Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.

Cheese Tasting With The League of Urban Cheesemakers In San Francisco!

Hello, my friends! If there’s one thing I’ve learned from writing about cheese all these years, it’s that making it is HARD. It’s such a precise craft, with thousands of factors along the way that can make or break your final wheel. I probably haven’t thrown myself into cheesemaking because I’m a little intimidated by the immense patience, precision, and dedication it requires. Luckily, though, I got to meet a group of home cheesemakers who have. They’re the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco, and they meet regularly to share their knowledge, their successes, their failures, and learn this crazy craft together.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Welcome to 18 Reasons! There are cooking classes and events here all the time!

For this meeting, they convened at 18 Reasons, an event space in the Mission district of San Francisco owned by Bi-Rite Market, and a food education paradise. Usually, the League plans for one cheese recipe to be presented at each meeting, so that there are a dozen variations on the same theme. This time, however, it was a free-for-all, and everyone brought their take on whatever they wished. There were so many delightful creations, including a group-made Appenzeller-style cheese, a rather runny Raclette, a small round of Jarlsberg, a bark-wrapped Reblochon, one raw-milk blue cheese, a very soft, creamy take on cheddar, neatly-cubed feta . . . just to name a few!

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Stephanie shows off her Raclette and tiny chèvre buttons.

On top of the great cheese-tasting, the crowd was SO wonderfully kind and welcoming. I’ve always found this to be true: cheese people are some of the most intelligent, quirky, and creative folks you can meet! Making cheese requires such care and precision, and is such an intense DIY activity. Consequently, it attracts people who are willing to rise to the challenge. Hopefully, we’ll get to join them for their next meeting this summer! Instead of offering cheese, though, we’ll make some bread to share.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
One very soft, creamy cheddar. I loved it.

Thank you to Stephanie Soleil, one of the group’s organizers, for inviting me to meet such a talented crew! I had so much fun tasting all of these cheeses, and hearing about the challenges behind each wheel’s creation! If you’re in the SF Bay Area, and want to start making cheese with the League, shoot me an email and I’ll put you in touch!

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
What a great crowd! Cheese people are often so happy and friendly!

And, if you just want to try making cheeses at home, check out books like Kitchen Creamery by Louella Hill [affiliate link], or a home cheese making kit [affiliate link].

Here are more cheesy images from our magical afternoon together:

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
I am so glad there is a place like 18 Reasons in San Francisco!

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Appenzeller, made by the entire League. It was strong and delicious! See a piece of it in the featured image.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Cheddars past.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Where there’s cheese, there’s wine, and where there’s both of these things, there are French people. No joke, there were a lot of French people, including M. Cheesemonger.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Eat all the things! Note the feta in the front corner.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
An attempt at cambozola, except the blue didn’t take hold. It was still creamy and delightful.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Washed-rind havarti. I’d make a Tartiflette with this . . . .

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Fresh ricotta with lavender. For some reasons, I can never get enough fresh cheese!

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
One particularly lush Reblochon. What a great, full flavor this one had!

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
The only blue in the bunch, made from raw cow’s milk. This one had it all–creamy, soft texture and deep, rich flavors.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
There aren’t many better ways to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
At 18 Reasons!

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
You can never have too many chef’s knives.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
A rather cute wheel of Jarlsberg!

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Soon to be devoured. Gosh, I’m hungry now.


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Bonjour, mes amis ! Si j’ai appris une chose en écrivant ce blog, c’est que le fromage est énormément difficile à faire ! C’est un vrai art, extrêmement minutieux, avec des milliers d’éléments qui peuvent avoir un effet sur votre résultat. J’hésite de m’y lancer car c’est un peu intimidant—il faut tant de patience, de précision et de dévouement pour faire du bon fromage. Heureusement, si je voulais m’y mettre, il y a un beau groupe de gens à San Francisco qui pourrait m’aider. C’est la Ligue des Fromagers Urbains, et ils se réunissent régulièrement pour partager leur savoir-faire, leurs succès et leurs échecs et apprendre l’art du fromage ensemble.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Welcome to 18 Reasons! ||| Bienvenue à 18 Reasons !

La Ligue s’est convenue à 18 Reasons, un espace dans le quartier du Mission de San Francisco, tenu par Bi-Rite Market et consacré à l’éducation cuisinière. Un véritable paradis gourmet ! Souvent, les membres de la Ligue choisissent la même recette à présenter à chaque réunion. Chaque personne fait sa version et la présente aux autres. Pourtant, cette fois, chacun a présenté ce qu’il voulait. Il y avait tant de belles créations à déguster : un Appenzeller fait par tout le monde, une belle Raclette un peu coulante, une roue de Jarlsberg, du Reblochon emballé dans une écorce d’arbre, un fromage bleu au lait cru, du cheddar moelleux, du féta coupé en dès . . . et ce n’était même pas tout !

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Stephanie shows off her Raclette and tiny chèvre buttons. ||| Stéphanie nous montre sa Raclette et des petits boutons de chèvre.

En plus de ce beau fromage, les gens étaient tellement accueillants et chaleureux vers M. Cheesemonger et moi. J’ai toujours trouvé ces qualités chez les gens qui font partie de cette communauté de fromage—les « fromagistes » sont parmi les gens les plus intelligents, originaux et créatifs au monde ! Faire le fromage exige tant de soin et de précision, et c’est tellement difficile à maîtriser. Par conséquent, cet art attire les gens qui sont prêts à accepter le défi. J’espère que M. Cheesemonger et moi pourrons les joindre lors de leur prochaine réunion ! Nous fournirons le pain fait maison !

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
One very soft, creamy cheddar. I loved it. ||| Un très doux, moelleux cheddar. Je l’ai adoré !

Merci à Stéphanie Soleil (oui, une française) une des organisatrices de la Ligue, de m’avoir invitée à cette réunion ! Ce fut un grand plaisir de faire la connaissance de tout le monde et de déguster tant de fromages ! Si vous êtes à San Francisco et vous vous intéressez à la Ligue des Fromagers Urbains, contactez moi et je vous mettrai en contact avec eux !

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
What a great crowd! Cheese people are often so happy and friendly! ||| Quels gens chaleureux ! Les amateurs de fromage sont si heureux et aimables. :)

Et si vous vous intéressez à faire des recherches sur faire votre propre fromage, lisez Kitchen Creamery de Louella Hill [lien d’affiliation] ou achetez un kit pour faire du fromage [lien d’affiliation].

Voici encore des belles images de l’après-midi :

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
18 Reasons’ admirable food-focused mission statement! ||| La mission de 18 Reasons expliquée !

Appenzeller, made by the entire League. It was strong and delicious! See a piece of it in the featured image. ||| De l'Appenzeller, fait par toute la Ligue. Regardez la belle photo de la tranche en haut de l'article.
Appenzeller, made by the entire League. It was strong and delicious! See a piece of it in the featured image. ||| De l’Appenzeller, fait par toute la Ligue. Regardez la belle photo de la tranche en haut de l’article.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Cheddars past. ||| Des bouts de cheddar.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Where there’s cheese, there’s wine, and where there’s both of these things, there are French people. ||| Là où il y a du fromage, il y a du vin. Et là où il y a les deux, il y a des français. C’est vrai, les français sont nombreux à la Ligue !

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Eat all the things! Note the feta in the front corner. ||| Mangez tout ! Et notez le beau féta dans le coin en bas à droite.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
An attempt at cambozola, except the blue didn’t take hold. It was still delicious. ||| Une tentative de cambozola. Il n’avait pas de veines bleues, mais c’était bon quand même !

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Washed-rind havarti. ||| Du havarti à croûte lavée.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Fresh ricotta with lavender. ||| De la ricotta fraîche garnie des fleurs de lavande.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
One particularly lush Reblochon. ||| Du Reblochon emballé dans une écorce d’arbre.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
The only blue in the bunch, made from raw cow’s milk. ||| Le seul fromage bleu du lot, au lait cru.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
There aren’t many better ways to spend a Sunday afternoon! ||| Une belle façon de passer un dimanche aprés-midi !

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
At 18 Reasons! ||| A 18 Reasons !

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
You can never have too many chef’s knives. ||| On ne peut jamais avoir trop de couteaux !

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
A rather cute wheel of Jarlsberg. ||| Un beau petit bout de Jarlsberg.

Tasting Cheese with the League of Urban Cheesemakers in San Francisco. By Vero Kherian on misscheesemonger.com.
Soon to be devoured. ||| Du pain qui sera bientôt dévoré. Soudain, j’ai faim . . .


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