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The Cheese Professor
7 Thematic Ways to Build a Cheese Plate with That Cheese Plate’s Marissa Mullen
7 Thematic Ways to Build a Cheese Plate with That Cheese Plate’s Marissa Mullen

That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life is now out in hardcover by Instagrammer and cheese plate aficionado, Marissa Mullen.

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PairingsPamela VachonMay 21, 2020
Parmigiano Reggiano vs. Parmesan: Imitating the King of Cheese
Parmigiano Reggiano vs. Parmesan: Imitating the King of Cheese

Parmigiano-Reggiano is revered as one of the best cheeses in the world, and rightfully so: Since the 13th century, this magnificent cow milk creation has been gracing recipes and cheese plates all over the world.

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Cheese EducationAdam CentamoreMay 21, 2020Italian, Cow
12 Influential Cheese Accounts to Follow on Instagram
12 Influential Cheese Accounts to Follow on Instagram

“Behold the power of cheese,” was a slogan developed by America’s Dairy Farmers in the 1990s to accompany advertising scenarios that revealed the awesome sway that cheese has over its devotees.

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ProfilesPamela VachonMay 21, 2020
Drunken Dairy: 6 Cheeses Under the Influence of Alcohol
Drunken Dairy: 6 Cheeses Under the Influence of Alcohol

Cheese has many dance partners in the beverage category, and much enthusiastic prose has been spent on particular marriages between cheese and wine, cheese and beer, and even cheese and spirits.

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Pairings, AlcoholPamela VachonMay 21, 2020American, Blue, Italian, French, Spanish
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Flavored Cream Cheese Is More Creative Than Ever
August 6, 2026
Hannah Howard
Flavored Cream Cheese Is More Creative Than Ever
August 6, 2026
Hannah Howard

A closer look at Zebrina's globally inspired cream cheese flavors

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August 6, 2026
Hannah Howard
Which Is Healthier, Skyr or Greek Yogurt?
August 4, 2026
Hannah Howard
Which Is Healthier, Skyr or Greek Yogurt?
August 4, 2026
Hannah Howard

A closer look at skyr and Greek yogurt.

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August 4, 2026
Hannah Howard
How to Save American Artisan Cheese
July 30, 2026
Leslie Cooperband
How to Save American Artisan Cheese
July 30, 2026
Leslie Cooperband

A personal essay on the challenges facing American cheesemakers and mongers and a possible way forward.

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July 30, 2026
Leslie Cooperband
7 Cheeses That Are Hard to Pronounce
July 28, 2026
Pamela Vachon
7 Cheeses That Are Hard to Pronounce
July 28, 2026
Pamela Vachon

How to pronounce cheese names

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July 28, 2026
Pamela Vachon
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michele Herrmann

Michele Herrmann writes about travel, hotels, food and drink, history, arts and culture and other fun stuff for various publications and travel and lifestyle companies.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Luciana Squadrilli

Luciana Squadrilli is a food and travel writer based in Rome. Senior editor at Food&Wine Italia magazine, she also contributes as a free lance to many other publications, both in Italy and abroad, mostly about pizza and extra virgin olive oil. She's also a passionate cheese lover, earning the level 1 tasting certificate at ONAF, the Italian Cheese Tasters Organization.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Annie Sherman

Annie Sherman is a freelance journalist, editor, and author in Rhode Island, where she covers topics at the intersection of sustainability and the environment, local business, food culture, and travel. Her work has appeared in Atlas Obscura, Boston magazine, Business Insider, Rhode Island Monthly, and many more regional and national publications. She authored “Legendary Locals of Newport,” and has just finished writing her first novel. Her cheese mantra is “the runnier and stinkier, the better,” but there are few cheeses she doesn’t like. In the meantime, her go-to is a creamy camembert, but Vermont Shepherd’s Verano has become a staple.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sabrina Medora

Sabrina Medora is a national food writer and editor based in San Diego. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Eater, The Kitchn, Plate Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, and others. Medora is the founder of Un-Plated, a national platform that has collaborated with organizations like the James Beard Foundation to produce events that support advocacy programs to eradicate hunger and promote mental health and workplace equity within restaurants. Medora is also the creator of #FoodFictionProject, pairing original works of flash fiction with chef-driven interviews. The stories are inspired by dishes she’s eaten around the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patrick Ambrosio

Patrick Ambrosio is a veteran cheesemonger and the owner of The Town Cheesemonger in Huntington, New York. A former chef, he is an alumni of The French Culinary Institute (now The International Culinary Center) in New York. A professional guitarist since his teens, he currently performs with The Huntington Blues All-Stars.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hollie Stephens

Hollie Stephens is an award-winning freelance writer originally from London and currently based in New Mexico. Her writing has appeared in VinePair, Pellicle, Hop Culture, and other publications. View more bylines at holliestephens.com, and follow her on Twitter @GlobeHops

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amber Selene Turpin

Amber Selene Turpin is a freelance food and travel writer based in the Santa Cruz Mountains. She is a regular contributor to The Mercury News, Edible Magazines, 7x7 and the Slow Wine Guide, with work appearing in Civil Eats, EatingWell Magazine, and many other publications over the last fifteen years. You can find her on Instagram @bonanzasprings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allison Levine

Allison Levine is owner of Please The Palate, a marketing and event-planning agency. A freelance writer, she contributes to numerous publications while eating and drinking her way around the world. Allison is also the host of the wine podcast Wine Soundtrack USA and a co-host of Crush On This videos on YouTube. Contact her at allison@pleasethepalate.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynda Balslev

Lynda Balslev is an award winning writer and cookbook author living in Northern California, who focuses on food, wine, and travel. She is the author of five cookbooks and the nationally syndicated column and blog TasteFood. Her work has appeared in NPR, Eating Well, and Culture Cheese Magazine, among others. Lynda was selected as a 2018 fellow for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood Napa, and she is the Chronicle Books award recipient to the Symposium for Professional Food Writers. Her favorite food-group is cheese, with an emphasis on stinky. Follow Lynda on instagram @tastefoodtravel or visit LyndaBalslev.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catherine Balston

Catherine Balston is a freelance writer based in São Paulo, Brazil. She writes about food, travel and culture for publications that include BBC Travel, The Telegraph and Monocle. Catherine has authored a number of Brazil guidebooks, including for Fodor's, Wallpaper* and Louis Vuitton’s City Guide series. Catherine is always on look out for interesting food stories, especially those that involve cheese. Follow her on Instagram https://instagram.com/squeezeoflime or get in touch via www.catherinebalston.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tania Banerjee

Tania Banerjee is a freelance writer from Kolkata based in Mumbai, India. She writes about travel, culture, environment and food. Her work has appeared in Whetstone, The Juggernaut, Lonely Planet, Business Line and more. You can find her on Instagram @taniabanerjee, Twitter @taniabanerjee, and her blog, Azure Sky Follows.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paroma Bhattacharya

Paroma Bhattacharya is a passionate content creator and writer. She possesses extensive knowledge in subjects related to healthcare, technology, banking, and more. Her articles focus primarily on balancing relevant data with engaging storytelling. She believes in providing objective facts to help people make important business decisions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rinku Bhattacharya

Rinku Bhattacharya loves all things spice and writes the blog Spice Chronicles, that focuses on practical seasonal everyday cooking often using the Instant Pot. An experienced culinary instructor, Rinku’s classes focus on everyday cooking techniques, flavors and spices, working with grains, vegetables, Indian home cooking and working with the Instant Pot. She is the author of three cookbooks, The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles, Spices and Seasons and Intant Indian. Rinku can be found online on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Billock

Jennifer Billock is an award-winning writer, bestselling author, and editor; co-host of the Macabre Traveler podcast; and editor of the Kitchen Witch Newsletter. She is currently dreaming of an around-the-world trip with her Boston terrier. Check out her website at jenniferbillock.com, and follow her on Twitter @jenniferbillock and Instagram @jenniferjoanbillock.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stacy Brooks

Stacy Brooks is a Minneapolis-based freelance journalist specializing in food and travel. Her writing has been published in Cheese Connoisseur, Wine Enthusiast, and Hemispheres, and she blogs at Tangled Up In Food.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adam Centamore

Adam is a professional wine and cheese educator who lives in the Boston area. He is also a culinary travel writer who has appeared in Saveur Magazine, Culture Cheese Magazine, Edible South Shore, and other print and online publications. His first book, Tasting Wine and Cheese - An Insider's Guide to Mastering the Principles of Pairing, was a finalist for Cookbook of the Year for the International Association of Culinary Professionals. He can be reached at adam@eatdrinklearn.com, and through his website, www.eatdrinklearn.com. Follow him on Instagram: @eatdrinklearn

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carissa Chesanek

Carissa Chesanek is a writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in The Miami Herald, Food Network, Forbes Travel Guide, Tasting Table, and Zagat where she was the local dining editor for two years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christine Clark

Christine Clark is a professional cheese and beverage nerd. She is a Certified Cheese Professional by the American Cheese Society. Her work has appeared in VinePair, Bon Appetit, Travel + Leisure, and AFAR and she has taught cheese and pairing classes across the United States. In her spare time, she plays with her chocolate lab and thinks about what she'll be eating next. Follow her latest adventures @yourcheesefriend or yourcheesefriend.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosie Cohan

Rosie Cohan is an award-winning travel writer, who has traveled to over 65 countries, including 17 trips to Turkiye, her “home away from home.” She has worked and lived in Istanbul and led cooking and cuisine tours to Turkiye. Her stories have been published online at GEOEX.com, travelerstales.com, besttravelwriting.com, AboutPlace.org, and in the anthologies, Stories That Need To Be Told by Tulip Tree Press, and BATW’s Travel Stories of Wonder and Change.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Corbin

Melissa Corbin is a Tennessee-based travel and culinary journalist with an appetite for the stories of people and places that make the world unique. Published by Food & Wine Magazine, Matador, Craftbeer.com, among others, she believes the best way toward positive change is loving on those around her and attests to its exponential benefit. You never know where she’ll turn up next. So, give her a holler over on Instagram @melcorbin.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tenaya Darlington

Tenaya Darlington serves as Cheese Director for two wine bars in Philadelphia (Tria) and is a member of the writing faculty at Saint Joseph’s University. When she’s not in Philadelphia, you can find her circumnavigating the globe as a guide for Cheese Journeys — a dairy-centric food tour company. She is also the author of Di Bruno Bros. House of Cheese (Running Press, 2013) and the forthcoming book, Madame Fromage’s Adventures in Cheese (Workman, 2023).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sheana Davis

Sheana Davis is a Sonoma-based cheesemaker, caterer, culinary educator and proprietor of The Epicurean Connection. With over 25 years of farm-to-table experience, Davis creates Wine Country inspired edible experiences for food enthusiasts, engaging and inspiring cheese lovers through the process of creating fresh, delicious cheeses and a series of collaboration cheeses. Her award-winning cheeses including Delice de la Vallee and Creme de Fromage and seasonal creations are served at culinary events and Michelin-starred restaurants. Learn more at theepicureanconnection.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laine Doss

Laine Doss is the food and spirits editor for Miami New Times. She has been featured on Cooking Channel's Eat Street and Food Network's Great Food Truck Race. Laine won an Alternative Weekly award for her feature on what it's like to wait tables. Laine has also served as a judge at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival's Burger Bash, hosted by Bobby Flay. The most important things in her life are her dogs, wine, and cheese.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gordon Edgar

Gordon Edgar loves cheese and worker co-ops and has been combining these infatuations as the cheese buyer for a food cooperative since 1994. Currently on leave from the American Cheese Society Judging and Competition Committee, he has served on committees for numerous local and national cheese and cooperative organizations and judged the ACS competition at least ten times though he admits he kinda lost count. Edgar has written two books on cheese  Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge (2010) and  Cheddar: A Journey to the Heart of America’s Most Iconic Cheese. (2015) and lives in San Francisco with his adorable white mini schnauzer named Fillmore Grumble. He writes about grief, and sometimes cheese, at Gordonzola. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Georgia Freedman

Georgia Freedman is a freelance journalist and editor based in the Bay Area. Georgia has written for Food & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, Afar, Martha Stewart Living, and many other publications and is the author of two cookbooks. She also produces the newsletter the California Table, which celebrates home cooks and home cooking from all across her home state.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Fritsche

Sarah Fritsche is a San Francisco-based food writer and recipe developer. For over a decade she was a staff writer with The San Francisco Chronicle’s James Beard Award-winning Food team, where she reported on the Bay Area’s food scene and headed up The Chronicle’s test kitchen. Sarah earned her culinary degree from the California Culinary Academy, has worked in professional kitchens, and is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. As a child, Sarah loved eating cheese so much that her mother nicknamed her, “Mouse.” Her cheese obsession continues, and she has been known to eat Bellwether Farms’ whole milk basket ricotta by the spoonful. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter, and at www.sarahfritsche.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Futterman

Lisa Futterman is a chef and freelance beverage journalist based in Chicago. Her love of cheese, wine, and spirits has taken her all over the world—from the Comté aging rooms in Fort St. Antoine in the Jura to the wild agave fields in the desert outside of Oaxaca.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Gabriele

Amanda is a spirits, food, and travel journalist who's called Brooklyn home for a decade. Besides Alcohol Professor, her work has appeared in the publications Matador, Eater, Travel + Leisure and The Manual. When she's not hunting for vintage glassware, you can find her mixing Daiquiris at home or scouring New York City for the best Martinis. Follow: Website | Instagram

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phil Galewitz

Phil Galewitz has been writing about the the craft brewing industry for a decade, including five years for The Alcohol Professor. He lives in Washington D.C. While beer was his first culinary love, cheese now tops on his list. Twitter: @philgalewitz. Instagram: @philmorebeer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Gerrard

Mike Gerrard is an award-winning travel and drinks writer, and publisher of theTravel Distilled website. He lives half the year in Cambridgeshire in England and the other half in Arizona. His most recent books are Cask Strength, the story of the barrel, and Behind Bars, what happens when alcohol meets crime.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah J. Gim

Sarah J. Gim cooks, styles, photographs, and writes about food and drink from her home base in Los Angeles. She is the founder of TasteSpotting, a community-curated food, drink, and recipe content platform and community, and TheDeliciousLife.com, the online home of her personal writings on food, wine, dining out, and relationships. Her work has been featured in Glamour, Vogue, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and on camera for the FoodNetwork. You can follow Sarah's daily delicious escapades with her pups on instagram @TheDelicious.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jim Gladstone

Jim Gladstone has written extensively about the arts, cuisine and travel. He is a freelance writer and creative consultant based in San Francisco. www.jimgladstone.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Waterman Gray

Lisa Waterman Gray is passionate about chocolate. In addition to writing for The Chocolate Professor, she wrote a cover story about Kansas chocolate shops for KANSAS! Magazine, and described chocolate shops across the nation for USAToday/10Best. Each October through December, Waterman Gray creates weekly chocolate-focused recipe posts too, at lisawatermangray.com/visual-traveler-blog. And several of her mouthwatering original chocolate recipes included the locally award-winning Chocolate Lover’s Pumpkin Pie.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Greco

Jennifer Greco has steadily been tasting her way through each and every cheese produced in France, a project that started one day on a whim and that has developed into a full-fledged infatuation. To date, she has tasted just under 400 of the approximately 1500 cheeses in France. Based in Paris, she leads virtual cheese workshops, gourmet food and wine tours, and small group tastings, which can be booked through her website, and with Paris by Mouth. She writes about regional French cheeses on her blog, Chez Loulou, and for a handful of publications. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julia Gross

Julia Gross is a rogue cheesemonger and mezcal writer currently based out of Portland and Mexico. Her obsession with cheese, travel and everything related has taken her all over the world from alleyways in Thailand to underground hot springs in Guatemala. She is currently working on a photo series of mezcal producers in Oaxaca and exploring wine and cheese country in Queretaro, Mexico. She is objectively great at karaoke.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristine Hansen

Kristine Hansen is a Milwaukee food, drink, travel, and design writer and author of Wisconsin Cheese Cookbook: Creamy, Cheesy, Sweet, and Savory Recipes from the State's Best Creameries and Wisconsin Farmers Markets: Tours, Trails and Attractions, both from Globe Pequot Press. She also contributes to Milwaukee Magazine, nationalgeographic.com, architecturaldigest.com, travelandleisure.com, and marthastewart.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen Thompson Hill

Kathleen Thompson Hill’s writing has appeared in Culture cheese magazine, the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Sunset magazine, and Edible Marin & Wine Country and many other publications. She is a Compagnon of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers and is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier’s San Francisco and Sonoma chapters. For 12 years she has been Food & Wine Editor of the Sonoma Index-Tribune and hosts a radio show on KSVY 93.1 FM in Sonoma, California and is founder and director of the Sonoma School Garden Project. Her Kathleen Hill Culinary Collection includes nearly 4,000 kitchen utensils signs and pamphlets.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hannah Howard

Hannah Howard spent her formative years in New York eating, drinking, serving, bartending, cooking on a hot line, flipping giant wheels of cheese, and managing restaurants. She is the author of Feast: True Love in and Out of the Kitchen and Plenty: A Memoir of Food and Family. She writes for New York Magazine, Salon, and SELF and teaches food writing classes. She lives in Frenchtown, NJ and loves stinky cheese.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeanette Hurt

Jeanette Hurt is the author of 15 books on food and drink, including Wisconsin Cocktails, Drink Like a Woman, The Joy of Cider, The Cheeses of Wisconsin and more. She is also the cheese and spirits contributor to Milwaukee Public Radio.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandra Jones

Alexandra Jones is a Philadelphia-based writer, erstwhile cheesemonger, and the author of Stuff Every Cheese Lover Should Know. She writes about food and agriculture—especially cheese—for editorial outlets and businesses.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ellen Kanner

Ellen Kanner is the author of Miami Vegan: Plant-Based Recipes from the Tropics to Your Tableand the award-winning book Feeding the Hungry Ghost: Life, Faith and What to Eat for Dinner. She writes about the intersection of food, culture, community, wellness, and sustainability for outlets including HuffPost, VegNews, and Edible South Florida. She’s a vegan advocate and culinary instructor, recipe developer for major brands, and the creator of the Substack newsletter  Broccoli Rising. A fifth generation Miami native, she lives with her husband in — where else? — Miami.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Kendrick

Julie Kendrick is a Minneapolis-based food writer with bylines in HuffPost, Condé Nast Traveler, EatingWell and Delta Sky. Follow her on Twitter @KendrickWorks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dakota Kim

Dakota Kim covers food, TV, travel and culture. She has written for The New York Times, NPR, Vox, Thrillist, VICE, Sunset, LAist and Food52. She is the Digital Editor at Edible San Luis Obispo.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Devorah Lev-Tov

Devorah Lev-Tov is a food, drinks, and travel writer based in Brooklyn, New York. She has written for publications including The New York Times, Saveur, Eater, Tasting Table, Food & Wine, Conde Nast Traveler, Vogue, Zagat, USA Today, Thrillist, and more. She's traveled to France, India, Italy, China, Israel, and beyond, visiting cheesemakers and dairies along the way.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adam Levy

Adam Levy is the “Cheese Professor” and founder of the NY International Cheese Competition. Adam is also the founder of the International Beverage Competitions Group and runs beer, wine and spirits competitions in New York, Berlin, Melbourne and Asia/Hong Kong. He is in constant search of all things delicious and shares his knowledge with the world. Born in New York with a lust for travel and a desire to visit producers around the world. He loves his dog Garret Oliver and wears Red to proudly represent Rutgers Sports.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan Lloyd

Megan Lloyd is a freelance writer and journalist living in Sevilla, Spain. She specializes in food, drink, travel, and all things Spanish. Her work has appeared in places like TASTE, Eater, and Serious Eats, to name a few. You can follow her edible Spanish adventures on Instagram @meganfranceslloyd or check out her portfolio: www.meganfranceslloyd.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katie Lockhart

Katie Lockhart is a travel and food journalist, copywriter and content creator traveling full-time around Asia. She writes for National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Robb Report, Afar and many more. You can follow her work and adventures on Instagram @findyourhappyplate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joshua Lurie

Joshua Lurie founded FoodGPS.com, a Los Angeles based company that showcases the best-tasting food and drink through online coverage and custom culinary tours. Follow him on Instagram.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelly Magyarics

Kelly Magyarics is a wine, spirits, travel, food and lifestyle writer in the Washington, D.C. area. You can reach her at www.kellymagyarics.com or on Twitter and Instagram @kmagyarics.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew McFetridge

Andrew McFetridge is an NYC-based Certified Sommelier, Spanish and French Wine Scholar, and self-described wine nerd. Andrew graduated from The University of North Florida where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. Andrew is also an ambassador for DO Cava and has had his writing featured in SommJournal Magazine. He favors cheeses that are creamy, salty or blue.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anna Mindess

Anna Mindess is a multi-award-winning food writer living in Berkeley, California, who focuses on food, culture, and travel. Her work has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, AFAR, Gastro Obscura, Fodor's, Oakland Magazine, Edible East Bay Magazine, among others. Anna also works as an American Sign Language interpreter and seeks out Deaf-owned restaurants wherever she travels. Her go-to cheese is goat.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debbie Oakes

Debbie Oakes is a lifestyle and travel writer who lives between London and Umbria. On the road she has found inspirational people, exotic food and lifelong friends and, in equal measure, poverty, injustice and pain. The road gives and the road takes away, but it never stops teaching. Her work has appeared in international publications including South China Morning Post, Bangkok Post, Prestige Magazine and Lifestyle + Travel Magazine. She is also a wedding celebrant weaving words of power to celebrate life, love food and everything in between. You can reach her + follow her adventures in Italy on Instagram @umbriatuscanygram.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelsey Ogletree

Kelsey Ogletree is a freelance journalist writing about the joy of food (including cheese!) for publications like Better Homes & Gardens, AllRecipes, Real Simple and more. A former Chicagoan, she first learned about cheese through many trips to nearby Wisconsin. Her favorite snack is a hunk of Manchego paired with a few Effie’s Oatcakes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tamara Palmer

Based in San Francisco, Tamara Palmer is a freelance writer, editor and professional DJ who regularly contributes to leading food, music and tech media companies. She is a cookbook ghostwriter, budding recipe developer, avid food pornographer and the publisher of California Eating, a website and occasional small-batch print magazine. Her favorite cheeses of all-time are Milton Creamery’s Prairie Breeze, Beehive Cheese’s Barely Buzzed, manchego and good old baby Swiss.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shoshi Parks

Shoshi Parks is a Bay Area-based freelance writer specializing in food, travel and history. Her work has appeared at NPR, Smithsonian, Gastro Obscura, Civil Eats, Vinepair, Vice and a variety of other outlets. Find her online at www.shoshiparks.net.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Paster

A lawyer turned food writer, Emily Paster brings passion, a sharp intellect and attention to detail to her globally-inspired, Jewish cuisine. She is the author of four cookbooks, including the best-selling Epic Air Fryer Cookbook. Her latest book is Instantly Mediterranean: Vibrant Satisfying Recipes for Your Instant Pot, Electric Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer. Emily lives outside Chicago with her husband and two ravenous teenagers. Find more of Emily’s recipes on her blog West of the Loop.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carol Penn-Romine

Carol Penn-Romine, Certified Cheese Professional ACS CCP, is an award-winning food writer and cheesemonger based in Seattle. Her work has appeared in Best Food Writing 2013 and 2016 editions, Culture Cheese Magazine, Gastronomica, Leite’s Culinaria, thekitchn.com, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and several Edible publications. She contends that many of the world’s problems could be solved if only people sat down and ate cheese together. You can find her work at www.hungrypassport.com. Follow her on Instagram: @hungrypassport.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Summer Rylander

Summer Rylander is a freelance food and travel writer based in Nuremberg, Germany. She is an avid home cook with a special fondness for Swedish cheeses and buffalo milk mozzarella, both of which she has written about for Culture. Her work has also appeared in Travel + Leisure, TheKitchn, and more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Penny Sadler

Penny Sadler is a travel, wine, and food writer based in Dallas, Texas. After multiple trips to wine country both in California and the Old World, she studied with Wine and Spirits Education Trust obtaining her WSET 2 certification. After a stint at a winery in Napa Valley she now focuses on writing for travel, wine, and lifestyle publications. You can follow her on Instagram @adventuresofacarryon and her travel and wine blog Adventures of a Carry-on. Her cheese style is anything but stinky.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alisa Scerrato

Alisa Scerrato is a writer, editor, and educator who has returned to her East Coast roots after over two decades in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a master’s degree in Arts and Humanities Education from NYU, her work explores the intersection of food, art, and the cultural shifts that define a city. A 2020 San Francisco Press Club Award winner, Alisa brings a seasoned, editorial eye to everything from food and spirits to social history. Today, she still misses the proximity to Wine Country but is finding that a West Coast palate can be easily assuaged by local clams and lobster.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JoEllen Schilke

JoEllen Schilke politely but firmly questions authority. She produces Art in Your Ear, a weekly talk show on the arts, on WMNF 88.5fm. She’s using her recently obtained MA in Digital Journalism to get people to call her Mast-her, so far with little success. JoEllen slakes her curiosity through interviews and writing. She owned a restaurant for a dozen years. JoEllen’s been a personal chef, grief therapist, reporter, anchor, and author.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alec Scott

Alec Scott has contributed to the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Guardian and Smithsonian Magazine. He is the author of Until It Shimmers and Oldest San Francisco, and has taught writing at Stanford.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Sherman

Amy Sherman is the editor-in-chief of The Cheese Professor. She has written about cheese for a wide variety of publications including Afar, Epicurious, Martha Stewart and Tasting Table. She has enjoyed visiting dairies and creameries in Greece, Italy, Switzerland and all over the United States and Canada. She is also editor-in-chief of sister publications The Alcohol Professor and The Chocolate Professor.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elisa Shoenberger

Elisa Shoenberger is a freelance writer and journalist in Chicago. She has written about food and drink for Wine Enthusiast, Huffington Post, Rewire, Midwesterner, Farm Flavor, and others. She also has written for the Boston Globe, US News and World Report, WIRED Magazine, and others. She has a B.A. in Latin American History from the University of Chicago, M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an M.B.A. in Marketing and Operations Management from Loyola University Chicago. She makes cheese in her spare time. Twitter:@vogontroubadour and at Mischief and Writing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Liz Susman Karp

Liz Susman Karp writes about culinary history and anthropology, foodways, restaurants, and the intersection of food and culture. Her work has been published in Zagat Stories, Heated, The Nosher, Inside Hook, Modern Farmer and Westchester Magazine, among others. She feels fortunate to live in New York’s Hudson Valley, where she enjoys exploring the area’s rich agricultural heritage and offerings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Treon

Rebecca Treon is a Denver-based food, travel, and lifestyles writer. Born and raised in Colorado, she’s also a fluent Spanish speaker. She has visited Mexico, France, Spain, Italy, England, Ireland, Holland, and Argentina and half the states. Rebecca has written for publications like BBC Travel, Huffington Post, Thrillist, Hemispheres, and many others. She’s worked as an editor at American Bungalow and DiningOut and is a correspondent for Denver & the West for Time Out. She’s the author of the forthcoming book, Colorado Food Trails. She is the proud mother of a son and a daughter and can be found at @RebeccaTreon on Instagram.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leena Trivedi-Grenier

Leena Trivedi-Grenier is an Oakland-based food and culture writer who loves her colby cheese snack sticks just as much as a gooey piece of triple cream Brillat-Savarin. She’s a two-time Association of Food Journalists award finalist, and her work has appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, and Eater. You can find her on Instagram, Twitter and at leenaeats.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Felice Thorpe

Felice Thorpe is a California native with strong roots in agriculture. She is currently President of the California Artisan Cheese Guild and formerly National Sales Director for Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese. She is a graduate of the Mons Academie Opus Caseus, a French cheese program for cheese professionals. She is an expert in cheese pairings and a 2019 Cheese Judge for the Good Food Foundation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Flora Tsapovsky

Flora Tsapovsky is a style, food and culture writer splitting her time between San Francisco and Tel Aviv. She has contributed to publications including San Francisco Chronicle, Bon Appetit, Afar and VinePair. She likes her cheeses funky.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pamela Vachon

Pamela Vachon is a freelance food and travel writer whose work has also appeared in Wine Enthusiast, Bon Appétit, CNET, and VinePair, among others. She is also a certified sommelier, experienced bartender, voiceover artist, musician, and instructor at NYC's Murray's Cheese.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul Vachon

A lifelong Michigan resident, Paul Vachon is an author, freelance writer, and public speaker. He possesses a strong interest in Detroit history and has written four previous books devoted to the subject. He’s also written guidebooks on Michigan travel. Paul is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. In his spare time, Paul enjoys traveling, nature photography, and acting in community theatre. He likes to take leisurely drives around the state, always hoping to bump into a good story idea. Paul also thinks having a map of the state on the back of his left hand is pretty cool.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hailey Valkema

Hailey Valkema is a Florida-based chef, baker, and food writer who enjoys running her local cake business, cooking for family and friends, and baking for her community. When she’s not writing or in the kitchen you’ll find her reading about the history and science of food, or watching tv show’s about it. Her favorite cheeses are Taleggio and Asiago, and believes if there’s cheese nearby, wine should be too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ruth Wertzberger Carlson

Ruth Wertzberger Carlson is a veteran international travel writer who has also authored two books, Secret San Francisco: a guide to the weird, wonderful and obscure and Secret California: a guide to the weird, wonderful and obscure. Among the publications with her byline: Bon Appetit, American Way the American Airline's in-flight magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News and two Anthologies, Berkeley When I was There and Things. A resident of San Francisco she spends much of her free time visiting the city's numerous cheese shops.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Abbe Wichman

Abbe Wichman is a food and drink writer based in Westchester, NY. A contributor to Westchester Magazine, her writing has also been featured in Huffington Post Food & Drink, Spoonful, and a number of Edible Publications. She especially loves profiling the passionate people in the food industry. She has yet to meet a cheese that she doesn’t like. Follow her on Instagram @abbewichman and on Twitter @abbe_wichman.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Beth Wright

In addition to The Cheese Professor, Amy Beth Wright contributes to Wine Enthusiast, StyleBlueprint, Fodors, and many other outlets focused on travel, food, spirits, art, and architecture. She also co-edits Parks & Points, a website dedicated to sharing writing about parks and public lands. She teaches writing at Purchase College in New York and serves on the board of the SUNY Council on Writing. To read more of her work, visit amybethwrites.com and keep in touch on Instagram @amyb1021 and Twitter @AmyBethWright.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marcella Wright

Marcella Wright began working in the cheese industry in 2008 for Fred Meyer, a division of Kroger. During her employment with Kroger, she was a Special Matter Expert and opened 75 Murray’s Cheese Shops by training the staff and setting the cheese cases. She is a member of the International Guilde des Fromagers, New World Order. Her certifications include being an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional and a ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification. She now lives in NE Georgia with her husband of 41 years where she sells cheese at Sweet Combs of Honey, offers cheese classes, events, and special orders. She is also a cat rescuer and is currently caring for 10 cats, 4 of which live in the house.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lauren Johnson-Wünscher

Lauren Johnson-Wünscher is a freelance journalist living in Berlin, Germany. Since moving from NYC to Berlin in 2018, she has written stories that focus on sustainability, justice, and culture within the wine and food industries. She is the proud founder of the Black Berlin Women's Wine Society, a community of 350 Black women in Berlin who gather regularly to learn about wine. Follow her on Instagram @Laurenjwuenscht

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carlos Yescas

Carlos Yescas is a cheese scholar and book author. For the past 10 years, he has worked promoting artisanal and raw milk cheeses and protecting traditional cheesemaking practices. He is a judge in various international cheese competitions, including the World Cheese Awards. Carlos is currently developing new businesses in the European and USA markets for Latin-American dairy products and advising European and American cheesemakers looking to sell in Mexico, Central and South America. www.carlosyescas.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thei Zervaki

Thei Zervaki is citizen of the world who writes about one-of-a-kind foods, distant lands, and food poetry. She loves culinary history books, strong coffee, and a glass of Riesling on hot nights. Find her at wedesserts.com and on IG @thefullybooked.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachael Narins

Rachael Narins is a Los Angeles based chef and culinary educator. After graduating from cooking school she launched her career in recipe development, food styling and food writing. Her first book Cast-Iron Cooking has been an Amazon Editor’s Choice since it was originally published and she has subsequently collaborated on several other best-selling cookbooks. Additionally, Rachael has contributed to The Kitchn, Simply Recipes, The Guardian, Food and Wine, the L.A. Times and more. She makes ricotta at least once a week and would consider pushing someone aside to get to a wheel of Portuguese Serra da Estrela.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fiona Young-Brown

Fiona Young-Brown failed miserably in cookery class at school, managing to create grey mac and cheese and a jelly that never set. Fortunately, her skills have improved and she has gone on to write several cookbooks, including A Culinary History of Kentucky: Burgoo, Beer Cheese and Goetta, where she delves into the origins of many regional specialties. She is a freelance writer and author of more than a dozen books on topics ranging from aviation to volcanoes. Originally from the south coast of England, Fiona now lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and a rather rambunctious Boston terrier. She also writes about dishes from home at British Food and Travel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nupur Roopa

Nupur Roopa is a freelance writer from New Delhi. She writes about environmental issues, culture, food, health and wellness, history, social initiatives, and sustainability. Her work has been published in Al Jazeera, The Guardian, UK, Whetstone Journal, Earth Island Journal, The National News, (UAE), Reader’s Digest India, Mongabay India, and more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Miriam Rubin

Miriam Rubin is a CIA-trained chef and the first woman to work in the kitchens of the Four Seasons restaurant. She was a columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, is the author of "Grains" and "Tomatoes," and has contributed to many publications including Woman's Day and Redbook. She lives in New York's Hudson Valley where she gardens and teaches cooking classes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David A. Laws

David A. Laws photographs, writes, and presents on gardens, nature, regional travel, and high-tech history from his home in Pacific Grove, California. His work has appeared in numerous electronic, print, and video media outlets from the BBC and NPR to mobile apps, guidebooks, newspapers, magazines, and academic journals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen Willcox

Kathleen Willcox has been writing about the business and culture of wine and food for more years than she’d care to reveal. Her work appears regularly in Alcohol Professor, Wine Searcher, Wine Enthusiast, The Vintner Project and many other publications. Kathleen also co-authored a book called Hudson Valley Wine: A History of Taste & Terroir, which was published in 2017. Follow her on Instagram at @kathleenwillcox.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mandy Naglich

Mandy Naglich is a certified taster, Advanced Cicerone®, National Homebrew Competition Gold Medalist, drinks educator, and writer. Her first book, How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life, chronicles her adventures in the world of professional tasting and the methods anyone can use to get in touch with their senses. She covers the tastiest things happening in travel, dining, and drinks for a variety of print and online publications. Mandy lives, writes, and brews in New York City, but she documents her drinks adventures around the world at @drinkswithmandy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nathan Suttie

Nathan Suttie is a freelance writer who focuses on his love of food, travel, and culinary experiences. If he is not typing or exploring, then you may find him on the couch, watching a food documentary with a piece of aged Gouda. You can find him at www.atasteofabroad.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Trevor Thomas

Trevor Thomas has spent his entire adult life in the cheese industry. Starting in a cheese shop led him to a position at a supermarket cheesecounter. In 2005, he left the retail side of the business to become a specialty cheese broker. Always wanting to learn more, he accepted a job with Lactalis. Trevor’s passion grew from there, as he became an ACS, CCP®; Authored a book on PDO Cheeses; was inducted into the Guilde des Fromagers; and in 2019 he started a cheese blog, Cheese Traveler.  He volunteers yearly with the ACS and previously served as the ACS Certification Committee chair.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bonnie Jackson

Bonnie Jackson (she/her) became a cheesemonger in 2019, and an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional in 2023. She works at The Welsh Rabbit, a cheese shop in Fort Collins, Colorado. Find her Instagram @cheesybonnie

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Phillips

David Phillips is an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional (CCP®) cheesemonger and a Cheese State University Cheese Scholar. He conducts beer and cheese pairing events in the Chicago area and serves on the board of the Chicago Beer Society. He is a veteran cheese industry writer and a former daily newspaper reporter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nora Heston Tarte

Nora Heston Tarte is a freelance travel writer with a vested interest in food, wine, traveling, and the great outdoors.  She is also the managing editor of both San Joaquin Magazine and City Lifestyle Reno. Nora received her bachelor's in Journalism from California State University, Sacramento before graduating from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln with a master’s in Professional Journalism. You can follow her travel adventures, and local exploits, on her Instagram @wanderlust_n_wine.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Betsy Andrews

Betsy Andrews is an award-winning food, drink, and travel writer. She is contributing editor at Food & Wine and at SevenFifty Daily. She writes for many other publications, including Travel & Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, the Wall Street Journal, VinePair, Serious Eats, and Plate. She is the former executive editor of Saveur and a former New York Times dining critic. You can find all her clips at betsyandrews.contently.com. She is also a poet. Her third book, Crowded, is now out from Nauset Press.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Valery Larson

Valery Larson has had a life-long love affair with cheese; and the deepest respect and appreciation for all those amazing artisan cheese makers. One of her favorite events to write about is the California Artisan Cheese festival and especially the Sunday cheese tasting and marketplace. Having so many great cheese makers and their cheeses in one location is like a little piece of heaven. She lives and writes about food and gardening in a little cottage in the redwoods, with her husband and feral cat, Meesha.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Asuncion

Lisa Asuncion is a writer and chemist. Originally from the Philippines, she’s lived in the United States and Spain. She’s currently residing in the United Kingdom, which she considers her second home. She writes about food, travel, science, and gardening. Her articles have appeared in Real Bread Campaign, Chemistry World, Inspire Your Trip, and When in Manila, among others. She and her husband, John, enjoy traveling, especially to the Philippines and Eastern Europe, and a cheese shop is always on their itinerary. Her favorite British cheeses are Keen’s cheddar, Stinking Bishop, and Blue Stilton.  Follow her online at @thechemistandthemechanic or on X @LAsuncionF. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maria Steinberg

Maria Steinberg is a NYC-based marketing professional and currently teaches Food & Culture at a local college. Maria has written about food for academic and consumer publications in the U.S. and abroad. She has a master’s degree in Food Studies and Food Management, and is now working towards a master’s in Sustainable Food Systems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Theresa Greco

Theresa Greco is the food and beverage writer behind “The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine.” Her passion for food, wine, and spirits has led her into the kitchens of well-known chefs both in the US and abroad. When she’s not “hunting” for the next best spirit or food she can be found cooking delicious meals with her husband by her side. Please follow her on Instagram @foodhunter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rashmi Gopal Rao

Rashmi Gopal Rao is a freelance writer based in Bengaluru. She writes on various topics like travel, food, culture, architecture and design and has been published in various publications including National Geographic, Atlas Obscura, Nikkei Asia, Fodors, The National, Architectural Digest, Khaleej Times, The Sunday Hindu, The New Indian Express and Mint Lounge. Apart from travelling, she is passionate about anything related to home decor, antiques, vintage and thrift finds. So, when not exploring new places, cultures and cuisines, you can find her at flea markets! Follow her on @rashminotes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Frey

Rebecca Frey enjoyed a long career as a costume designer and wardrobe stylist before changing course to pursue her passion for food. She is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu London, where she earned the Diplôme de Pâtisserie (French Pastry Techniques Diploma). She also holds an MSc in Culinary Innovation from Birkbeck, University of London, and a Professional Chocolatier's Certificate from Ecole Chocolat. She has written for websites including Serious Eats and Wine Enthusiast, and also shares recipes via her blog, Baste Cut Fold, and on Instagram: @bastecutfold. A Pennsylvania native and longtime New Yorker, Rebecca currently resides in London.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristine Jannuzzi

Kristine Jannuzzi (aka @nyccheesechick) is an accomplished journalist, cheese specialist, content creator, and five-time World Cheese Awards Judge. She also served as a judge in the 2023 and 2024 Italian Cheese Awards, and the past two Premios Cincho Cheese Awards in Spain. In September 2023, Kristine was inducted into the Guilde des Fromagers as a Compagnon d’Honneur. Kristine has written for La Cucina Italiana, Culture Magazine, British Heritage Travel, and Italy Magazine, among other publications. A bilingual dual American and Italian citizen, Kristine currently hosts private cheese and wine tastings and bespoke experiences in Tuscany and around NYC. You can find her on Instagram @nyccheesechic Facebook, LinkedIn and her portfolio website, KristineJannuzzi.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachael Lucas

Rachael Lucas is an American Cheese Society CCP (Certified Cheese Professional), CCSE (Certified Cheese Sensory Evaluator), Society of Wine Educators CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine), and Wine and Spirit Education Trust WSET Level 3. She is the owner and operator of Cheese Lady Loves Wine LLC. Rachael spends most of her time chasing organoleptic properties and fulfilling her mission in the preservation of artisan cheesemaking.  She accomplishes this through education, palate titillation, sensory stimulation, and good, old-fashioned cheesemongering.  She is a cheese and wine writer, educator, and aroma enthusiast. Nowadays, you can find her mongering and educating at The Curd Nerd in Syracuse, New York, which is a cut-to-order cheese shop with an exceptional, rotating selection of artisan fromage.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tanya Henry

Tanya Henry is a Northern California based journalist and communications professional who has been writing about food in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 15 years. Tanya has written for numerous publications including Culture Cheese magazine, Edible Marin and Wine Country, Marin Independent Journal (as restaurant critic), San Francisco Chronicle, and Pacific Sun among others. She is a consultant for the Specialty Food Association and a graduate of the California Culinary Academy. Tanya also holds a degree in nutrition from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Her enthusiasm for all things food and beverage makes her a passionate advocate for the industry. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Agnes Groonwald

Agnes Groonwald is an American in France who writes about food, unique travel experiences, and the humor behind travel. Her writing has been published at Thrillist, The New Zealand Travel, and Low Season Traveller. Find her at travelonthereg.com and on Instagram @travelonthereg. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kara Nielsen

Kara Nielsen is a food and beverage trend expert and Chief Trendologist at Kara Nielsen Food Trends. She tracks and translates trends for a variety of audiences, including CPG and foodservice clients seeking insights for new product development. Kara earned a master’s in gastronomy at Boston University and holds two WSET Certificates. Social: @trendologistk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Musho

Lee Musho is an advanced sommelier and cheese expert, A food and beverage editor, recipe developer, and brand consultant; she has been leading tastings and events at Murray's Cheese in New York for three years now, and can be found chatting about cheese and wine there, on Instagram @lee_musho, and on live television. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Chachowski

Richard Chachowski is a veteran lifestyle, travel, and entertainment journalist whose career began in 2019. In the past, his work has appeared in a variety of esteemed publications, including Good Housekeeping, Parade, Allrecipes, and many more. You can follow him on Instagram @chahousekey

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Becky Ellis

Becky Ellis is a freelance food and wine writer and recipe developer based in Southwest Virginia. She first fell in love with fromage while working in a gourmet wine and cheese shop, then parlayed her passion for food into a degree in food and nutrition at Radford University. She shares her love of southern food, cocktails, and champagne on her blog Biscuits and Bubbly, in her Southern Spoonful recipe column in The Roanoker, and on Instagram @biscuits.n.bubbly.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan Eileen McDonough

Megan Eileen McDonough is a freelance food and travel writer whose work has also appeared in Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, Teen Vogue, and Business Insider, among others. She’s currently based in London, after six years living in both Barcelona and New York.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keith Adams

Keith Adams has been making artisan cheese since 2009, first at Alemar Cheese Company in Minnesota, then at William Cofield Cheesemakers in Sebastopol, California.  His cheeses have won a number of awards over the years.  He is on the executive board of the California Artisan Cheese Guild.  Now "retired," he will always be a fierce supporter and advocate of other small artisan cheese producers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ridhi Agrawal

Ridhi Agrawal is a writer currently living in Nepal, who focuses on food, culture, and travel. Her work has appeared in the BBC, South China Morning Post, The National, Goya Journal, Going Places, among others. Her go-to cheese is the classic yak milk cheese.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leslie Cooperband

Leslie Cooperband has spent most of her adult life at the intersection of nature and agriculture. Before becoming a dairy farmer and cheese maker in central Illinois, she was a professor of soil science in Wisconsin. She, along with her husband, Wes Jarrell, founded Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery (PFFC) in 2004, Illinois first farmstead creamery.  After 20 years of milking pastured goats and making award-winning cheese, they sold the farm to local food & hospitality business owners.  Leslie and Wes now own a 46-acre farm neighboring PFFC. They are engaged in native ecosystem restoration, including prairie, wetland and woodland.  She writes a Substack page called “Leslie’s Farming with Nature,” is a 2026 Rural Regeneration Storyteller and is writing a memoir on becoming a dairy farmer and a cheesemaker.