This New York State Cheesemonger Named Best In the Country!

Did you know that there are nearly 2,000 different kinds of cheese in the world? Wisconsin Cheese reports that there are nearly as many categories, such as age, texture, taste and region. You aren't expected to know things like this. These facts and more are the kinds of things that a cheese monger would know and New York State is home to the Nation's Best Cheese Monger.

What's a cheese monger? Simply put, that is a person who sells cheese and we have the best in the Nation.

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Some of the best cheesemakers in the world recently gathered for the Cheesemonger Invitational in Brooklyn, NY and cheese mongers from around the United states showcased their technical skills, encyclopedic knowledge, and passionate salesmanship. Only 1 would be named Best Cheesemonger in the Country.

Congratulations to Sarah Simele of the Curd Nerd, 2800 James Street, Syracuse for being named Best Cheesemonger in the Country.

WOW WOW WOW! I’m not sure it’s even fully sunk in yet. This past weekend I competed in my first ever Cheesemonger Invitational !!! And, to my surprise (but not to my mothers), I won! - Sarah Simele

According to the Curd Nerd Facebook page, the competition was comprised of the following activities;

Written exam on cheese
Blind taste test of 5 cheeses
Cutting round
Aroma round
Salesmanship round
3 “perfect” rounds (beverage, plate, bites)

The Curd Nerd in Syracuse is open Wednesday thru Saturday 10am - 6pm and Sunday 10am - 4pm. Pre-order your cheese and charcutier boards HERE.

14 Exquisite Gourmet Cheese Shops in Upstate New York

Cheese production is a big business in Upstate New York. In fact, the Empire State is the fifth largest cheese-producing state in the US (Wisconsin is #1 of course).

What many don't know is that New York actually used to be one of the most dominant states in terms of cheese-making in the country. That was about 150 years back at this point. But there are still tons of delicious cheeses being produced in our state and we want to show them off.

Here are 14 of the best gourmet cheese shops in Upstate New York.

We hope you will visit them and when you do, don't forget to ...."say cheese!"

The Capital Region's Best Pizza Joints [RANKED]

Whether it is an 8 cut or a slice on the go, New York and the Capital Region are known for having a multitude of great pizza joints. Here are the 5 best in greater Albany according to GNA Listeners.

The Capital Region's 10 Best Ice Cream Stands [RANKED]

Spring and summer in Upstate New York mean 2 things: we spend as much time as possible enjoying the great outdoors and eating all the great ice cream the Capital Region has to offer. And we have so many great spots to enjoy a cold sweet treat! But which ones are the can't miss destinations to enjoy that amazing mix of cream, sugar, and amazing flavorings? From soft serve to hard ice cream to sundaes and banana splits, these are the 10 ice cream shops that GNA listeners voted as the 10 best in the area for 2022.

Filed Under: 518 News, best cheese in New York State, curd nerd Syracuse

Categories: Around Albany, Best of Albany Area, Food, Local Stuff