A moment with ... Laura Chenel, cheesemaker. You may have seen her name on menus, or her ubiquitous logs of chalk-white chevre featured at cheese counters in area stores. Laura Chenel is a pioneer. She was the first person to make French-style chevre (goat cheese) in the United States 24 years ago. Her company has grown 15 percent every year since she began turning goat milk into deliciously pungent chevre. Her dairy started in a former snail-processing plant in Santa Rosa, Calif. After 12 years, she moved her operation to a dairy in Sonoma, Calif., and has been there ever since. Chenel was in Seattle recently to make appearances at Larry's Markets and hand out samples. I was young and idealistic. I had a little farm with chickens for eggs and vegetables. I thought I'd get some goats for milk. Of course, I ended up with too much milk and ended up making cheese. I found out about a book from France on making goat cheese. I contacted the author and went and did an apprenticeship. I lived with four families in different areas of the country. When I came back home, I knew I had to (make cheese) for the rest of my life.

Laura Chenel Fresh Goat Log 8 Oz Price: $6.99