Congratulations!

First, we are proud and grateful to LTH Forum for awarding GNR awards for both of our stores in our first year of eligibility. We were in great company and would like to give kudos to the wonderful staff. The passion for what we do is evident in the knowledge and expertise of our employees.

Next up we want to give a boisterous congratulations to the folks at Death's Door Spirits for their award for best new spirits in the October issue of Wine & Spirits. A smooth gin filled with aromas andflavors of juniper berries and spices this is a local favorite made right here in the Midwest in Wisconsin.

Finally we would like to give a big huge resounding round of applause to all of our cheesy friends who won at the Guild of Fine Foods World Cheese Awards. While we are happy for all of our international friends (including British Cheddars, Idiazabal and Tallegio) , American cheeses also did a great job of bringing home the gold, silver and bronze, showing that when it comes to cheese we are strong competitors.

To name a few: Cypress Grove Chevre (CA), Carr Valley Cheese (WI), Vermont Butter & Cheese Co. (VT), The Cellars at Jasper Hill (VT). Haystack Mountain (CO), Marin French Cheese (CA), Seymour Dairy Products (WI), Grafton Village Cheese Co. (VT), Hollands Family Cheese (WI), Uplands Cheese Co. (WI), Satori Foods (WI), and many others. Thank you all for making wonderful cheeses and congratulations on your wins!

Weekly Pairing & Saturday Events

This coming Saturday we've got two great events going on. At our Broadway store from 1-3pm we have a special event with Mike and Carol Gingrich of Uplands Cheese Company in Dodgeville, WI.

Then, later that same night we have our Oktoberfest Tasting from 6:30-8pm at the Lake St. store featuring local beers and cheeses. If you saw our bit on "1st look" you know that beer and cheese are very good friends indeed.

Speaking of local beer, Avalon Spiced Ale is one half of our new pairing. From Two Brothers Brewing Company in Warrenville, IL. The spices and apple flavor contribute to the aroma, but upon sipping don't overwhelm the smooth flavors of the beer. This is sure to be a fall and winter favorite!

For cheese we're pairing the Brie de Meaux from France, one of the most well-known cheese in the world. This might look like a mild and demure cheese, but that's far from the truth. This cheese is earthy with mushroom and onion qualities to it making it one of the bigger cheeses in the bloomy rind part of our cheese case. A cheese like this does very well with the tart, spiced nature of the Avalon.

Meet the Maker Event-Masters edition

So Thursday we had an event featuring Allison Hooper of Vermont Butter & Cheese, one of the pioneers in bringing goat cheese to the American cheese board. This coming Saturday we are continuing what I'm now calling our "Meet the Maker-Masters edition".

This time around it's Mike and Carol Gingrich two of the owners and cheesemakers of Uplands Cheese Company-makers of Pleasant Ridge Reserve in Dodgeville, WI.

Pleasant Ridge Reserve is a raw, cow's milk, farmstead, artisan cheese made from seasonal milk. Made in the style of Alpine cheeses like Gruyere and Comte this is a unique and original cheese from right here in the Midwest.

Winners of numerous awards, including the title of "Best In Show" from the ACS not once, but twice. Come by Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 1-3pm and meet Mike and Carol and taste one of our favorite cheeses and meet some more Masters from the cheese world.

-Agela