As spring arrives, so do the celebrations that honor indelible moments with friends and family. The fragrance of blooming flowers, the clinking of teacups, the joyful chatter of loved ones, and a shared appreciation for
artisanal cheeses exemplify the season’s promise of new beginnings. Whether hosting a baby shower, a Mother’s Day lunch or an Easter brunch, adorn your tablescape with stunning
cheese pairings and recipes featuring Deer Creek’s handcrafted
specialty cheeses. Each characterful cheese highlights a whimsical name, an artful label, a beautiful story and a delicious, award-winning flavor as inspiring as the fresh breezes that awaken our senses this time of year.
A Unique Approach to Cheesemaking
Deer Creek’s artisanal cheeses blend time- honored traditions with innovative flavors. They’re inspired by the charming characters from “The Golden Story Book of River Bend” by Patricia Scarry—a childhood favorite of Chris Gentine, Deer Creek Cheese’s president and founder. Each cheese carries a story that began at the Gentine family’s kitchen counter, where Chris and his wife, Julie, dreamed up creations like vanilla bean-infused bandaged-wrapped cheddar and caraway seed-dotted colby. Even the packaging involves the family, as their daughter Sophie designs and draws the artwork for each label using ink, watercolor and acrylic paint.
As a licensed cheese grader with a razor-sharp palate, Chris often collaborates with Wisconsin’s Master Cheesemakers, such as Kerry Henning and Sid Cook, to bring his inventions to life. He thoughtfully refines every delectable recipe with his cheesemaking partners, visioning and crafting creative gems with dynamic tastes and exquisite qualities.
Revitalizing Classic Cheeses
“We like to put a twist on the classics by asking ‘What If?’” shares Chris. “Starting with an inspiration, we experiment with different flavors, cultures and affinage techniques. Our goal is to imagine something unique—something meant to be shared.”
Deer Creek® The Carawaybou™ embodies Chris’ passion for reviving historic, sometimes forgotten, cheeses. “Colby was a childhood cheese for me,” he recalls. “To me, it means happy times spent with my grandparents. This cheese is a recipe from 1914 from the University of Wisconsin Cheese School. You had to be able to make this cheese to get your cheesemaker’s license. The caraway reflects the influence of the European immigrants who settled in Wisconsin. We cure it so the caraway gets more deeply infused into the cheese. It has an Old World vibe—like a time machine for your taste buds.”
Another inventive spin on a classic is Deer Creek® The Wild Boar™. “Our goal in creating The Wild Boar was to focus on bringing all of that truffle to the forefront,” Chris notes. “We chose monterey jack as the base because it helps the truffle shine along with the flavors of the cheese.” Chris selected this mild, creamy cheese because of its buttery characteristics. “There’s quality truffle in there,” he adds. “When you use an exceptional ingredient, you bring something special to a simple cheese.”
Perfect for Spring Fling Fun
Ensure your spring entertaining endeavors are as elegant as the nature-inspired characters behind these superb cheeses. Their distinctive flavor profiles will sparkle on a cheese board and elevate your party menu. Try them in the following recipes.
The Wild Boar™
This beauty won Gold at the 2024 L.A. International Dairy Competition. Earthy black truffles combine with creamy monterey jack, creating a decadent sensory experience. Each bite transports you to the Wisconsin North, as the warm and woodsy notes of savory truffles couple with mild, buttery cheese. Enjoy the cheese’s indulgent mushroomy notes in these tartlets.
Make it: Caramelized Onion and Truffled Jack Tartlets
The Doe
It won the Second Award at the 2023 US Championship Cheese Contest. Delight in this bandaged-wrapped cheddar marbled with intoxicatingly aromatic pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans. Freshly ground vanilla is added during cheesemaking, and the cheese is aged to allow the flavors to mellow and penetrate the paste. The velvety cheddar has a sweet, woody finish—perfect for spring salads.
Make it: Grilled Chicken, Berries and Beets Salad
The Carawaybou™
A gem, it won Silver Best USA Cheese at the 2018 International Cheese & Dairy Awards. Savor an old-fashioned, handmade colby speckled with caraway seeds. The gently perfumed anise flavor seductively seeps into its buttery notes, evoking the comforting taste of ham and cheese on rye. Easy eating yet complex, the slight crunch of the caraway adds a pleasant texture to the firm yet openly curdy cheese.
Make it: Caraway Colby Cheese-Stuffed Rolls
The Fawn
This cheese won Gold Best USA Cheese at the 2023 International Cheese & Dairy Awards. Its clever culture set imparts an award-winning sweet nuttiness with a full, complex flavor not typically found in traditional bandage-wrapped cheddars. As the flavor of The Fawn unfolds in your mouth, it seems delicate at first, yet finishes with a richness that lingers on the palate. Taste its depth in the macarons.
Make it: Pistachio Macarons with Cheddar Buttercream
