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Local farmer's market cheese worth seeking out

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Started 4 years ago by Andrew Hall
Latest reply from Andrew Hall

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Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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I hate to start a whole new thread, but there wasn't a better way and these people deserve it.
There is a new farmer's market vendor this year called Blue Jacket Dairy with a cheese totally worth seeking out. It is called "Gretna Grilling Cheese" and it modelled after halloumi, a Cypriote cheese which can be grilled.
I was somewhat skeptical since I am quite familar with halloumi and will be on my way to Cyprus when many of you read this. I grilled it up tonight side-by-side with halloumi we bring back from Cyprus and this was better. In fact, it was better that pretty much all we get in Cyprus except for some of the old-timey village ones. I am impressed that someone in Ohio nailed this.
Get this cheese. Slice it thickly and throw it on the grill. Turn when nicely browned and get the other side. It will get soft without really melting. Just eat as is.
A.

Posted 4 years ago #
Manatee
The eternal present
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Sounds delectable, Andrew.... wish I could try it this very second!
Thanks for the recommendation! Always good to hear about yummy stuff made by people who care.
P.S. I like artesian wells, too :lol:

Posted 4 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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Thanks for the heads-up. I'll definitely check it out. Got a chance to chat with them a little, and they struck me as very nice people; I'm always happy to be able to support good folks who put out a good product.
And enjoy Cyprus. If there's good souvla available, I'll really be jealous....

Posted 4 years ago #
zp945
Clintonville/Short North
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This sounds too good to pass up. I plan on picking some up and grilling on Saturday. Thanks for the tip.

Posted 4 years ago #
zp945
Clintonville/Short North
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I went Saturday and Blue Jacket Dairy was not there. Instead I went to Curds and Whey. The had Haluomi. I grilled it. It was delicious.

Posted 4 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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I changed the title here to reflect the reality on the ground. That the NM Farmer's Mkt is obliviating itself is a whole 'nother topic.
Blue Jacket dairy is not only @ Pearl Alley, but also Worthington Farmer's Mkt (Sat), Westerville and (I think) Upper Arlington.
Chatted with them yesterday a bit. I somewhat facetiously introduced myself as the person responsible for his uptick in sales of the Gretna Grilling Cheese. He lit up and said, "You're the one who wrote about it!" Kewl. He didn't give me a discount, though. Damn capitalism.
A little Martha for you : We had a postponed neighborhood cookout today. I had made stuff for the 4th, but really couldn't be arsed to do so today what with painting. So I pulled out some halloumi we brought from Cyprus, sliced it and grilled as my contribution of a side dish. Mega-hit both as something tasty and as something unique. Remember this - and use the local product! - for Labor Day.
A.

Posted 3 years ago #
jennyw
Clintonville
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Hey, they had the cheese at the Clintonville Farmers Market, too, and when I tried a sample, I was smitten, and bought a brick of the stuff. Sadly, when I brought it home and tried to cook it on my stovetop, it turned into a melted mess -- do you think it's possible to do it on the stove, or should this remain a strictly-grill endeavor?
For what it's worth, I bought some of Blue Jacket Dairy's garlic and herb cheese, grated it over some lemon pepper pasta, added olive oil, salt and a squeeze of fresh lemon and was nearly immediately transported to heaven. I can't wait to buy more of their cheese.

Posted 3 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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jennyw wrote Hey, they had the cheese at the Clintonville Farmers Market, too, and when I tried a sample, I was smitten, and bought a brick of the stuff. Sadly, when I brought it home and tried to cook it on my stovetop, it turned into a melted mess -- do you think it's possible to do it on the stove, or should this remain a strictly-grill endeavor?
.
Shouldn't be. I did some in a skillet last night. It is a bit softer than most of the halloumi you get in the US, but it did fine. I suspect you had the heat too low. Don't be afraid of pretty high heat here and use a dry non-stick skillet. It should take just 1-2 minutes to crisp and brown a side before you flip it.
A.

Posted 3 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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I just did some a few minutes ago for breakfast. Tried both dry cast iron skillet and dry non-stick frying pan. Medium high heat. 1.5 minutes per side. Crispy and browned and soft in the center.
A.

Posted 3 years ago #
jennyw
Clintonville
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Hey, thanks! I was actually worried that I should have gone with a lower temp, but I will try the higher temp/shorter cook time instead. I am really excited to try it again, because the sample I had was nothing short of amazing.

Posted 3 years ago #
Dutch Rub
Clintonville
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This cheese sounds great! Thanks for the heads up.

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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We tried some of this at the North Market today (why drive all the way to Worthington?) and end up buying a 1/2 pound block. Very tasty! :D
Thanks for the tip on it!
Also... here's their website. Didn't see it previously linked:
http://www.bluejacketdairy.com/

Posted 3 years ago #
panzuriel
Westerville
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Dutch Rub wrote This cheese sounds great! Thanks for the heads up.
Ditto and stuff. I only wish I had read this before I went to the farmer's market last weekend. now I have to go this weekend too!

Posted 3 years ago #
shroud
Polaris
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Walker wrote We tried some of this at the North Market today (why drive all the way to Worthington?) and end up buying a 1/2 pound block. Very tasty! :D
When the thread was originally posted it WAS referring to the North Market - but Andrew changed it at some point - maybe Blue Jacket Dairy wasn't at the NM farmers market for a little while?

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I think maybe he moved to Worthington.

Posted 3 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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I first encountered Blue Jacket Dairy @ the NM. For a while, they stopped going there and I changed the title to reflect. They have a limited number of people and draw in who they can to staff the booths @ NM, Worthington, Pearl Alley, Westerville and other markets.
I am changing the title.
A.

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Why not "Blue Jacket Dairy Cheese worth seeking out"?
:D

Posted 3 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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Walker wrote Why not "Blue Jacket Dairy Cheese worth seeking out"?
:D
I started to write it that way, but want to make it clear it was a farmer's market thing, not a store thing. If you can get both into a sensible title, go ahead.
A.

Posted 3 years ago #