SEATTLE — Mystery Bay Farm of Marrowstone Island and Mt. Townsend Creamery of Port Townsend both earned first place awards at the 26th annual American Cheese Society Judging and Competition in Seattle.
Mystery Bay got first place in the Fresh Goat Cheese with Flavors category for their fresh chevre with thyme and white pepper.
In only their second year of production, this farmstead dairy makes cheese from a herd of dairy goats.
Mt. Townsend got first place in the Soft Ripened Cow’s Milk Cheese category for its Seastack cheese.
Mt. Townsend Creamery’s New Moon, one of the creamery’s newest cheeses, won second place in the Monterey Jack category.
Rachael Van Laanen and Becca Argo of Mystery Bay and Ryan Trail, Mike Vicha and Matt Day from Mt. Townsend attended the awards ceremony together and celebrated their collective success.
“This is a real victory for Peninsula cheese making for both of us to win a first place at this competition,” said Trail.
“It validates the hard work that we put into making our cheese every day, and we are proud of that.
“Some of the best cheese in the world is being made right here in East Jefferson County.”
Mt. Townsend won first place finishes for its Trailhead cheese at both the 2008 American Cheese Society
Competition and the 2009 U.S. Cheese Championships.
At the 2010 World Cheese Championship, Mt. Townsend’s Seastack and New Moon cheeses got fifth place awards.
The company’s Trufflestack won a first place in the cheese and dairy class at the National Specialty Food Retailers competition in July.
Mt. Townsend and Mystery Bay Farm share cheesemaking connections.
Van Laanen joined Trail and Day at Mt. Townsend when it got started and was a key player during the first two years of its existence until she left to start Mystery Bay Farm.
The cheesemakers often consult with each other regarding cheesemaking, infrastructure and business issues.
Mystery Bay Farm and Mt. Townsend Creamery also share an employee.
Argo started with Mystery Bay more than a year ago and recently began as a part-time cheesemaker at Mt. Townsend.
For more information, click on www.mysterybayfarm.com and www.mttownsendcreamery.com.
