Posted by: thepinetree on 06/06/2013 12:44 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 06/06/2013 12:44 AM
Expires: 01/01/2018 12:00 AM
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Winners of the State Fair Cheese Competition
Sacramento, CA... Say Cheese! From fresh mozzarella to aged cheddar, California Cheese Contest Judges sniffed, tasted and tested the texture of 156 entries from cheese producers across the state, vying for the chance to be named one of the best cheese makers in California.
“There is only one criteria,” said longtime judge Darrell Corti, Sacramento Grocer and Food and Wine Guru “It has to taste good!”...
For UC Davis Food Science Professor Dr. Moshe Rosenberg, the criteria are far more technical than tasty. “First you look at it for the specific features that type of cheese should have, then you sniff it for signs of a defect and then the very last step is to taste it.”
Dr. Rosenberg conducts research in cheese forensic science, a technology that determines where cheese comes from to help regulate fraudulent labeling in the cheese production industry. Based on his expertise, cheese produced in California has distinct features that make it a high-quality dairy product, “Along with the state’s diverse climate and natural fluorides, California dairy facilities were designed to promote animal health and they also use short delivery chains. This produces super clean milk, and leads to a higher quality cheese.”
The commercial cheese scoreboard is broken down by flavor, texture, finish and color. This year’s event welcomed more goat and water buffalo varieties. A total of nine judges evaluated cheese entries in cow milk and goat, sheep, water buffalo and mixed milk categories. Judges included: Darrell Corti, Sacramento Grocer and Food and Wine Guru; Mary Dedrick, Dedrick’s Main Street Cheese, Placerville; Lynn Devereux, Marin French Cheese and Laura Chenel Chevre; Kiri Fisher, Cheese Educator; Sacha Laurin, Cheesemaker/Teacher, Many Moon Cheese, Davis Food Co-op; Thalassa Skinner, Founder Culture Magazine; Jana Werner, Market Hall Foods; Les Wood, Retired, California Department of Food and Agriculture; Dr. Moshe Rosenberg, Professor and Specialist, Department of Food Science and Technology, U.C. Davis.
All Best of Division and Best of Show winning cheeses will be displayed in the California Foodstyle Building during the California State Fair which runs July 12 through July 28. The formal announcement of the competition winners will be made at “California’s Grape and Gourmet” event, the culmination of the Golden State’s premier wine competition on Thursday, August 22, at Cal Expo. The following is a list of the 2013 winners:
A complete list of this year’s results can be found at www.bigfun.org
Best of Show & Best of Division – Soft Cheese Category (Goat)
Laura Chenel’s Chevre
Cabecou
Best of Show & Best of Division – Semi-Hard Cheese Category (Cow)
Cowgirl Creamery
Wagon Wheel
Best of Division – Cottage Cheese Category (Cow)
Dairy Fresh, Saputo Dairy Foods
Organic 4% Cottage Cheese
Best of Division – Semi-Soft Cheese Category (Cow)
Marin French Cheese Company
Petite Crème
Best of Division – Semi-Soft Cheese Category (Goat)
Redwood Hill Farm
Terra
Best of Division – Hard Cheese Category (Cow)
Rumiano Cheese Company
Dry Monterey Jack
Best of Division – California Originals (Cow)
Nicasio Valley Cheese Company
San Geromino
FOOD * FAMILY * FUN
The 2013 California State Fair will be held from July 12 to July 28 at Cal Expo in Sacramento, CA. Visit www.bigfun.org
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