Where to start? With this first blogpost, I wanted to tell you a bit about my story, and why we are here. I am like a cat, with many different lives. And this one is the life of a cheesemaker…. Because this work brings meaning to my life.
It all started with good cheese. As you know, I am French. And in my childhood home, there was often a piece of cheese before dessert. Or instead of dessert… I remember so many of them… And in France, every region has their cheese to discover. When Covid hit Texas in March 2020, there was a point in time when I was not allowed to go back to France, even in case of an emergency. And that was then that I decided to bring France to me… by making cheese at home. I got the beginner kit from the New England Cheesemaking Supply Company, a book with more recipes (including some French traditional cheeses) and some raw milk from Mill King. I started making cottage cheese, farmhouse cheddar… Until I tried a Tomme recipe… The Tomme de Savoie is a cheese that I was missing a lot. A simple cheese, with a thick gray rind, and a mild nutty taste… That was the one I was going for.
Then, in July 2020, I turned 40. I dared having one guest for my birthday. My Dutch best friend. And we shared some Tomme…. And I watched her smile and tell me how good it was. And yes, we also started to tell each other how it could become better… And that was the beginning of the good community. Watching friends and friends of friends trying my cheese, watching their eyes become big, or on the contrary closed. Hearing the “hmmmm” or just the silence. And watch their smiles… And speak about that story that we all have. That one cheese we remember from a trip to France, that one year of French in high school , that one goat that their grandma used to milk in the backyard, that dish from childhood, or the “nata” from boiled milk for a rich snack… That was the good company…
And from there, I could feel the love being shared. That was my love language, and the love language of many other people. You know how some people have touch as a love language? I am pretty sure taste can be one too. Or you can keep conventional and say cooking or tasting together is “quality time”. That is mine. But there is also “the village”. Starting a new life in Waco, with 2 babies, knowing nearly nobody was rough at first. And I met all the people around the farmers market. The farmers, the artisans, the farmers market team, and the customers. That was my village. The one that would help me feel at home, help me grow my children and my heart.
Et voila! Now we can continue what we started. Make more cheese, more new people, and share more love. That is the mission of L’Atelier Fromager. Now if you too you would like to be part of the village, to share your love through food and cheese in particular, come visit us at the cheese shop. The address is 1230 N Valley Mills drive, suite 500 Waco TX 76710 There is only a small sign on the door, no big sign yet, and if I am inside and available, the door is open. Hours are still changing at the time of writing, while I figure out my team.
If you are not close enough, you can also go visit our website www.thecheeseworkshop.com and order online. Shipping to Texas as of now, and soon to the 48 states.