The Wedge comes to Portland every other year to celebrate Northwest cheese. The block in front of Green Dragon was blocked off so that you could sip a beer with your tastings as well at this farmer’s market-style event that let you sample at various cheesemaker artisan booths. Overall, I believe there were 18 cheesemakers present along with a few other booths related to cheese (such as smoked salmon or Olympic Provision meats to go with your cheese plate, or educational via the Oregon State University or Urban Cheesecraft or Dairy Farmers of Oregon).
We came home with eight cheeses, so that naturally illustrates what worked with both our palates and rated high. These included Beehive Cheese Company’s Habanero Apple Walnut Promontory and also their Barely Buzzed which is rolled in espresso and lavender; Willamette Valley Cheese Company tempted us with many cheeses but the cumin gouda made the cut; Fairview Farm Goat Dairy bringing the Icelandic Skyr style in with cranberry and one with strawberry made the biggest impression on me; Rollingstone Chevre (traveling in from Idaho so not quite Northwest but hey welcome) tempted us with a jar of Basil Pepper Provencal and a 3 Pepper Chevre log (as well as other chevres varying from orange + almond and sundried tomato pesto to cranberry walnut or basil pistachio tortas); and Fern’s Edge Dairy with a fig walnut sweet chevre (other tempting chevres included Chantarelle garlic, Pear Anise, Apricot Honey, Blueberry Ginger! And, the signature Mt Zion also was quite a treat).
Runner ups included La Mariposa’s Cinco Esquinas and Chubut, Golden Glen Creamery dill & garlic packed a flavorful punch, Samish Bay Cheese with their unique and impressive lineup with Ladysmith (a fresh cheese) that included one with arugula and another that had a rind with cocoa + chipotle (on the left in one of the photos), Portland Creamery’s new entrance to the market with a Pumpkin Stout chevre and Sweet Fire chevre, and Black Sheep Creamery Basque Style Cheese and Tin Willow Tomme.
Tillamook, one of the main sponsors, brought their little orange car (Loafy) and all these buttons and cheese. I’m a big fan of the vintage white extra sharp cheddar and smoked black pepper and white cheddar. They were handing out stacks of coupons for all their products- cheese, butter, ice cream… Enjoy these cheese photos and those from other wonderful cheesemakers.
Overall, it was a great way to get introduced to more cheesemakers and their offerings- I liked everyone in a different way, and I’m glad to see cultivate more recognition when I go visit the cheese cases. There are incredible offerings right here in the Northwest that deserves a Cheese Trail map that would compete head to head Vermont’s Cheese Trail.
