Articles written by Amber Chase
Amber Chase brings a breadth of food knowledge, a hearty work ethic, and a very high gluten tolerance to her journalism career. Her years have been shared between Charleston, South Carolina, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In a past life, she co-owned a bakery, starting her mornings at dawn and returning home covered in flour and coffee grounds. Her other full-time gig is parenting her daughter, Nova, who will no doubt grow to be her superior.
Where to Find Some of the Most Unique Cheese in Appalachia
The winding roads of Appalachia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are characterized by jutting pine trees, sprouting wildflowers, and a hazy blue blanket of mist. The serenity and mystique surrounding these mountains have long drawn artisans, makers, and storytellers to take root in the foothills. That same allure brought cheesemaker and glassblower Victor Chiarizia to Fairview, North Carolina in 2005. A self-starter by nature, Chiarizia fell in love with the traditional methods of crafting cave-aged cheeses. In 2010, he took a backhoe to the side of the mountain on his property and carved his own cheese cave, launching Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery. Little did Chiarizia know, this cave—a testament to his creativity and grit—would soon withstand one of the most devastating natural disasters to ever hit North Carolina.
