Claire
Master Chef
Rockford! I feel your pain! But yes, right in the middle of cheese country. If you don't watch out in the part of IL, you're likely to get run over by beautiful tankers full of .... pure, clean milk .... that is on its way to a cheese "factory". I've visited several, and when the milk comes in, it is tested for everything to make sure it is clean and pure. Only then do they start the process. Then they make the regular cheeses you get on your shelf at the grocery store. BUT -- most make artisianal cheese on the side. If you go out tot he factories, you can get aged swiss, parm, etc, that they make for their own pleasure. These cheeses can challenge most of what is imported. There simply isn't a big enough market for them to sell nationally. BTW, my pepere was a cheesemaker, I think I was born with cheese in my blood.
