Mastering Basic Cheesemaking: The Fun and Fundamentals of Making Cheese at Home - Gianaclis Caldwell (2015)

Books

Cheese Primer by Steve Jenkins (Workman, 1996)

This was my first cheese book, a gift from friends. What it lacks in glamour and color photos, it makes up for with insight and depth. Steve is an icon in the cheese world for good reason.

The Cheesemaker’s Manual, by Margaret Morris (Glengarry Cheese Making Supply, 2003)

From the owner of Glengarry Cheese Making supply in Canada. A great reference and resource.

The Fabrication of Farmstead Goat Cheese by Jean-Claude Le Jaouen (The Cheesemakers Journal, 1987)

If you plan on making any mold-ripened cheeses — cow, goat, or sheep — you should eventually pick up this little book. Nothing else quite comes close to covering French bloomy rinded cheeses. You will learn a lot about their production, and the back includes a long list, along with details, about many of the classic French mold-ripened goat cheeses (you can make them with other milks, too, though).

Mastering Artisan Cheesemaking, by Gianaclis Caldwell (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2012)

When you are ready for a deeper look at cheese-making and some more complicated recipes.

Mastering Cheese by Max McCalman and David Gibbons (Clarkson Potter, 2009)

This book is the brave and thorough work of one of cheese’s first “celebrity” advocates. McCalman and Gibbons have two other books on cheese that are worth owning as well, but if you can only have one, get this one. The book is designed for the consumer of cheese, and I contend that cheesemakers are probably prime consumers as well as producers.

The Small-Scale Cheese Business, by Gianaclis Caldwell (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2010)

For those considering developing a viable farmstead or artisan cheesemaking business.

The Small-Scale Dairy, by Gianaclis Caldwell (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2014)

Focuses on milk production, especially milk intended to be used raw.

Magazines

culture — the word on cheese

If you love cheese, and I am assuming if you are reading this that you do, you must subscribe to this inspiring, gorgeous magazine. It is designed with food lovers in mind, but cheesemakers will gain from the stories of other cheesemakers from all over the world and be inspired by the beautiful photography: www.culturecheesemag.com/.

Cheese Connoisseur

Another lovely magazine devoted to the passion of eating cheese: www.cheeseconnoisseur.com.

Movies and Videos

The Cheese Nun (PBS Home Video, 2006)

I waited far too long to purchase this video (or rent it)! Not only is it a fantastic story, but you will learn some pretty cool things about cheese-making. Even since this BBC documentary was released, Sister Noella Marcellino has continued to aid cheesemakers with her research and consultations at events such as the American Cheese Society conference, where she also serves as a cheese judge.

Artois the Goat (Bogart Reininger Films, 2008)

This is the best cheese movie I have ever seen! Okay, I know it isn’t a very crowded field, but I think it will hold top honors for me for some time. It isn’t just about goats or goat cheese but instead is a quirky, romantic comedy where the true ingénue is cheese. Or rather, the making of cheese.

Cheese Slices (The LifeStyle Channel, 2007-)

A DVD series out of Australia and hosted by raw-milk cheese advocate and grand personality Will Studd, Cheese Slices is a globe-trekking tour of cheeses, both traditional and modern, from all parts of the planet. Don’t count 100 percent on its content to tell you the accurate directions for the cheeses featured, but you will still take away some great information, visuals, and inspiration.

Supplies

Get Culture, Wisconsin, USA
www.getculture.com

Supplies for home and small artisans. A part of the larger company, Dairy Connection, my favorite choice for buying supplies.

Glengarry Cheesemaking and Dairy Supply, Canada
888-816-0903
www.glengarrycheesemaking.on.ca

Small and medium-size artisans in North America. Equipment, supplies, and cultures.

New England Cheese Supply, Massachusetts, USA
413-397-2012
www.cheesemaking.com

Supplies for the home and hobby cheesemaker. Kits, supplies, cultures (in small packets), recipes on website, tech support, and blog.

The Cheesemaker, Wisconsin, USA
414-745-5483
www.thecheesemaker.com

Supplies for home and hobby cheesemakers.