08/13/2007

Cook's Corner

Leelanau Cheese Company captures top award

Raclette 'Best of Show' in competition

Leelanau Cheese Company's aged Raclette has been named the best cheese in North America at the American Cheese Society's 2007 Competition recently held in Burlington, Vt.

The selection was made from among more than 1,200 entries to take the "Best of Show” award. The Suttons Bay-based cheese company owned by John and Anne Hoyt produces its raclette with pasteurized milk from one farm. It's a labor-intensive cheese, prepared in nine-pound wheels and aged nine months.

"The number of cheeses in this year's competition represents a 27 percent increase over last year, making it the largest cheese competition in American history,” said David Grotenstein, chairman of the judging and competition committee, in a press release.

Allison Hooper, president of the American Cheese Society board of directors, said the competition "really showcases the emerging trends and the leaders in the world of American cheese.

Leelanau Cheese Company is based at Black Star Farms. For more information, call (231) 271-2600.

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Oryana Food Cooperative celebrates the grand opening of its new addition from Thursday through Saturday.

Events include a breakfast in the Lake Street Kitchen Cafe from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., with events until 7:30 p.m. including local vendor demos, live music and family activities. Those events continue Friday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, there will be outdoor grilling with hot dogs, veggie dogs and more from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with local vendor demonstrations, live music and family activities until 3 p.m. and a poetry contest winner and readings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Oryana is at the corner of 10th and Lake streets. For more information, call (231) 947-0191

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Registration is open for Fall Mushroom Mania weekends at Springbrook Hills in Walloon Lake near Petoskey.

Weekends include guided mushroom hunting and identification, all meals featuring wild mushroom dishes and fine Michigan wines. Dates are Sept. 7-9, 21-23 and 28-30. A complete package for $197 includes two nights' lodging in vacation homes and all activities. For groups of six or more, cost is $185 per person. If no lodging is required, the price is $145. An extra night's lodging runs $25 per person.

For more details or to register, call Joe Breidenstein at (231) 535-2227.

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Tapawingo chef and owner Pete Peterson is leading a tour of Provence & The Piedmont Oct. 8-16, featuring a taste of Southern French and Northern Italian cuisine.

To find out more about the trip, visit www.italianhorizons.com, or call (866) 588-7881.

If you are looking for a specific recipe, have a cooking dilemma — or have solved one and want to pass on what you learned; had good (or bad) luck with a food product; or have other information of interest to fellow cooks, please send it to: Cook's Corner, Traverse City Record-Eagle, P.O. Box 632, Traverse City, MI 49685; call (231) 933-1452 or (800) 968-8273; or e-mail: kgibbons@record-eagle.com.