Created in small batches and crafted carefully by hand, American artisanal gourmet cheese employs traditional methods and milk from local farms enabling the cheese maker to capture the subtle nuances particular to the region. In honor of Thanksgiving we are celebrating the ingenuity of the American artisanal cheese maker and the pioneers that go beyond European tradition. In the spirit of culinary adventure, these cheese makers have produced uncommonly delectable gourmet cheeses by tapping into the American sensibility of striking out on their own, carving their own path and differentiating themselves from the classics. Below are just a few of our favorites you’ll find at The Cheese Ambassador.

Cocoa Cardona by Carr Valley Cheese, Central Wisconsin
What do you get when you combine chocolate with cheese? Goat cheese is aged for 8 months and then rubbed with cocoa to form a brown rind. The nutty and slightly sweet flavors of the goat cheese contrast beautifully with the hint of chocolate. This unique and surprisingly tasty combination is crafted by Sid Cook, a master cheese maker who has won more national and international awards than any other cheese maker in North America.

Classic Blue Log by Westfield Farms, Central Massachusetts
The tangy kick of goat cheese meets the punch of blue cheese in this delectable one-of-a-kind chevre. This handmade, farmstead, aged goat cheese features a Roquefort rind and is one of the few goat cheeses with external blue molds in the world. Despite the name, it’s decidedly un-classic. Bob and Debby Stetson have been making distinctive goat cheeses for more than 25 years. The American Cheese Society has honored Westfield Farms and the Classic Blue Log year after year at their annual cheese competition.

Purple Moon by Fiscalini Farms, Northern California
Everyone knows that wine and gourmet cheese are a match made in culinary heaven. Master cheese maker Mariano Gonzales of Fiscalini Farms (a 100 year old dairy farm) takes this concept on step further by marinating their farmstead, 6-month aged cheddar in a California North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, hence the purple hue. Not only is the taste exceptionally delicious but it takes the guesswork out of finding the right wine pairing.

Purple Haze by Cypress Grove, Northern California
Cheese maker and former alpine goat breeder Mary Keehn is making this difficult to chose just one Cypress Grove gourmet cheese to showcase but Purple Haze is no doubt the most original. This fresh goat cheese is studded with lavender buds and fennel pollen. These aromatic additions lend a sweetness to the lactic tang. An excellent dessert cheese, Purple Haze is divine with a drizzle of honey.

Montasio Festivo by Mozzarella Company, Northern Texas
While this is yet another goat cheese, I guarantee you haven’t had one like this before. Cheese maker Paula Lambert has revolutionized cheese in the United States by incorporating Mexican ingredients. Montasio Festivo is a hand-crafted goat cheese that has been aged for up to a year. Rubbed with ancho chile pepper and olive oil to form a rust red rind, it’s nutty and complex with a zippy bite.

Author Bio: Even though her passion for gourmet cheese was undying, Sara Kahn found shopping for it to be overwhelming, time consuming and confusing. She established The Cheese Ambassador to offer a simple way to select and serve cheese. Discover the robust selection of cheese gifts and gourmet cheese for home entertaining.

Category: Cooking
Keywords: gourmet cheese,american artisanal cheese,artisanal cheese,american cheese,thanksgiving cheese