Marieke Gouda

Hello my Hy-Vee friends!

These days I’ve been feeling cheesy. You could say I’ve been feeling kinda Gouda. Why you may ask? Well, over in our West Lakes Specialty Cheese Department, we are now carrying one of my favorite Goudas. Ever.

Made by Marieke Penterman, her Gouda rivals the Netherlands' best cheeses in depth of flavor, complexity and balance. I won’t bore you with the details on how it's made, but I will tell you it’s made in Wisconsin with an authentic recipe that Marieke brought from Holland.

Currently ours flavors are Young (aged 4 to 6 months), Smoked, Chipotle and the most intriguing one,  Summer Fields, which is flavored with rosemary, tomato, onion and thyme.

Such high quality cheese can be enjoyed on its own or maybe with a glass of wine. However, it's a great cheese to cook with as well. Yes, it makes a great grilled cheese (yawn!) and a fantastic mac and cheese (double yawn!) but think outside the box! The Smoked Gouda makes a fantastic soup, especially if you put a splash of beer in. The Chipotle Gouda is fantastic on nachos and great in enchiladas. Finally, the Summer Fields is fantastic on a roasted vegetable tart or mixed into a ham and cheese quiche.

So stop by our Specialty Cheese Department, taste some fantastic Gouda and please see me for more delicious recipes at anytime.

Stay cheesy my friends and as always, Praise the Lard!

-Chef Alex