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It’s Tillamook Time

The good folks at Tillamook sent me five samples of their family cheeses and later today I will be posting my first tasting. The Tillamook online store is temporarily closed but you can buy Tillamook at Made In Oregon website.

Founded 110 years ago, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is owned by approximately 80 farm families. Each year the Co-op elects 12 of their farmers to the board that controls the production of their products and has the final say in how the Co-op is run. Every member has an equal voice and first and foremost is Quality of the milk and the products that TCCA produces.

The first time I tasted cheese curds was at the factory in Tillamook. Back in 2009, in the first year of my “Cheese Journey”, The Man and I traveled to the factory to take the tour and taste the cheeses and curds. We also brought home Cheddar Cheese Curds for our dear Spaulding Gray to taste and review for this website. Later that year Spaulding Gray became a “Tillamook Fan of the Month” and was thrilled to receive a year’s supply of Tillamook Cheeses. (For those of you newer to the website, Spaulding Gray was the voice of our journey from 2008 until his passing in 2013.)

Tillamook has been an important presence on this website, especially when we lived in the Pacific Northwest. “Search” Tillamook and you will find more  than 20 postings that include reviews and recipes using Tillamook cheeses, including Miss Anne’s Famous Potato and Tillamook Cheddar Cheese Soup. Since living in the South, finding Tillamook has been hard and this gift from Tillamook is appreciated. (When we lived in the PNW, our “everyday” Cheddar was the Extra Sharp White Cheddar.)

Here’s what The Man and I will be tasting and discussing the next several days:

Tuesday, May 26 – Cape Meares. Named after Cape Meares, Oregon – a region on the Oregon Coast of Tillamook County. Article is posted here.

Wednesday, May 27 – Maker’s Reserve 2012 Cheddar. Available only at the Creamery in Tillamook. Article is posted here.

Monday, June 1 – Smoked Medium Cheddar.

Wednesday, June 3 – Maker’s Reserve 2015 Extra Sharp White Cheddar. 

and finishing Saturday,  June 6 with a special treat – Maker’s Reserve 2010 Extra Sharp White Cheddar.

You can purchase these cheeses by clicking on the bold cheese names above and MadeInOregon.Com.

In addition to being an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional, I am a Certified ServSafe Food Production Manager with certifications that also include ServSafe Certified Instructor and Proctor. I am available for cheese events, cheese program development, cheese training, food safety training and 3rd party food safety auditing. See my About Me and Resume pages for more details or call me at 360 921 9908 to discuss availability.

Starting June 12, 2020, you will be able to purchase my curated selection of Specialty Cheeses and Charcuterie at Blue Haven Bee Wine Bar in Canon and Sweet Combs of Honey in Downtown Lavonia. I will be offering my selections of Cheddar, Gouda, Alpine, Flavored and Blues. Plus Prosciutto and other cured Italian-style meats for your summer picnic and snacking needs. Both locations will also carry a selection of my Premium Line of Small-Batch Cheese Spreads.

FTC disclosure: Tillamook sent samples to me for tasting and discussing on my website. Other than the cheese, I receive no compensation from Tillamook. The opinions are my own and those of The Man.

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