Stream of Consciousness #57 - Elle Williams - Carr Valley Cheese

In this episode of the Wisconsin Makers Series, Daniel sits down with Elle Williams, Director of Sales and Brand Development at Carr Valley Cheese and a licensed cheese grader (#489) — one of the rare people in the state who can literally taste quality at a professional level.

Elle brings a blend of deep Wisconsin roots, technical expertise, and genuine love for the craft of cheesemaking. Together, we explore how Carr Valley has carried more than a century of tradition forward, what it means to grade cheese with intention, and how flavor, texture, and identity all intersect in the world of Wisconsin dairy.

Elle shares stories from inside the creamery, breaks down what makes Carr Valley’s cheeses stand out, and reflects on the responsibility of preserving a legacy while pushing the brand into the future. It’s a conversation about craft, community, and the people who keep Wisconsin’s food traditions alive.

If you love cheese, Wisconsin makers, or hearing from someone who truly knows their craft, this episode is a must‑listen.

Carr Valley Cheese – Wisconsin Cheese Mart

https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1768323039635344d43bab5cf

https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZHWgVJf5Dadq6c1jHFrNC?si=6f0679e26d94418b

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Alright, everyone, we are live with Stream of Consciousness with Dan. Today I've got someone on the show who represents one of the most iconic names, not only in Wisconsin Cheese, but throughout the country. I'm joined by Ellie Williams from Car Valley Cheese. And if you know anything about Wisconsin food culture, you know Car Valley is woven into the fabric of this state. Ellie works at the heart of that operation, shaping the brand, connecting with communities, and helping carry forward a craft that's been part of Wisconsin for generations. She brings both a mix of expertise, personality, and genuine love for this industry. And I cannot tell you how excited I am to dig into the stories behind the cheeses so many of us grew up with. This is gonna be fun. Ellie, welcome to the show. How are you doing today?

SPEAKER_02 0:57

Hi, thank you. I'm doing well.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Good. Well, I would tell you how I'm doing, but I already did offline because I I need some Car Valley cheese in front of me for this. Oh man, that's so good. But uh yeah, before we even get into Car Car Valley, excuse me, um, I kind of just want to talk with uh just Ellie as a young girl, where you grew up, kind of your hobbies and interests, and just kind of what young Ellie looked like.

SPEAKER_02 1:29

Sure, yeah. So I grew up in Lime Ridge, Wisconsin, um, which is in Saw County, kind of that southwestern part of the state, um, about 40 minutes from the Wisconsin Dells. Um I am an only child, and so uh growing up in that part of Wisconsin in rural Wisconsin, uh I spent a lot of time outside. I was very fortunate to grow up about a mile from my grandparents' house who lived on a farm. Um, so I was outside looking for kittens most of the year to tame and you know, baking with my grandma. Um, I was heavily involved in music. I started taking piano lessons when I was four. Um, so she carted me around to those. Um spent a lot of time with cousins and family, and then um I went to a really small high school, um, K through 12 school Weston. Um, and I graduated with 14 people. So very, very small rural living. Um, but I think you know, I wouldn't change any of that because I think it it kind of molds you as a person, you know, every childhood mold you as a person, but I feel very fortunate to grow up in in that type of a lifestyle.

SPEAKER_00 2:44

So yeah, I can I can echo that for sure because uh my my uncle uh worked on a farm just outside of Cazanovia.

SPEAKER_03 2:54

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

So literally we probab we probably might have driven past each other on like uh County Highway G.

SPEAKER_02 3:03

Yep. Mm-hmm. Yep. So I lived, I grew up on on Highway S.

SPEAKER_00 3:07

So that's far away.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:10

So oh well that's great. I I grew up playing piano too. Do you think um that kind of maybe helped just spark your creativity because a lot of what cheese making is about and you know just marketing in general is being creative. And for me, I think music has helped me throughout my profession and just being creative. So do you think you resonate with that at all?

SPEAKER_02 3:34

Yeah, I would say so. And and I think, you know, uh, which I'm sure we'll get into later, but I I have a my bachelor's degree is in piano pedagogy. So I taught students throughout college um as well. And I think that type of environment, it teaches you a lot of discipline and time management. And yeah, kind of I always kind of led with, you know, it doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be what's on the book, but make it what it what it is for you. And so I definitely think that lends itself to that creativity and um the freedom to kind of explore and create something.

SPEAKER_00 4:12

Yeah, that's really neat. Um, I'm actually playing the piano for my sister's wedding in August. I'm playing canon and D, and I'm pretty nervous. So if you have any tips on practice, we might have to we might have to talk offline on that. It's a little it's a little intimidating. Yes, but that's really cool that you did that.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:36

That's really neat. So actually, that's uh I'm actually gonna skip forward and then go back since you talked about what you went to college for. So how did you get into the cheese world then?

SPEAKER_02 4:48

Yeah, so um being in in rural Wisconsin when I turned 14, my parents were like, you know, it's time for you to get a job. And um I so like a week after my four my 14th birthday, so August of 2009, um, obviously didn't have my license. And the closest job that I could get was at Car Valley. So I um it was about a mile down the road from my house, and my cousin worked there. She's in she was in high school at the time. Um, my grandma worked there, and you know, it made it really easy for me to get to work um so I could, you know, get a ride with someone to work on Saturdays. And so that's where my journey with Carbali starts. Obviously, I was eating the cheese and I was very connected to the company before 14, but um that was my first job because it was basically either that or most of my like peers were going to the Dells to work, which you almost need license to go. And most of them were like lifeguards and things like that, which would have been I was very jealous at the time because I was like, oh, being outside in your swimming suit in the summer at Noah's Ark, that sounds really fun. But um, I chose the hairnet cheese life, and um, so that's kind of where I started. And and um obviously when you're 14, you never think that the your first job will be your job forever. Um, but I was very fortunate in the way that my path kind of continued on the trajectory that it did. And I didn't go to college for for like something ag related or sales related for that matter. I, you know, I worked through through at Car Valley all through high school, all through college, um, pursuing a degree in recreational therapy and piano pedagogy, hoping I think eventually to be a music therapist was my original plan. Um but, you know, I over my time at Car Valley, I I had a chance to kind of work in several roles at the store, retail store level. And um, the owner said uh had approached me before I graduated and offered me a position, and it was something that I didn't feel I could turn down at the time. And obviously I'm so glad I didn't. I've right, you know, food is such a food and cheese in particular is such a happy thing, right? And so, you know, sales when you're thinking about taking a sales job, the first thing that came to my mind was, oh, you know, a slimy sales guy making calls. Um, and I did not want that. But the nice thing about Car Valley and just cheese in general is that it it's never, it doesn't feel that way. You know, people are happy when you're when you're um talking to them about cheese and food, and and in particular, Car Valley is such a so many people have that happy connection with it that um it's never felt like a chore or something intimidating sales-wise to do. So I'm happy I I chose that path.

SPEAKER_00 8:03

Yeah, well, I think you uh I think you made the right decision for sure. Um, but you you're exactly right. And I've spoken with chefs, uh, a couple of other cheesemakers as well. And uh for me, yeah, food just brings people together. Everyone needs to eat. Um, it's a universal language. Um so yeah, I love that. And I always love to ask this question as well is what does being Wisconsin mean to you?

SPEAKER_02 8:32

I would say uh a lot of pride. I think, you know, when you're younger, and by no means am I like, you know, super old, but when you're in like high school and college, you kind of take it all for granted. And especially being in rural parts of Wisconsin, you're like, I'm gonna get away, I'm gonna go to the big city. And you know, the older I get, and um, even with my husband who's who's not from Wisconsin originally, like I've had so much joy sharing these memories in like locations of Wisconsin, and now being part of the industry and sharing Wisconsin manufacturing across the country and the world, like I just am so proud. I mean, most 95% of the people that I know from this state are so humble, so down-to-earth. Um and and just I I feel endlessly proud to say that I'm from Wisconsin, that I live here um just just for so many different reasons. But I think in particular, the people.

SPEAKER_00 9:38

Yeah, I honestly couldn't agree more. I'll share a quick story. Um, so my wife isn't from Wisconsin. I obviously was born here, or born here. I say here, I'm in Omaha. I was born in Wisconsin, but um my parents live down in Broadhead and uh so we went and visited them, and we took a day, just me and my wife, and did kind of the we did the house on the rock, the cave on the mound, like all of that stuff. And it was honestly like the best day of my life just to be able to share that with her, because she can see like you know, the tour guides are so genuine and so like you said, down to earth. And we ended the day at Pimples, a small tavern in New Glaris. Um and like you said, it's just we have so much pride, but there's absolutely no arrogance in it whatsoever, which is what I really appreciate about being from Wisconsin. So, no, I completely echo everything you just said. Uh oh man, I want to I wanna go up and visit right now. Gosh darn it. Um so yeah, so you've got that job at Car Valley, but I I do want to step back and ask if you could just share some history about Carvalley cheese and kind of how it started, because it's it's been around a while.

SPEAKER_02 11:01

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, so so present day Car Valley is owned by Sid Cook. He's a fourth generation master cheese maker. Um, his family in particular, on his mom's side, has kind of been making cheese since the late 1800s. So before he crossed bath paths and started Carvalley, his family had kind of that cheese-making background and lifestyle. Um, but Carvalley as a company started in 1902. Um, it is right off of Highway G between Lime Ridge and Kaz area. Um, and it was in the house behind the plant that exists today. Um, but at the time and basically up until Sid purchased the plant in 1986, they basically have been making one product for one customer. Um, a lot of that history is um that plant specific was doing bandage wrapped daisies, which is a 23-pound cheddar wheel. Um and and most companies too at the time, like there's so many different cheese companies and factories around, and a lot of them had one customer kind of thing. So um, but that's kind of what attracted Sid to Carvalho was they they were making something at the time that was seen as a more of a specialty product, where a lot of other makers and what his family was doing was more of like the commodity cheddar block, um, Monterey Jack, Colby, things like that, where this artisan bandage wrap Daisy um was seen as maybe a higher-end product that um Sid saw opportunity with. So he decided to go down. Um, the plant at the time was owned by the Mueller family, the Mueller brothers. Um, and he was pretty young at the time, but Sid was like went in and spoke with Bessie in the front in the front store and um talked with the Muellers and purchased Carvalley in 1986. So, you know, Carvalle's more modern-day story of where Sid comes in, starts in that time. Um and now, fast forwarding to now, Carvalho's expanded to four plants and seven retail stores in that, you know, southwestern, south central part of Wisconsin.

SPEAKER_00 13:20

Oh, well, that's awesome. Uh yeah, I didn't, it's always interesting to hear kind of those stories of just the generations and how everything grows. It's really neat. So, what do you think makes Car Valley special? Is it is it the cows? Is it the milk? Is it the people? Uh you don't need to give away any any super secrets, but what what do you think makes Car Valley special? Because for me, it's arguably the top two or three cheese that I've ever eaten in my life.

SPEAKER_02 13:53

Oh, thank you. Um yeah, I think it's honestly a combination. Uh, first and foremost, uh one thing that we share is the milk from the land. You know, Wisconsin in general is such a great dairying state because of the terror throughout the state, um, in particular in our area, which is kind of at the tail end of the driftless region. Um, there's so much fresh water. Um, the soil is rich. Um, you know, we have a lot of plant life that was pushed down. Um, just the diversity of the plants in our area is pretty unique. Um, so first and foremost, yes, absolutely the milk. We still have a patron network of farmers, meaning we have eight farms that we're picking up from seven days a week from like about a 20, 30 mile radius around our plant. And so that absolutely is something that makes our cheese special because at the very base, it's all about the milk, right? Um and then, you know, second of all, it it is the people. There's a lot of people like me in the organization that started when they were, you know, 14, uh, 12. My my colleague Bob, who's a master cheesemaker, now started at uh in our wax room when he was 12. Um and now he's a master cheesemaker. Um, but it's very rare to say that you've had the chance to work with your cousins, your mom, your grandmas, your best friends in an environment. And I think that speaks to the company itself of having people that don't want to leave, that are permanently tethered to the company in a way that they want to be. Um, and then lastly, a lot of it is innovation. I think Sid has always, always been at the front of innovation in the industry, wanting to try something new, wanting to be ahead of the trends, um, and truly letting all of his employees, you know, uh experiment. So we we are a company that's always experimenting, always trying new recipes. Um, and that comes from Sid. He wants he wants to be innovative, he wants to to be a pioneer in that setting, and I think that's what makes us stand out.

SPEAKER_00 16:07

No, absolutely. Um because yeah, you've got some incredible, like you said, um I'll just use a beer analogy, like it's not like you're not just doing Miller Light, you've got, you know, this hoppy grapefruit IPA, or you're not just doing cheddar in your sake, you're doing uh XYZ cheddar or uh stuff like that. So I think exactly that's what makes you special and but you're still authentic as well, with uh you know the the uh inputs that you're putting into the product is authentic, I guess is what I was trying to get at. Uh so what I really wanted to ask you, because I I have no idea what even being a cheese grader looks like or means. So can you talk about being a licensed cheese grader?

SPEAKER_02 16:59

Yeah, absolutely. So that looks different depending on your job and company that you work for. So my reason for becoming a mass or a licensed cheese grader was to A understand, you know, the the varieties that are um that are noted in the government laws. So Cheddar, Colby, um, I believe Monterey Jack are the three like American varieties that have a standard of identity. Um, so a understanding those things and wanting to to expand my career in uh you know, judging at the world championship cheese contests and and those types of contests. That was my main motivation for it. But also on a day-to-day level for a cheese grader, that looks like trying the existing lots and seeing if they A match the standard of identity or B matches the flavor profiles, the target flavor profiles that that company is looking for. We obviously do those traditional varieties, but a greater focus for us is a lot of our American original recipes, so that don't have a standard of identity.

SPEAKER_03 18:10

Right.

SPEAKER_02 18:11

But um, something that is nice is for me to have that background, to have the knowledge of, you know, ways to identify the flavor, the the appearance, the the texture, um, and and compare those to our products um and try to make a more consistent and um superb product. And so that's that's my motivation. Some cheese graders are on staff and they are literally trying and releasing lots of cheese um, you know, weekly. So, but for me, it's more of um to greater understand the products and to be able to back up um my knowledge with actual education, right?

SPEAKER_00 18:57

So yeah, so can you talk about the education as well? Because I know it's a fairly rigorous prog or uh a rigorous process, excuse me, to get license. So, what does that process look like?

SPEAKER_02 19:10

Yeah, so I worked with someone at the um Department of Egg that was kind of my in a way mentor. So I met with him several times. Um I also took classes at the Center for Dairy Research, so they offer so many different classes for industry members. So I've taken the cheese grading class, I've taken the intro to cheese making courses, world pasture to plate. Um so I took those classes that are not required, but again, give you so much base knowledge. Um, and then ultimately you take an exam and you you pass or fail, and um, and then you kind of have to keep it up and be recertified every two years, I believe, um, and kind of re-up your license on that setting. Um, so I think you know it's a hundred percent worth it to again have that knowledge and be connected in the industry in that way. And then an even more rigorous one would be the master cheesemaker program, which we have two master cheesemakers and a third one in in that process, which is a about 13-year commitment with the time spent to qualify to enter the program and then the time spent in the program.

SPEAKER_00 20:22

So wow, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_02 20:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:26

Uh so we're gonna we're gonna go uh kind of simplify things for just a dummy here sitting in Omaha. How do you make cheese? You don't need to get into any secrets, but just simplistically, how do you make cheese? I think my listeners would really resonate with that.

SPEAKER_02 20:45

Yeah. So cheese at its core is is just a few ingredients. So you got your milk, you have your cultures, which is a bacteria, which will depend that determines a lot of the flavor and the texture, um, depending on what variety you're making. You have the enzymes or the rennet, which kind of helps kickstart and coagulate the milk, and you have salt. So that is the only things that you need for cheese making. Um so so in a uh I grew up working at our cheddar plant, so that's kind of what I think of. But we we bring in our milk. It's brought in, like I said, seven days a week. Um, the first thing that has to happen is that it's pasteurized. So we do all of our, we pasteurize all of our milk before it's made into cheese. Um, and then it's pumped into a vat. Basically, it's heated up. We're adding the cultures to it. Again, that's like the bacteria that helps determine flavor, texture, you know, things like that. Um, you know, depending whether you're making a Swiss cheese or a Colby or cheddar, there's all different hundreds of thousands of different cultures that cheese makers use for that process. Um then for cheddar, we're adding color. So in Wisconsin, Yellow cheddar is the must. So we add anatto in, which is comes from a seed. It's just a natural coloring. Um so for us, okay. We're adding that. Um, that's just a coloring, no flavor, no flavor.

SPEAKER_00 22:14

So true cheddar, if you didn't add that, it would just be white.

SPEAKER_02 22:19

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 22:19

Okay, cool. Interesting.

SPEAKER_02 22:22

And then um, so then it's going to be in the vat, the milk's in the vat. Um, and then we eventually will add rennet, which again is going to start to coagulate that milk. We use a microbial rennet, meaning that it's comes from microbes versus the traditional whey, which comes from an animal, it comes from calves. Um, it's a enzyme found in the stomach lining. Um, but that helps quick, you know, kickstart that that um coagulant. And then we're kind of cutting the vat to cut the curd and then drain the whey, and then you salt it, and then you have curds. So that's a very simple, simple, simple, simple um breakdown of it. So I hopefully no cheesemakers come after me for that one. But um, that's like the very basic quick guide. But for us, the process takes about four hours.

SPEAKER_00 23:11

Well, no, that's interesting. That is really cool. It's uh it's just insane. Like you said, it's you know, basically four ingredients, and you can get thousands of different types of cheese just based on you know what enzymes you're using. And yeah, so that's awesome to hear. So I I did want to ask, because I've seen some some creameries on a show called Wisconsin Foodie. I'm not sure if you're familiar. Yeah, yeah, Luke's great. Um uh what do you do with your whey? Do you do anything uh with your whey? Yeah, so and and explain what whey is for people that don't know.

SPEAKER_02 23:51

Yeah, so whey is the byproduct of the cheese making process for like, for example, for cheddar again, cheddar standard of identity, the moisture level is before below 39%. So, meaning it is you have to get out as much moisture as possible so that it can age, right? So, so for that in particular, we are draining all that whey out of out of the bat so that we are left with just curds. Um, and so for us, uh we have a couple different outlets. We have um, you know, people we sell most of it. Um, but then because we do goat and sheep and and mixed milk cheeses as well, we actually started making our own whey cream butter. So, so we have a churn in our in one of our plants that we take a lot of that and and turn it into butter that we sell. So, so that's changed over the years, but a lot of companies like people that do buy whey didn't want to purchase the mixed cream um product, obviously. Like it's not just cow. Um, and so so we ended up doing that with most of ours.

SPEAKER_00 25:02

That's really cool. I definitely want to buy some of that.

SPEAKER_02 25:05

Uh yeah, it's it's really nice. And I think again, speaks to the innovation. Like we were, you know, Sid was told, nope, we won't take this way anymore. And so he's like, okay, well, we'll we'll buy a churn and we're gonna make butter. And um, we have now a couple licensed butter makers and butter graders as well. So so again, like continuing education is definitely promoted and is making that unique product. Like you're not gonna find a mixed milk butter anywhere else than at Car Valley.

SPEAKER_00 25:39

So that that's really cool. Yeah, I can't wait to get my hands on some of that. Um I was watching an episode where one of the creameries uses the way to actually make I think it was either vodka or gin.

SPEAKER_01 25:53

Oh yeah, we were talking about that. I haven't looked into that yet, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:59

And I can't remember what what dairy that was. I'll have to circle back, but no, it's just incredible to and it just goes back to what being Wisconsin is about, you know, you're being uh respectful to the product, you're not wasting anything. Um, and again, why not? Like if you can make a product out of something that usually no one would want, why not do it?

SPEAKER_02 26:22

Right. I mean, at that point it was either dump it and waste it or use it, and um, I'm glad that we decided to use it. It's been we started making butter probably seven, eight years ago now, and so I'm I'm glad that yeah, that's so cool.

SPEAKER_00 26:39

Uh so I wanted to also talk about just Wisconsin cheese cul just the Wisconsin cheese culture in general, just the camaraderie. Obviously, there's competition, you know, wanting, you know, to be the best cheese out there, blah, blah, blah. But I feel like the more cheesemakers I talk to, you guys are really a family and support each other as an industry. Do you agree with that? And just I just kind of wanted your thoughts on that.

SPEAKER_02 27:06

Absolutely. Yeah. I, you know, the fun thing, obviously, I'm younger in the generation, and a lot of, you know, there is that younger generation coming in, but most of the founders of these companies, most of the owners started out together. First of all, started out in very similar circumstances, whether their family had owned the plant or, you know, XYZ, but then are people that took the first master cheesemaker class together? We're people that kind of are, you know, moving through the world and the industry throughout the same timeline. And so I think that really blend, you know, lends itself to create that very tight-knit culture from the top. So from those like generational founder level. And it's still that way. Of course, like there's certain cheeses that are like, you know, we have direct competitors for, but in general, it's very much uh an industry where we're supporting each other. We are, you know, teaming up and collaborating together, and you know, just in general trying to to support and ultimately sell Wisconsin cheese.

SPEAKER_00 28:11

So yeah, competition breeds competition, and especially when it's healthy competition like that.

SPEAKER_01 28:19

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 28:21

So I told you I was gonna throw you a curveball. So now is the time for the curveball. It's a fun one, you'll be great at it. Uh so I always do something similar to this. It's just called my Mount Rushmore. So we're just gonna do the Mount Rushmore of cheese, not brands or companies or anything, just types of cheese. So I'm gonna we're just gonna lit go back and forth. I'll give you my favorite cheese, you me, you, me, and it's gonna be fun. Okay. So my my favorite cheese of all time is brick cheese.

SPEAKER_01 28:57

I love that. That's nice.

SPEAKER_00 29:01

It's I mean, it can be mild, it can be funky, it can be it's just like the perfect cheese. It's you probably can explain it better than I can, but it's it's meltable but not like super melty.

SPEAKER_01 29:13

It's oh my god, I just buttery and oh yes.

SPEAKER_00 29:18

It's just and I can't find it anywhere. I have to order it from Wisconsin. So uh so yeah, brick cheese is my is my George Washington of my Mount Rushmore. So uh that's amazing. So I'm gonna turn it over to you for your first cheese.

SPEAKER_02 29:35

Um, I'm just gonna this is such a vanilla answer, but I my all-time favorite cheese is a cheddar. I um from us, I truly love our goat cheddar. Um, but in general, like if I'm at the store, nine times out of ten, I'm buying a block of cheddar. Um, doesn't matter. Like, I I like every type, every regional cheddar really. I prefer a Midwestern cheddar, but I also love a West Coast cheddar because I love it sliced with apples. And I just eat, I can eat like a half a block of cheddar for lunch with an apple, and every single slice of apple has a piece of cheddar on it, and that's like my all-time favorite snack. It's so simple, but I am a no-frills gal sometimes.

SPEAKER_00 30:23

So hey, there's nothing wrong with that. And I think you might need to hang out with my wife because she could eat a half block of cheddar in a heartbeat as well.

SPEAKER_02 30:32

Oh my god, I know. My husband stares at me and he's like, Is that all you're eating? And I was like, Well, no, I'm still gonna have my lunch, but this is just like my appetizer, right?

SPEAKER_00 30:39

So well, there is nothing wrong with that for your first one. Um, I'm actually gonna go Munster for number two.

SPEAKER_02 30:49

Amazing.

SPEAKER_00 30:50

It again, it's very I like verse versatile cheeses. Um, it's great on a sandwich, it's great in a mac and cheese. Um, I just really like Munster. I think it's kind of underrated, and I don't know why.

SPEAKER_02 31:05

Yeah, I agree. It's that one is also like, I just think of that as such a salty, just a kind of addictive cheese. You know, it's just one after the other, I could keep eating that. That's a good one for sure. Um, let me think. I think mine would probably be. Let me think. Um I really, really like goat chev, like a fresh goat chev log.

SPEAKER_00 31:37

You might need to enlighten me on that. I'm not sure what that is.

SPEAKER_02 31:41

So lots of different people make it. We we we have one too, but it's like basically a fresh goat cheese that typically is in like little logs in the store. A lot of them are flavored, um, but it has such a like a lemony, citrusy, tangy flavor. Um, and I'm someone that loves to put cheese on bread, like toast. And so that one I love to just spread on my toast, whether it's flavored or not. And it just has like again that little citrusy flavor to it that I really like. And and it's fun because a lot of companies do make flavors of it. And so you could like in the holiday season, a lot of times you'll see like cranberry or like gingerbread.

SPEAKER_00 32:25

I think I know what you're talking about now.

SPEAKER_02 32:26

Yes, yep, yep. So I like just the plain, honestly, but um, there's so many fun flavors that when I'm looking for a flavored cheese, that's such an easy one to grab. And and for entertaining, I feel like so many people are scared of goat goat milk cheese in general. Um, but I think it's so good.

SPEAKER_00 32:48

That's a good one. I might have to try that because yeah, just a nice piece of bread with yeah, some spreadable cheese. That sounds really good. Um, so my number three, I'm gonna go with probably the most authentic cheese there is. I'm just going fresh mozzarella.

SPEAKER_02 33:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:07

I mean it's just kind of cheese at its core, I guess. To me at least. Uh it's I mean, pizza, but I can just get those little balls at the store and just pound them.

SPEAKER_02 33:23

Just oh yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:25

So I'm going, I'm just getting fresh mozzarella.

SPEAKER_02 33:27

That's great. Um, I think mine, another one it's it's I'm only saying it because it's been on my mind this week as a car valley cheese, is our black goat truffle. Um, it's another goat cheddar style, but it has truffle in it. Um, and I'll try different cheeses from time to time. And that's my current one that I keep thinking about because obviously truffle is very trendy, but it just smells so it's not garlic, there's no garlic in it, but it has that like garlicky mushroom smell. And I just want it shredded on French fries. And like I just am thinking about I've been thinking about it for like a week now. I had it last Friday, and I've just been kind of like dreaming about having it again, and so that's gonna be my top right now, too.

SPEAKER_00 34:15

Okay, and then so in your background, it's on my left. I don't know if it's your right, it's the kind of the toasted looking one.

SPEAKER_01 34:23

Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:25

Is that the is that buttercase?

SPEAKER_01 34:27

That is bread cheese.

SPEAKER_00 34:29

Oh, so yeah, it was bread cheese.

SPEAKER_01 34:34

Good, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:35

So yeah, ongoing bread cheese. That stuff is amazing. Oh my god, I'd never had it before.

SPEAKER_02 34:40

Oh, really? Oh my gosh, that's our number one product. It is so again, buttery profile, toasty, you know, we have different flavors, but the the plain is the most popular, so it's really good in the air fryer if you have an air fryer.

SPEAKER_00 34:55

So oh my god, yeah. So oh, yep, that's not that's number four. Well, I maybe should have put it number one. Um, all right, so you got one more to complete our Mount Rushmore.

SPEAKER_02 35:06

Um, for me, and this is another like calling out a very specific product, but it's one of my favorites, is the the caraway boo, it's called. It's from Deer Creek Cheese, but it's uh it's a Colby cheese with caraway in it. Um again, I am like down to my core, very simple gal with cheese, and it is another cheese which is so addictive to eat. Um, and I again very simple. I just love that cheese on a Ritz cracker. And that's I don't care if people think I'm too simple after listening to this, but you know.

SPEAKER_00 35:49

I mean, I can just picture actually you or my wife even just sitting down at the TV with a sleeve of Ritz crackers and a block of cheese and just going to talk.

SPEAKER_02 36:02

Yeah. A sleeve of Ritz crackers is like, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:07

Oh, well that was a ton of fun. Um like I said, it was it was a curveball, but it was it it was also a softball at the same time.

SPEAKER_01 36:14

Yeah, that was fun.

SPEAKER_00 36:17

Oh goodness. So I actually wanted to ask about cheese curds. So when you're going through the cheese process, obviously you're not making a block of cheese, you're making the curds. So kind of where does the process you know stop to kind of go to cheese curds instead of you know, block of cheese?

SPEAKER_02 36:41

Yeah, so so again, speaking on cheddar specifically, um, so for cheese curds, obviously, you know, when after we drain all the way out, we let the curds sit on the side to kind of form into these mats because that cheese naturally wants to knit back together. So we you know, we cut it into these mats and it goes through the process of cheddaring, which basically we bring out this mill that sits on the side of the vat. I can send you a video afterwards so you can see what that looks like. But basically, we we go through the process of cheddaring where we're throwing these mats into this machine to cut it up into the what you see as cheese curds. Um, so it's cut down into that exact form, and then we salt it, right? And that's gonna flavor it, but also, you know, bring out more moisture, which is what we want. And then at that point, it can either be sold as curds or we are paling it into presses to be made into wheels or blocks. So it's for cheddar in particular, we're always gonna cut it down to that size and salt it and add in one other flavors. If you if we're making like our cranberry cheddar, we would add it in after the salt and then pale it into press in into those presses. So yeah, it always gets down to that shape first and then is pressed. So, and most of what we do now is either put into blocks or for more of our specialty cheeses, we do a lot of 12-pound wheels. Um, and typically that's pressing for I believe six-ish hours. Um, it's pressed and then it's brought out to to dry for a day and then sent over to our warehouse to be aged and cut.

SPEAKER_00 38:25

So oh, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. So for people like me who live in Omaha, or for people around the world or wherever they are, where can people find Car Valley cheese? Because everyone needs to experience it. It is delicious, it represents just the epitome of Wisconsin, and I would love for people to purchase as much of it as they can. So where can they find it?

SPEAKER_02 38:51

Yeah. So the easiest way to have access to our full line, because we make over a hundred products. So obviously, um, and unfortunately, we're not gonna we can't distribute those all across the country, but the easiest place to get access to the majority of our line would be online. So we our website we have um partnered up with Wisconsin Cheese Mart, who does e-commerce um for us. So they sell all of our products for us online. So that would be the number one way if you're like having an itching for something very specific. Absolutely, that would be the way to go. You also can call our stores if you're looking for something there, they can also ship to you. And then we do sell across the country to different retailers. So in your direct area, you may find our products in your local Kroger or your local Albertson store or um meat markets, right? Um, so absolutely look in the cheese area. You may find one to three of our cheeses. Um, but for the whole line, it would be best to go online.

SPEAKER_00 39:58

Okay, awesome. Yeah, well, I'll definitely put that link in in the episode description for sure so people can experience it. And uh before we sign off, I kind of wanted to ask where you see Car Valley going in the future, if there's any any goals or you just want to keep what you're doing. I know you're very innovative, but just kind of yeah, where do you see yourself in maybe five years as a as a company?

SPEAKER_02 40:25

I think well, definitely the innovation keeps going. I think you know, one of Sid's big goals is to be at the front of innovation while also keeping a lot of those traditional cheesemaking techniques in place. But that also being said, making our cheesemakers' jobs easier over time. So he's always looking at, you know, different machines and different cutting operations to make the job for the cheesemakers less labor intensive, like less backbreaking, um, things like that. So I see that continuing. Um, and I'm sure in five years we'll have 10 new cheeses out. I mean, Sid is again always, always trying something new. Um, and we rarely say say no to an idea. So, so I think um just kind of keeping up with that, and hopefully we'll have over a thousand awards by then.

SPEAKER_00 41:22

So well, again, thank you so much. Is there anything else you want to brag on? I just want to give you the stage and tell us again just why Car Valley is the best cheese in the country.

SPEAKER_02 41:39

Yeah, I was thinking about this, and you know, for me it comes back to the pride that people have for Wisconsin and for Car Valley. I couldn't tell you how many times I'm traveling um for work or personal, and if someone finds out that I work at Car Valley, the number of times that people were like, oh my gosh, I was visiting the Wisconsin Dells with my family once, and we drove past your factory, and this nice woman named Sandy gave us this sample and and you know, XYZ, and that kind of connection makes it all worth it, right? Like just to know that locally people are proud of the company and say, you know, have a connection to it in that way. But then nationally, there is so many happy memories attached to Card Valley that it makes me so happy, and so I think that definitely makes it stand out and us just being authentically us, right? Like I truly believe we make some of the best cheese in the whole world, and um, it's made by the most passionate people, and um, I couldn't be prouder of that, and we are the top award-winning cheese company for sure in the US, and I think you know, the longevity of those awards and just Sid's dedication to making high-quality, unique American original recipes, it it shows itself and it's proven on that on that national, international stage when it comes to awards too. So, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:24

Well, that was a perfect closing. So, Ellie, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to me today. It was so much fun. I learned a lot. I mean, a lot. Um, your knowledge as a cheese grader really sh really shone through. So I appreciate the way you kind of walked us through everything, the history, the craft, and most importantly, the heart behind what you guys do at Car Valley. And again, so everyone out there, Car Valley Cheese truly rocks. It truly rocks. And uh, you guys are carrying forward. a Wisconsin tradition in a way that's authentic, thoughtful, and innovative. So keep doing what you're doing. It matters and people feel it. And more importantly, people taste it.

SPEAKER_01 44:14

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 44:16

So thanks for being here, Ellie and uh everyone. This is Dan signing off from Stream of Consciousness.