Emilia D’Albero (above), cheesemonger at Brooklyn’s Greene Grape Provisions, a CCP, and runner-up at this year’s CMI, was interviewed by InsideHook about her popular TikTok account, @punkrockparmigiano. Whether it’s breaking down a big wheel or sharing a day in the life of a New York cheesemonger, her videos are informative and fun to watch.
Feast and Field, an online platform for food storytelling launched last spring by the St. Louis Dispatch, profiled Boston-based Formaggio Kitchen and owner Ihsan Gurdal as part of a larger feature about building a charcuterie board.
Carlisle, PA monger Stephanie Beeman was the subject of a profile in Lancaster Farming. She currently operates Central Wedge Cheese Shop—where she offers exclusively Pennsylvania-made cheeses—out of her family’s bakery, while she builds her own location nearby.
The Des Moines Register celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Cheese Shop of Des Moines, which has become a destination in Iowa’s capital city. The shop is operated by chef and cheesemonger C.J. Beinert, and his wife, Kari Beinert, who also co-own an affiliated restaurant, The Cheese Bar.
The Mercury News spotlighted The Tasting House, a new wine, cheese, and chocolate shop and tasting room in Los Gatos, CA, owned by Denise and Mike Thornberry. Just the online shop is open at present; the physical space is expected to welcome visitors in January 2022. The shop’s website lists an advisory team that includes former cheese shop owner, Judy Creighton, known as The Cheese Lady, who serves as cheesemonger and cheese program director at Lavender Ridge Vineyard in Murphys.
The Watertown Daily Times reported that James Kraemer, owner of Kraemer Wisconsin Cheese shops in Watertown and Hot Springs, Arkansas, died last week at 90. In addition to his long career in the dairy and cheese business, Kraemer also held several positions in local government.
Susan Axelrod
Susan Sherrill Axelrod is a former editor of Culture. Her love affair with cheese began at age 12, when she bicycled to a gourmet shop to taste an exotic newcomer—French brie. She lives with her partner in midcoast Maine, where she enjoys a well-made cocktail, hiking with their dog, Lucy, and spending as much time as possible on the water.
