Newport Avenue Market Just Say Cheese to “Cheesy Boy” Glen

I love cheese, there’s no doubt about it. That’s because there are so many different cheeses out there waiting to be discovered.

Did you know that cheese is made not just from cow’s milk, but also buffalo, sheep, goat, camel and yak? Each one offers a different flavor profile, a different texture.

I never get tired of learning about new cheeses and sharing that knowledge with my customers. That’s one of the things I like about working at Newport Ave. Market. Rudy really encourages us to continue our education, to attend events that help us do our jobs better and bring our customers new products.

And I love to watch people’s faces after I’ve given them a sample of a cheese they’ve never tasted. You can just see the wheels turning. I know they’re thinking, “Wow! I wonder what wine would go with this? What recipe can I use it in?”

It’s especially important to me to offer locally crafted cheese, like Tumalo Farms and Juniper Grove Farms. Flavio DeCastilhos at Tumalo Farms makes fantastic goat gouda in several flavors, like Rosemary, Fenachu (which has won awards) and Giallo.

Pierre Kolisch at Juniper Grove Farm in Redmond creates incredibly delicate chevré. You have to taste it to believe how delicious it is.

To make your cheese experience even better, I often hold cheese and wine pairing events at the store, suited for each season of the year. Sometimes I’ll even make a torta to sell to our customers, made with brie, jam and nuts. It makes a terrific dessert.