Great American Cheese Collection

Chicago Tribune, Good Eating Section

Wednesday, July 5 2000

Cheese joins the produce at farmers markets

Artisanal cheese is taking its place among the chard, peppers and tomatoes at farmers markets this summer. One of the biggest selections is offered by The Great American Cheese Collection, which is selling a wide range of American artisanal cheeses at several Chicago and suburban farmers markets.

"All of the cheeses are from farmstead producers and are the kinds of things that don't show up in grocery stores," says Giles Schnierle, creator of The Great American Cheese Collection.

Schnierle offers 125 varieties from 35 cheesemakers from Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and California. Prices range from $6.75 to $14 per pound. About 30 to 36 varieties are offered at any given market—however, shoppers can call him and request special orders for a subsequent date. Some of the more unusual cheeses include alpine shepherd's extra dry goat Parmesan, hickory nut white Cheddar, wild morel and leek Monterey jack, aged raw-milk gouda, and pepato, a peppercorn-studded Romano cheese.

The collection can be found at Chicago markets at Daley and Federal Plazas. Division Street, Lincoln Park, Hyde Park, South Shore, Beverly, Bucktown, Loyola, and suburban markets in Evanston, Lake Bluff, Gurnee and Schaumburg.

— Elizabeth Owens-Schiele