Cutting the Curd

Ken Skovron is the owner of Darien Cheese and Fine Foods , based in Darien Connecticut. One of first original cheese stores opened 36 years ago, Darien Cheese and Fine Foods focuses their selection on the heart and soul of cheese making; the artisan cheese maker. In addition to cheese, the shop also offers fine oils and vinegars, chutney, mustards, pasta, olives, teas, oven breads, and much more....

It’s a cheese-for-all on this episode of Cutting the Curd . Host Diane Stemple starts her book review program with Sasha Davies, a member of the Executive Board of the American Cheese Society and owner of Cyril’s at Clay Pigeon Winery in Portland, Oregon. Davies recently authored the book “The Cheesemaker’s Apprentice” which includes in-depth interviews from top cheesemakers and cheese recipes. Fi...

Greg Blais has a storied history as a cheesemonger in New York City. Anne Saxelby invites Greg into the studio to talk about the roots of the cheesemonger profession. Tune in to hear about Greg’s time at various New York City food institutions such as Balducci’s, Dean & Deluca, and the Essex Street Market. What was the food landscape like when Greg decided to pursue the career of a cheese prof...

Anne Saxelby reviews some recent cheese headlines on this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd. Anne is joined in the studio by founder of Heritage Foods USA, the Heritage Radio Network, and husband, Patrick Martins, to sort through all of the true and false cheese stories of the past year. Find out how much stolen muenster was found in the back of a tractor trailer. Learn more about government chee...

Canning and preserving has really become a big trend in the food world these days, but how can you take it to the next level? Tune in to this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd as Anne Saxelby chats with Kelly Geary, founder of Sweet Deliverance and author of Tart & Sweet . Tart & Sweet provides a fresh tutorial on small batch canning accompanied by gorgeous photography that looks nothing...

The Daphne Zepos Teaching Award is an annual scholarship awarded to an USA-based cheese professional who uses the funds to travel, learn and further their education on cheese. This award will grow a squad of cheese professionals who teach about the history, culture and techniques in making, aging and selling cheese. Each year someone new will go forth to learn about cheese. The scholarship will fu...

Learn all about “the art of butter” on a creamy episode of Cutting the Curd, as Anne Saxelby returns to the airwaves to chat with Susan Bruss of Olli’s Farm and Creamery in beautiful Hartwick, New York. From the 1800’s until about 30 years ago, the farm had been an outstanding dairy farm. With Susan’s wonderful cultured butters, she hopea to bring it back to its former glory. Hear how she takes fr...

So you want to learn about cheese? You’ve found the perfect program! This week’s guest on Cutting the Curd is Susan Sturman, of the Academie Opus Caseus, a school for cheese professionals in France with a program in English for anglophone cheese professionals worldwide. Academie Opus Caseus exists at the heart of the MonS Fromagerie operational headquarters, where cheese undergoes affinage, and or...

Anne Saxelby is back on Cutting the Curd! Though broadcasting at a brand new time (Friday’s at 4:00pm), it’s same cheesy show! This week’s guest is Homa Dashtaki of The White Moustache, a father/daughter business that produces yogurt made by local milk from the Brougiere Farm Fresh Dairy. They use only whole milk and a yogurt base, taken from a previous batch of yogurt which makes really thick all...

Kate Arding of Culture Magazine talks about her cheese history on today’s Cutting the Curd. Diane Stemple talks with Kate in the studio about her schooling background, and how Neal’s Yard Dairy changed her perspective on cheese and high-end food markets. Listen in to hear Kate talk about traveling to Uganda and taking a break from cheese jobs. What’s it like to work for Culture Magazine, and why d...

Poul Price and Everett Presley didn’t find cheese; cheese found them! This week on Cutting the Curd, Diane Stemple asks Everett and Poul about their storied histories in the cheese world. What fostered Everett and Poul’s initial food interest? Listen in to hear about formal cheese training, and what made Everett and Poul fall in love with cheese. How have recent food trends affected the cheese-buy...

Peter Kindel shares his cheese journey on today’s Cutting the Curd with Diane Stemple. Hear how Peter got his start in the cheese world, and how his travels in France and England changed his perspective on cheesemaking entirely. Peter talks about his experiences working with Neal’s Yard Dairy and helping develop a cheese called Ogleshield. Why did Peter decide to get involved with the agricultural...

Diane Stemple’s guest on today’s Cutting the Curd is Max McCalman, the Dean of Curriculum at Artisanal. Listen in to hear Max recount some of his first childhood cheese memories, and his goal to dispel nutrition misconceptions about cheese. Hear about Max’s initial cheese education at Picholine, and how it influenced the idea to begin Artisanal. Diane and Max speak to their cheese tastes, and the...

This week on Cutting the Curd, guest host Diane Stemple is joined by Tyler Hawes of The Chef’s Warehouse/Dairyland to talk cheese, safety & distribution. Hear the ins and outs of shipping, risk, regulation and delivery when it comes to food. Get an inside look into the cheese supply chain and learn from somebody incredible close to the action. From packaging to plating – take a gastronomic dai...

This week on Cutting the Curd, Diane Stemple is joined by three owners of start-up cheese shops. Beth Lewand is in the studio talking about the real esate challenges she faced when opening up her Greenpoint, Brooklyn establishment, Eastern District. Rachel Klebaur calls in from North Carolina to talk about the process of obtaining building permits for Orrman’s Cheese Shop, and how her store has be...

Today on Cutting the Curd, Diane Stemple is joined by a panel of guests to talk about holiday cheeses and cheese gift ideas. Joining Diane in the studio are NYC cheese geeks Jessica Kesselman, Amy Sisti-Baum, and Sarah Zaborowski. Hear what cheeses to bring to your holiday gatherings! The studio decides what cheese books and accessories would be great holiday gifts! Diane asks the question, “What...

On Cutting the Curd we have talked about the intersections between cheese and art on previous shows, but this week host Diane Stemple highlights three personal journeys with guests Aaron Kirtz of Forever Cheese, Beth Griffenhagen of Murray’s Cheese and Adam Moskowitz of Larkin Cold Storage. Find out how each guest found cheese and ended up transitioning artistic energy into their respective cheese...

This week on Cutting the Curd, Diane Stemple is joined in the studio by two newly graduated Certified Cheese Professionals, Amy Thompson and Elena Santogade. Amy Thompson is the head cheesemonger at Lucy’s Whey in the Chelsea Market, and Elena Santogade is the head cheesemonger at Beecher’s Handmade Cheese. Hear how Amy and Elena studied for the certification exam, and learn about the different su...

Diane Stemple debuts as guest host on this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd! Diane is speaking with Aaron Foster, the Head Buyer for Murray’s Cheese about the affect of Hurricane Sandy on the New York City cheese business. Tune into hear Diane and Aaron recount the events of the storm, and how the various Murray’s spaces in the West Village, Grand Central, and Long Island City fared in the weath...

Cutting the Curd returns after a brief hiatus! This week, Anne Saxelby is joined in the studio by Diane Stemple of Jasper Hill Farm. Diane will be hosting Cutting the Curd while Anne is on maternity leave! Tune in to hear how Hurricane Sandy affected the cheese business in New York City. Bedford Cheese Shop, Saxelby Cheesemongers, and Murray’s Cheese are all located in Lower Manhattan and suffered...

On this episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are joined by Kate Arding of the American Cheese Society. Kate is also the founder of Culture Magazine, and British farmstead cheese expert. Learn about the decline of artisanal British cheeses after the Industrial Revolution. Hear about mechanized cheese production, and the practice of coloring cheese. How did Neal’s Yard Dair...

October is American Cheese Month! On this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are talking about the newly inaugurated American Cheese Month, and what it means for artisanal cheese enthusiasts. Learn how you can get discounted farmhouse cheeses with the American Cheese Month’s Passport Program! Later, Anne and Sophie call up Christine Hyatt of Cheese-Chick.com! Tun...

On this week’s episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are talking with author and cheesemaker Gianaclis Caldwell. In addition to running Pholia Farm, Gianaclis has written two cheese-themed books, The Farmstead Creamery Advisor and the recent Mastering Artisan Cheesemaking . Like Anne, Gianaclis comes from a studio art background; hear why Gianaclis left the art world to em...

We’re talking cheese tools on this week’s installment of Cutting the Curd! Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger talk with Kristy Hadeka and Sean Tice of Brooklyn Slate. Hear about how a graphic and fashion designer came to start a small company to plate cheese and serve beverages! Learn about the different processes that Kristy and Sean use to crack and extract slate. How did Kristy and Sean’s famili...

This week, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger call up New York state dairy farmer Lorraine Lewendowsky for a report from the New York State Yogurt Summit. Lorraine is not only a dairy farmer, but an activist in the New York food community. Tune in to hear Lorraine talk about the percentage of yogurt that is made from large farms versus small farms. Learn about the environmental effects of New York...