CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio – Kandice Marchant, cheesemaker and owner of Marchant Manor Cheese, 2211 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, took home three first place awards and a third-place award in the 2023 Ohio State Fair Cheese Contest. Only one other Ohio cheesemaker matched Marchant’s success with three first places. That was Pearl Valley Cheese of Fresno, Ohio.
“We won a blue ribbon before, but this is the first time we’ve won three,” says Marchant, who has studied cheeses and cheesemaking globally. “We were absolutely over-the-moon thrilled. It’s a testament to the creativity and hard work of my team here to make excellent cheeses.”
Made locally from local mammal milks, the Marchant Manor winners include the following:
- First Place, bacteria ripened class: Apple Jack Washed. This triple cream cheese is made with guernsey cow milk. It is then washed with a local apple jack brine bath for a month. The apple jack comes from Tom’s Foolery Distillery in Chagrin Falls. Marchant compares the cheese to a Belgian Chimay.
- First Place, open class – other milk: Sussex Ash Rind. The category “other” refers to goat milk cheeses. This is a small log of goat cheese coated in vegetable ash. Marchant compares it to a Sainte Maure, a French goat cheese from the Loire Velley.
- First Place, surface mold bloomy class: Lapworth Peppercorn. This bloomy rind cheese is comparable to a Camembert. During production Tellicherry Peppercorns are roasted, ground and layered by hand between the curds.
- Third Place, surface mold bloomy class: Lapworth Au Naturel: Another bloomy rind cheese, this is similar to a Camembert.
The 2023 Ohio State Fair Cheese contest was held at Miceli Dairy in Cleveland, Ohio. Judges for the contest were Bill Rufenacht of the Dairy Connection, Aileen Kacvinsky of Schuman Cheese, Brian Schlatter of Fromagex, restaurateur John Quagliata and Jenny Crabtree of ADA Mideast. Participation was at an all-time high with 63 entries from cheesemakers across the state.
In addition to Marchant Manor, many of these cheeses are available at Ohio City Provisions in Cleveland, Chuck’s Fine Wines in Chagrin Falls and the Purple Brown farm store in Peninsula. When available they are sold at Pearl Street Market in Cleveland and Gingham Market in Lakewood. Chez Francois restaurant in Vermilion carries the goat cheese on it’s menu.
For an overall list of competition winners, visit Ohio’s Top Cheesemakers
RELATED: Marchant Manor in Cleveland Heights offers cheese school
Paris Wolfe is a life and culture reporter for Cleveland.com. She has a special interest in food, dining, cocktails and spirits. You can reach her with news and story ideas at pwolfe@cleveland.com. Here’s a directory of her latest posts. Follow her on Instagram @pariswolfe.
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