The Best Cheese in the U.S. Has Been Crowned
It must be very gouda indeed.
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When you crave cheese, you may feel like the best cheese is whatever cheese is at hand. Yet one specific cheese has been named the actual, official best in America. And, for the first time, the same cheese earned that distinction two years in a row.
Last week, Arethusa Europa, an aged gouda made by Arethusa Farm Dairy in Bantam, Connecticut, beat out 2,414 other cheeses to take the top honors in the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest.
The winning cheese, aged six to 12 months, features “wispy aromas of butterscotch and toasted nuts that give way to a savory, brothy flavor,” Arethusa Farm Dairy says. “Its smooth, dense paste makes Europa a great cheese for melting — on burgers, sandwiches, or a bowl of piping hot soup.” Suggestion pairings also include brown ales and Scotch.
With a score of 98.89 out of 100, the champion cheese just edged out its closest rival, first runner-up cheese St. Malachi Reserve, made by The Farm at Doe Run in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, which earned 98.88 overall and placed first in the category of “Open Class, Cheeses with Natural Rind.”
“What an honor!” The Farm at Doe Run exclaimed on Instagram.
Cello Organic Copper Kettle Parmesan, made by Lake Country Dairy-Schuman Cheese in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin, earned second-runner up honors, with a score of 98.81.
“The razor-thin margins that separated our contest finalists speak to the caliber of U.S. cheesemakers’ talent,” John Umhoefer, executive director of Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, which hosts the biennial contest, said in an announcement. “Congratulations go to the team at Arethusa Farm Dairy, and praise is in order for all our competitors’ commitment to excellence in the art and science of cheesemaking.”
The U.S. Championship Cheese Contest, which has been hosted every other year since 1981, saw a total of 31 states represented across 117 classes this year. Wisconsin cheesemakers earned more gold medals than those in any other state, taking home 55 Best of Class finishes. Vermont took home the second most first-place medals, collecting 13, while Idaho took home 10 gold medals, placing third.
Arethusa Farm Dairy, founded by the late George Malkemus and his husband, Anthony Yurgaitis, both former top Manolo Blahnik execs, has been making cheese only since 2011. It celebrated its history-making second consecutive Best in Show win on Instagram.
“It can’t be overstated how humbled and honored we are,” the creamery wrote. “Our goal has always been to produce cheese that is remembered for its richness, purity and excellent taste. To be recognized twice in this category just means the world to us, and it only further reassures us that our hard work truly has paid off … Here’s to the cheese!”
Three cheers for the champion cheese. It can be ordered wholesale here.
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