Cheese Rock Star

A couple of weeks ago we started our Artisanal Cheese Tasting Series to highlight some cheese vendors that we think are really special.  The first tasting highlighted selections from London cheese retailer Neal’s Yard Dairy.  Our focus for the series will be on vendors who promote and preserve artisanal and small cheesemakers.  On Friday, May 21st from 4 – 7 p.m. we will be tasting selections from cheese rock star, Herve Mons.

Admittedly, I am borrowing our cheese buyer, Cole’s reference to cheese-rock-stardom, `to describe Herve Mons, but only because she is correct.  Plus, she said she would ask him for an autograph given the chance.  Having groupies is what elevates regular cheesemaker to rock star cheesemaker, in case you were wondering.  So who is this Herve Mons and why should you join his fan club? 

Mons is a family business created 30 years ago by Rolande and Hubert Mons.  Today Hubert’s two sons, Herve and Laurent, run the business.  The Mons family relocated from Auvergne to Roanne to sell their cheese to local markets.  Soon they were buying cheese from producers all over France.  It became apparent that these cheeses needed to be properly cared for so Herve set out to learn the art of aging cheeses or affinage.  To support his education the Mons family built caves in the hillside of the small village where they lived, St Haon le Chatel, for Herve to practice and perfect affinage.  The caves in St. Haon le Chatel are still being used by the Mons family and that is how one becomes a cheese rock star.

Today Herve Mons is an acclaimed affineur in France who has been awarded with the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France. The Meilleir Ouvrier is a craftsmen competition held every four years with awards given to the best craftsmen competing in each field. It covers everything from chocolate making, pâtisserie, and in Mons’ case affinage, to specific building trades, including window making and cabinetry.

Mons focuses on sustaining the art and history of France’s most famous cheeses that, with the changing times, have come close to extinction. Because of their passion, excellence and commitment to artisanal cheesemaking, Mons is responsible for helping sustain hundreds of dairy farmers and small artisanal cheese makers throughout France.  If you’d like to hear what Herve has to say in his own words (and see his righteous cowboy hat) check out our producer profile. We feel lucky to be a part of this and we hope you stop by on Friday to share in all the Herve Mons’ awesome-ness that we call cheese!

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