Cheese Chick; hear about Christine’s cheese media adventures in Oregon! You don’t want to miss out on what American Cheese Month has to offer, so check out this episode of Cutting the Curd! This episode has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch. “The people who understand and love craft are really an ideal customer for artisan cheese.” 8:40 — Christine Hyatt on Cutting the Curd See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Not

On this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are talking with author and cheesemaker Gianaclis Caldwell. In addition to running Pholia Farm, Gianaclis has written two cheese-themed books, The Farmstead Creamery Advisor and the recent Mastering Artisan Cheesemaking. Like Anne, Gianaclis comes from a studio art background; hear why Gianaclis left the art world to embrace cream and curd. Tune into listen to Gianaclis talk about what she learned from writing her books, and why it was important to filter and edit information to make her books pertinent to beginning cheesemakers. Cheesemaking isn’t necessarily a recipe – so many elements are interchangeable! Hear why cheesemaking can be so fragile, and learn some of Gianaclis’ tips for making reliable cheese. Learn more about the scale at Pholia Farm, as well as the types of cheeses that the farm produces. This program has been sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. “You can stay true to you art with cheese, but if you’re work

We’re talking cheese tools on this week’s installment of Cutting the Curd! Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger talk with Kristy Hadeka and Sean Tice of Brooklyn Slate. Hear about how a graphic and fashion designer came to start a small company to plate cheese and serve beverages! Learn about the different processes that Kristy and Sean use to crack and extract slate. How did Kristy and Sean’s families react to the idea of Brooklyn Slate? Later, Anne and Sophie call Martijn Bos of Boska in Amsterdam. Hear about Martijn’s roots in the cheese world, and why he decided to build Boska into a company of cheese accessories. Hear about some of Martijn’s products, such as the Partyclette and the cheese curler. Learn how you can implement Boska’s tools into your cheesemaking and your kitchen! To wrap up the episode, Anne and Sophie share some of their favorite cheese accessories that they use in their homes and at Saxelby Cheesemongers! This episode has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch. “The thinner the slice, the b

This week, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger call up New York state dairy farmer Lorraine Lewendowsky for a report from the New York State Yogurt Summit. Lorraine is not only a dairy farmer, but an activist in the New York food community. Tune in to hear Lorraine talk about the percentage of yogurt that is made from large farms versus small farms. Learn about the environmental effects of New York state yogurt boom, and hear about some of the past trials that dairy farmers have had to face in the state. Learn about the importance of the food security in an import-heavy economy, and why New York state dairy farmers were prevented from organizing for collective bargaining rights. This episode has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch. “About 9% of all New York State milk goes into yogurt.” “If you’re going to incentivise the large farms, you should incentivise the smaller farms as well.” “I think the food movement should start incorporating the average farmer, not just the artisan farmer.” — Lorraine Lewendowsky on C

Cutting the Curd is back from summer vacation, and Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are reviewing some of the best cheese-focused events of the summer. Hear about the American Cheese Society Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the new Certified Cheese Professional Exam. Learn about some of the best cheeses in-show from all across the country. Also, hear about the upcoming Washington County Cheese Tour in New York, and the Nutmegger Cheese and Wine Festival at Jones Family Farm in Shelton, Connecticut. Later, Anne and Sophie talk with Tressa Eaton, Editor for Tasting Table New York. Hear how Tressa’s varied background in the food world has given her not only experience, but a greater appreciation for food professionals. Hear Tressa talk about some of her favorite foodie events of the summer, and make sure to check out Tasting Table for more updates! This program has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch. “In my currrent work, I’m interviewing farmers, cheesemongers, vintners, chefs, and restauranteurs.

On this week’s Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are traveling via the airwaves to Oregon! That’s right, this week’s episode is all about the state of cheese in Oregon. The Oregonian that Anne and Sophie are talking to is Sasha Davies, cheesemonger and author of The Guide to West Coast Cheese and The Cheesemaker’s apprentice. Anne, Sophie, and Sasha talk about how Portland is similar to Brooklyn in terms of artisanal food production; Portland’s got a huge population of homebrewers, picklers, and homemade cheesemakers! Sasha is also the creator of the website CheeseByHand.com, an enormous resource for cheeseheads all over the country! Also, Sasha recommends some of the best places to buy quality cheese in Portland. Later, Anne and Sophie call up Carine Goldin, an Oregon goat cheese producer. Hear why Carine’s space in Oregon is wonderful climate for raising goats and making cheese, and some of the gatherings for cheesemakers in the area. This episode has been sponsored by Cain Vineyard &

On today’s episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are remembering the life and work of cheesemonger, educator, writer, and chef Daphne Zepos. Anne and Sophie speak with two call-in guests for the occasion. Ari Weinzweig of Zingerman’s recalls Daphne’s passion and eloquence when it came to cheese. Ari also talks about some trips he took with Daphne in pursuit of good cheese, and her dedication to spreading the word about cheese and food education. Katherine Alford, currently of The Food Network, was Daphne’s teacher at Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School, better known as The Institute of Culinary Education. Listen in to hear Katherine reminisce about a trip to Daphne’s childhood home in Greece, where they watched shepherds milk goats and create cheese in the most traditional of ways. To contribute to Daphne’s cheese education vision, please visit Cheesefoundation.org and make a donation in Daphne Zepos’ memory. This program has been brought to you by Whole Foods. “There was this majes

What’s the state of cheese in Arizona? On this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are talking with some cheese people from Arizona in the know! First up, we have Krista and Troy Daily from the Wedge and Bottle, a new cheese shop in Phoenix, Arizona. Find out what got Krista and Troy interested in cheese, as well as some of the local and imported cheese that they sell in their shop. What’s in store for Wedge and Bottle in terms of cheese education and tastings? Next, Anne and Sophie talk with Rhonda Crow from Crow’s Dairy in Buckeye, Arizona. Tune in to learn why Nubian goats thrive in the Arizona climate, and how goat dairies are growing throughout the state. Hear about some of Crow’s Dairy’s delicious treats, including goat milk gelato! This episode has been sponsored by Fairway Market. “It seems that everyone with five or more goats is trying to start a cheese dairy [in Arizona]. It has really boomed…there’s a lot of inquiry about staring a small dairy, and I think that’

On this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are in the studio talking about the Cheesemonger Invitational. First, Anne and Sophie talk with Adam Smith of Cowgirl Creamery in Washington, D.C. Adam was this year’s Cheesemonger Invitational champion, and he discusses the rigors of the cheese competition. Hear about the different facets of the contest, including everything from a “plate the slate” test to a blind tasting. Later, Adam Moskowitz, founder of the Cheesemonger Invitational, joins Anne and Sophie in the studio. Tune in to hear how the contest has grown, what are the aims of the competition, and Adam’s hopes for the invitational in the future. Tune in to hear how your favorite cheesemonger scored in the competition! This program has been brought to you by Heritage Meat Shop. “The first year- it was about the party. The second year- it was about the monger. And the third year- it was about the community, and I hope the community aspect continues to grow and prosper.” —

On this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are talking with Sandor Katz, author of the book The Art of Fermentation. Tune in to hear about how bacterial cultures are reflections of our cultural identity! Anne, Sophie, and Sandor also discuss the war on bacteria, and how it is completely antithetical to boosting one’s immune system and can be seen as harmful to one’s health. Sandor praises the merits of fermented food and beverage, such as wine, salami, sauerkraut, and our favorite- cheese! Hear about how the work of Louis Pasteur has made it difficult for modern cheesemakers to produce raw milk cheeses. Learn more about urbanization and how it initiated a need for sterility. Grab a block of your favorite fermented cheese and tune into this episode to find out more information about the health benefits of fermented foods! This episode has been sponsored by White Oak Pastures. “As a group, these cultured foods or fermented foods, are more than incidental culinary novelties.

On this episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are on the phone with Rynn Caputo of the Caputo Brothers Creamery in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania. Recently, Rynn came into Saxelby Cheesemongers in the Essex Street Market and showed Anne her mozzarella-making process! Tune in to hear about how Rynn and her husband set out with the intention of becoming chefs, and became makers of fine Italian-style cheeses. Learn about the different proteins that are present in milk, and how they make their way into different types of cheeses. At the end of the episode, Rynn describes the processes she uses to make mozzarella- starting with the curd and ending with stretching. This episode has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch. “Our biggest hurdle to overcome is just really making people understand what it means for it to be fermented, what it means for it actually to be cheese, why mozzarella should actually taste like something. Then, we’re assuring people that it’s easy [to make].” — Rynn Caputo on

On today’s episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are talking with Chris Vamos, president of Milkman Cheese Services. Tune in to hear about cheese in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California. Chris believes that younger cheesemakers are so eager to please all palettes, that they make several types of cheese without having a focus. Hear about Chris’s role in advising cheesemakers with his company, Milkman Cheese Services. While Chris takes cheese very seriously, he sees the humor in the cheese business and makes it accessible to everyone. To hear more, tune in to this episode of Cutting the Curd- sponsored by White Oak Pastures. “Consistency is huge. That’s something I want to hammer into my cheesemakers. If you can make the same great product week in and week out, that is enormous. You want to cut out the peaks and valleys as much as you can.” — Chris Vamos on Cutting the Curd See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com

Leave all of your stereotypes about “diets” and “dieting” behind! On this episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are talking with Elizabeth Fassberg, Registered Dietician and president of Eatfood (and her son, Jack) about nutrition and healthy dietary habits. Tune in to hear about Elizabeth’s start in the food world making cakes at age fourteen. Hear about how her experiences working with low-income youth inspired her to become a dietician. You might not expect a dietician to tell you to eat a lot of cheese, but Elizabeth is here to tell you all about the health benefits of eating cheese. As with anything, always consume in moderation- but cheese is filled with calcium and vitamins that are extremely beneficial to your health! Find out more; tune into this week’s Cutting the Curd. This episode has been brought to you by Cain Vineyard and Winery. “I consider myself a foodie dietician because my background is all about food and how to eat really wholesome and delicious food. I don’t al

This week is Cutting the Curd’s 100th episode! Congratulations to Anne Saxelby, Sophie Slesinger, and everyone else who has either been a guest or supported Cutting the Curd thus far! For this very special episode, Brian Keyser, Dimitri Saad, and Leigh Friend of Casellula Cheese & Wine Café are in the studio for a seven-course cheese tasting! More specifically, Anne and Sophie are taking a lesson in cheese pairing from everyone at Casellula. Hear about some of the cheese condiments at Casellula, as well as how to do your own cheese pairing with food from your pantry. Learn some general basics in terms of complimentary and contrasting tastes and textures. Sit down with a plate of cheese and some of your favorite snacks to pair, and listen to the 100th episode of Cutting the Curd! This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch. “There are no rules to pairing- that’s something I like to make clear. Whatever you like to eat together is what goes well together… But two rules of thumb are that you either want to