I received a personal tour of their land and facility. Kenny drove me around through the 200 acres of rolling green hills. I got close to and personal with their herd of 100 pure bred Holsteins. Along with a very clean facility were many healthy cows and 5 new calves that Kenny helped birth 3 days prior. (See the several pictures I have attached, below.)
Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese personally ships their product nationwide, yet they have one vat, one cheese making room and under 10 staff members. Raw milk cheese is their specialty and it is made with vegetable-based rennet.
Their milk doesn't need pasteurization; the cows are milked, the milk is sent directly into the vat and within minutes the cheese making begins. This happens daily and Kenny's prides themselves on the freshness of their product.
Along with the tour came a sampling of all their cheeses. Because Bloomingfoods carries a large variety already, I have had the pleasure of trying them before, but there were two new cheeses that really stood out. The Aged Gouda, with its sophisticated sharp and buttery flavor, is one of the few authentic raw milk, handmade Goudas in America. The Barren County Bleu has a firm yet springy-blue veined interior with a tangy, slightly acidic ripe flavor. They say this is their “Stilton wannabe”. The perfect after-dinner cheese, it pairs well with fruit and nuts.
These cheeses will be on sale throughout the next two months and we will be sampling them on member days and Saturdays.
I am always pleased to visit the farms of our producers, and to see first hand where our cheeses are produced. It is reassuring to know that there are still small farms, with good people, making products for all to enjoy.
Amber Towne
Cheese Buyer
