Described as the “Olympics of cheesemongering,” the Cheesemonger Invitational has crowned its latest champion: Jordan Edwards of Chicago’s Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine.

Edwards, who was a finalist in last summer’s invitational, earned top scores in the aroma test and all three food service rounds. This summer’s competition was held on June 24 in Queens, N.Y.

“The Cheesemonger Invitational is like American Gladiators but with cheese,” said Edwards in a press release. “Thx to all the mongers for making me feel like part of a family instantly.”

The biannual competition tests mongers on everything from salesmanship, to slicing and wrapping cheese, to pairings and food preparation. 

Check out the photos below for Edwards’ winning food service plates.

Edwards’ “Perfect Beverage”: New York Sour, featuring fresh lime, simple syrup, cherry vanilla bitters, Willett bourbon, and a float of Tawny Port paired with Colston Bassett Stilton

Edwards’ “Perfect Plate”: Mini glazed carrots, sweet curry, honey butter, ruby port-pickled pearl onions, duro almonds, white port, cinnamon, mace, tart ananas, pink peppercorns, and turbinado brûlée

Edwards’ “Perfect Bite”: Elotito, featuring Vermont Creamery chèvre, freeze-dried corn, sweet paprika, torched corn, and corn cob ash

This summer’s Cheesemonger Invitational finalists were Beth Hillig Falk of Mill City Cheesemongers in Lowell, Mass.; Kyra James of Formaggio Kitchen South End in Boston; Eric Schack of Eataly NYC Downtown; Rory Stamp of Dedalus Wine in Burlington, Vt.; and Shannon Voelkel of C’est Cheese in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Forty cheesemongers from nine states participated.

Congratulations to Edwards and the finalists!

Photo Credits: Ellen Cronin

Alyssa Kim

Alyssa is culture's former Web Editor. Raised in Mass., she's excited to be back in her home state after six years of working in journalism and TV production in NYC.