In The Bag Fall 2022
This season, as colder temperatures begin to nudge us indoors, we’re starting to dream up our perfect fall and winter gatherings. We asked Eastside’s resident cheese monger Ixchel Gillman to highlight some of the local cheeses we carry, because the key to any good gathering is a delightful cheese board, right!?
1. Alemar Creamery – Bent River, Good Thunder, St. James, Saketah
A perpetual staff favorite, Alemar cheeses are produced in small batches in Northeast’s own FOOD BUILDING. Each little jewel of local artisan cheesemaking offers something special. The original Alemar cheese, Bent River Camembert, is creamy, buttery, and earthy - amazing on a crusty Bakersfield Filone loaf.
2. Northern Lights Blue
Minnesota cheesemaker Joe Sherman’s signature blue cheese has a loyal following for very good reasons. This raw milk farmstead blue is a melt in your mouth flavor bomb. The milk is produced by a small herd of pasture grazed Brown Swiss cows and the result is a blue with gorgeous notes of sweet cream and fresh hay. Try it with crisp Minnesota apples.
3. Shepherd’s Way Creamery – Hidden Falls
This lovely little wheel of sheep milk brie is made just an hour south of Minneapolis at one of the longest operating sheep milk farmstead creameries in the country. If you are new to trying sheep milk cheese, Hidden Falls is the perfect gateway. Lusciously creamy, mild, and nutty - this one is a cheese board star.
4. Redhead Creamery – Little Lucy Brie
Little Lucy is one tasty little nugget of cheese. It’s the perfect size to a be cheese board centerpiece or tucked in with berries and a baguette for an easy and decadent picnic. Founded at the age of 19 by Alise Sjostrom, Redhead Creamery represents the next generation of local farmstead artisan cheesemaking – and it’s delicious!
5. Eichten’s Creamery – Herb Gouda, Tomato Basil Gouda
Classics of Minnesota cheesemaking, Eichten’s flavor packed goudas are some of our favorite snacking cheeses. Perfect for a late night (or anytime) cheese and cracker craving.
6. Red Barn Creamery – Cupola
Sweet and nutty with notes of pineapple and caramel and finishing with a delightful crunch, Red Barn Cupola is one of our favorite original cheeses. Founded by a large animal veterinarian, Red Barn cheeses are produced with milk from small family farms and their mission includes an emphasis on animal welfare and fair trade practices.
7. Deer Creek – The Fawn, The Stag, The Imperial Buck
Deer Creek cheddars are clothbound and aged to perfection in 20 pound wheels. Eastside carries three distinct ages of this signature white cheddar; from the delicate and sweet Fawn, to the flavor packed sharpness of the Stag, and finally the rich and complex Imperial Buck.
8. Marieke Creamery – raw milk goudas
Founded by Marieke Penterman after she emigrated to Wisconsin from the Netherlands, these raw milk farmstead goudas are unbelievably creamy and unique. Eastside features a rotating seasonal array of her many goudas including Honey Clover, Bacon, and Truffle.
9. Milton Creamery – Prairie Breeze
Who doesn’t love Prairie Breeze! If you haven’t tried it yet, ask our cheese staff for a sample and odds are you’ll be instantly hooked. The richness and crunchy crystals and the perfect balance of sweetness and sharpness make for cheddar perfection. Try it with local apple or pears or melted over a burger.
10. Caves of Faribault – St. Pete’s Select Blue
Aged in the caves of Faribault Minnesota, St. Pete’s is a lovely staple blue for anything from a cheese board to arugula salads, to pizza, to creamy dressings and sauces.
11. Bare Honey Minis
Locally produced in Minnesota, Bare Honey has several delightful varieties of honey in the perfect size for a cheese or charcuterie board. Try the Lavender honey drizzled over a sharp white cheddar, or the Hot and Spicy over a creamy brie.
12. Velvet Bees Honey Butter
Once you try this honey butter, there’s pretty much no going back. Equally amazing over blue cheese or brie as it is slathered on pancakes or biscuits. Family owned and operated in the Twin Cities, it’s a staple item in our specialty cheese case and makes for an awesome gift if you can stand to part with it.