Wisconsin State Fair-Proud Owner of the Cheese Curd.

The Wisconsin State Fair will always have a special place in my heart, nestling cozily into one of my coronary arteries. One could argue as, states fairs go, the Wisconsin Fair doesn't try to impress expert state fair goers with ridiculous deep fried fare. I will admit the deep fried Reeses Peanut Butter Cup in a Banana Batter caught my eye, but I passed it up for the #1 coronary killer. Not deep fried butter on a stick, I refuse to acknowledge that as something that would ever pass the lips of anyone with an appetite. No, I am talking about my old friends, fried cheese curds. These succulent savory little morsels of joy are absolutely delightful. I have friends form the East Coast who step off the plane in Wisco and head for the nearest fried cheese curd vendor.

What are cheese curds? They are the fresh un-aged cheese that separates from the whey (water) in the cheese making process. Milk is heated, an acid is added and voila, curd. Curds are pressed into blocks and wheels to make what many people call, cheese.  The cheeses are aged and will occasionally be inoculated with bacteria and live out their lives in cool underground caves until they arrive at your table in all of their proud cheesy glory. How does one know so much about cheese you say? One does not live in the premier dairy state without learning a thing or two about cheese. I am also thinking about attempting my hand at the cheese making process.

We are serious about our dairy. The cream puff line, which I didn't even attempt, was 3 blocks long. The morning's event of the day was the infamous cheese carving contest. This sculpture block weighs 1 ton and took first place.

Another first place winner is a pretty pricey wheel O'Gouda....

Cheese isn't the only thing were into here in the upper Midwest. Move over Vermont, we have the market cornered on Maple syrup. The pristine north woods offers millions of acres of tapped woods. Producing liquid gold. 

 

Glad we braved the crowds on the last day of the fair. I'm still proud to be from Wisconsin even with the current administration.