Wisconsin Cheeses Win Top Awards At World Championship Cheese Contest

This past week master cheese-makers from 20 different countries met in Madison, Wisconsin to compete in the World Championship Cheese Contest. 2,318 different artisan cheeses, separated into 79 categories, vied for the gold medal of their class and the top award of world's best cheese. The Swiss Gruyere created by cheese-master Cedric Gragniere for Emmi Kase AG was named 2010 World Champion. But Wisconsin cheese-makers won 21 of the 79 gold medals for best in class, far more than any other single region.
The gold medal winner of the class of flavored Goudas was Burning Melange created by cheese-maker Marieke Penterman of Holland Family Cheese. Her flavored foenegreek Gouda won the silver medal at the 2008 World Championship Cheese Contest. My personal favorite is her smoked Gouda.
Master cheese-maker, Al O'Brien of Mt. Sterling Cheese Co-op, won 2nd place for his cave-aged raw goat milk cheddar. Delicious!
The University of Wisconsin's Babcock Dairy won best of class for its Edam Gouda! And Wisconsin's Zimmerman Cheese got the gold and silver for its Quesos Para Fundir.
Click on the link for the complete list of 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest results. To order award-winning, Wisconsin cheeses delivered to your home visit Wisconsinmade.com.

Waiting For March In Wisconsin By Eating Gourmet Specialty Foods

What do Wisconsinites do the last week of February? We wait for March. And what do we eat while waiting? We eat meat! Specialty meat! February is meat month at Wisconsinmade.com!!! Yes, we are loving those brats, those steaks, those bison snacks, those bacon slabs, and those summer sausages. Not to be missed, we're chasing those free-range chickens. We're snagging those rushing water trout and salmon. Yes, this time of year we crave massive amounts of nutritious protein to fortify our bodies for winter's last blasts of snow and ice.
Of course our scrumptious Wisconsin cheeses aid our efforts. We are melting award-winning cheeses on our burgers! We're doing all we can to forget the cold and that means eating deliciously warm, flavorful meats, fish, chicken, and cheeses.
Salads and fruits we long for you to adorn our summer tables. We crave your fresh, garden sweetness. But in the meantime, it's meat-time! Party On and we'll March toward May.

Spread The Love, Spread The Cheese, Wisconsin Crackers Make Happy Tongues At Packer Parties

Watching football with friends is a recipe for a good time. In Wisconsin, our Green Bay Packer parties are the easiest parties to give. All a host need supply are the beverages and snacks. A host's fussing over heated appetizers or fancy desserts would not only be unappreciated but could dampen the happy mood. If one person is uptight about the food, then everybody will be uncomfortable. So best to take it easy and serve the classic, best-loved, easy-to-serve, true Wisconsin appetizer: WISCONSIN CHEESE AND CRACKERS. When you've got Wisconsin cheese, you don't need any other food...except maybe a great cracker.
And now Wisconsin is also making extraordinary crackers. These crackers aren't greasy with trans-fats. They're light and crisp because they're baked with wholesome ingredients. The wonderful flavor of the organic wheat crackers compliments a variety of cheeses. One of the most popular cracker flavors is the organic caraway rye. Nothing beats the flavor combo of rye and Swiss cheese.
But the real flavor of Wisconsin comes through in the cranberry and wild rice organic crackers. In addition to its gourmet cheeses, Wisconsin is famous for its cranberries and wild rice. Spread Wisconsin cheese on these cranberry and wild rice crackers and you'll spread the love of Wisconsin. Wisconsin cheese on Wisconsin crackers make happy tongues at Packer parties. On Wisconsin!

Wisconsin Beer And Wine: Fine Drinking With Gourmet Artisan Cheeses And Bratwursts

Wisconsin has a well-deserved reputation for superior-tasting beers. A thirsty traveler can find a great Wisconsin beer on any off-beaten path. If you need directions, a helpful guide book is Breweries of Wisconsin by Jerry Apps The guide was so popular that Jerry had to write an updated 2nd edition. Another excellent travel guide for the beer enthusiast is Wisconsin's Best Breweries and Brewpubs, authored by UW-Madison life sciences professor and beer-connoisseur, Robin Shepard. Beer is one of the classics studied at UW. And following years of conscientious tasting, graduating Wisconsin gourmets can effortlessly recommend the perfect beers to pair with Wisconsin's artisan cheeses and bratwursts.
Sadly, in the bright light of excellent beers, our Wisconsin wines are over-shadowed. Yes, some of us grow grapes in addition to corn and soybeans. And some WI horticulturists transform the fruit of the vine into sensational wines. In fact, WI has 21 wineries, less than half the number of beer-brewing establishments, but still a respectable number. And fall is grape-harvesting season, - time to go to a WI winery to sample different wines. Nibble your favorite artisanal cheese as you sip. When the warming glow of good wine and flavorful cheeses elevate your mood, you'll consider throwing your own wine and cheese party.
Inviting friends to enjoy a Wisconsin selection of wines and cheeses is an easy, relaxing, and wonderfully fun way to celebrate the fall harvest. With enough gourmet food and spirits, we won't be cold in Wisconsin for a long time.