Monday, Jun. 08, 2009

Book review: Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest

By Andy Perdue, Wine Press Northwest

Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest, by Tami Parr, 2009, Countryman Press, Vermont, $19.95.

Especially in the past half-decade, the artisan cheese industry in the Northwest has exploded, and Tami Parr has chronicled this in her blog, Pacific Northwest Cheese Project.

Parr, who lives in Portland, has now put her knowledge on paper in the form of the newly released Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest. This comprehensive guide explores cheese producers in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Idaho - 71 in all.

Each entry provides fascinating backgrounds on each producer and highlights every cheese produced. Want to know how Rogue River Creamery in Medford, Ore., gained its fame? Why is Sally Jackson in Oroville, Wash., such a recluse? You will find out in these pages.

The art of making cheese is just as fascinating and important as crafting wine. Parr covers these nuances in fascinating detail, making this book a must for lovers of Pacific Northwest cheese, wine and food.