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Originally Posted by alicat
Hubby and I have just discovered Tillimook cheddar and are in heaven and hell because we LOVE it but it's expensive here (west Michigan). Damn, apparently the new Muskegon as well as the Ludington ferry's to Wisconsin don't handle anything but human and car cargo. Wish they'd bring some commercial foods back!
Ali
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It's TillAmook (Till-ah-muck) cheddar, and I'm surprised it's expensive! Here it's THE cheese everyone buys, and always has been, because of our proximity to Tillamook itself (it's about 1.5 hours from my house). But I'd heard they were expanding their production so they could get beyond the PacNW. I was also surprised a number of years ago when on an intercontinental Delta flight I was given a individually-wrapped Tillamook cheddar as part of my dinner. I'm glad to hear their other cheese products are making it elsewhere in the States.
Tillamook makes a fantastic variety of cheeses, including a fabulous Special Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar. I like to use it in homemade macaroni and cheese. Their cheese curds are also really tasty; we buy a big bag any time we go to the factory.
And yes, you can visit the factory! For anyone who visits the Oregon Coast, it's a must-see, not only to see and taste all the cheeses, but to enjoy a Tillamook ice cream cone while looking at the cheese. They also have a very good cafe with an excellent...you guessed it...grilled cheese. Tillamook as a town has nothing going for it except the cheese. But such good cheese it is!
http://www.tillamookcheese.com/VisitorsCenter/
If they have Bandon Cheddar from Oregon where you are, it's usually a cheaper version of Tillamook Cheddar--it's also made by the Tillamook Creamery Association.
I grew up on Tillamook, and we buy nothing else. We buy giant bricks of it at Costco, and slices of their Colby Jack for cheeseburgers. I have very fond memories of visiting the factory every time we went to the Coast when i was a teen. I have to go visit again soon.