We've been visiting my parents in Indiana, where strawberries are still in season (yay!) and about two hours from my parents' house some of the finest goat cheese in the United States is produced at Capriole Farm. Situated in the wooded limestone hills of southeast Indiana, the farm produces a variety of artisan cheese, including fresh, surface-ripened, and aged raw milk. We used to buy the cheese at the farmers markets in Bloomington and Louisville, so it was fun to get to visit the farm itself.
In the tiny sales room, one of the employees brought me a cutting board full of samples of every kind of cheese they had available. They're all wonderful, but the ones I chose to take back to Alabama were a round of fresh goat cheese covered with herbes de Provence; the surface-ripened Piper's Pyramide; the aged Mont St. Francis; and a slice of Bourbon Chocolate Torta dessert cheese. I wouldn't have bought the latter, but I tasted some and it was fabulous! Said to go well with strawberries.
We took a short stroll around the farm while we were there. My daughter was entranced by pens of friendly goat kids, and a coop full of chickens. The house is beautifully landscaped too.
I discovered a few months ago that my daughter likes fresh goat cheese, and have since found a few other young children who also enjoy it. I suppose it's not surprising, except that I didn't come to enjoy goat cheese until well into adulthood.
I'll post a photo as soon as we've unwrapped some cheese for eating. UPDATE: photo added 7 June 08.
You’re right about the Capriole Farms chocolate goat cheese and strawberries. But they have to be locally grown berries,of course, not those imitations you get at the grocery store! I just bought some of that cheese at the Traders Point Market in Zionsville, IN last night and have a garden full of fresh strawberries that are going to get the “royal goat cheese” treatment this evening (if I can wait that long). When strawberry season is finished, I spread it on chocolate wafer cookies for a great dessert.
Love your site!
Vic
EAT LOCAL FOOD!
http://www.goinglocal-info.com
Sounds great! I want to put in a bed of strawberries for next year. Your site is a great resource for Indiana consumers.