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Much like our next-door neighbor, Minnesota is home to a thriving cheese scene full of factory-scale producers and farm-based creameries. There’s a Minnesota cheese for every palate, too, including squeaky fresh curds, crowd-pleasing cheddars, and funky blues.
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where to get cheesy
Visitors can also find Minnesota-made cheeses at farmers markets, grocery stores, and specialty shops throughout the state, along with local charcuterie, jams, and other accompaniments for building the perfect board.
Deep-fried cheese curds are a Minnesota State Fair staple and available at bars and restaurants year-round, but that’s only the start of the cheese dishes on offer. Minnesota’s chefs have a way with dairy; expect gourmet grilled cheeses, creative takes on mac and cheese, and inspired pairings with local wine and beer.
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enjoy blocks of pepperjack, provolone slices, shredded mozzarella, over a dozen flavors of cheese curds, and snackable marble cheese sticks.
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dipping into local cheese shops
Family farmer-owned Bongards Cooperative has been producing cheese for decades, and customers buy it straight from the source in the co-op’s hometown. The store is stocked with the full line of Bongards dairy products, including blocks of pepperjack, provolone slices, shredded mozzarella, over a dozen flavors of cheese curds, and snackable marble cheese sticks. It also offers hot made-to-order cheese sandwiches. Don’t miss a photo opp with Bonnie, the co-op’s 20-foot-tall cow mascot. Another Bongards shop can also be found in downtown Perham, which recently went through a bit of a makeover.
Burnett Dairy’s Duluth location is stocked with an extensive selection of the Wisconsin-based creamery’s products, including truffle gouda, cheddar, cheese spreads, and string cheese. The on-site cafe serves cheese-loaded artisan pizzas and plain, garlic, dill, and deep-fried sriracha cheese curds.
France 44 in Minneapolis is a cut-to-order cheese shop with a superb selection of local and imported cheese, plus pairings like charcuterie, crackers, and preserves. Be sure to swing by the deli for a grilled cheese sandwich served with a shot of tomato soup or an individually sized cheese board. The shop is also a destination for cheese education, with regularly scheduled mozzarella making classes and wine and cheese tastings.
With over 150 different cheeses to choose from, Surdyk’s in Minneapolis is a must for cheese lovers. Selections include cheeses from Minnesota, and various parts of the U.S. and world. Peruse the selection of freshly baked breads, artisan crackers, jams, chocolate, olives, and charcuterie to build the perfect cheese board. The shop’s deli menu features cheesy breakfast sandwiches and paninis.
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find fromage-friendly menus
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Wine and cheese are a natural pairing, and 7 Vines Vineyard’s wine bar in Dellwood features plenty of cheesy dishes. Each menu item has a recommended pairing with one of the vineyard’s wines, which are made from Minnesota-grown cold-hardy grapes. Try fresh burrata cheese with the True North Blanc or a cheesy mushroom flatbread with State of Hockey Red. There are also picture-perfect cheese and charcuterie boards.
Whether it’s mozzarella with jerk chicken, brie with apple, or chicken and bacon with pepper jack, the menu at All Square in Minneapolis revolves around grilled cheese sandwiches. Go with a classic four cheese and a cup of tomato soup or try a jalapeno-spiked grilled cheese with a pile of cheesy loaded fries. Even better than the cheese-heavy cuisine is the restaurant’s mission; All Square is a non-profit that gives formerly incarcerated folks employment opportunities and the resources they need to succeed.
Forager Brewery’s taproom in Rochester serves an array of cheese-focused options that pair perfectly with the brewery’s craft beers, which are brewed with locally foraged ingredients and wild hop varieties. Start with the handmade, house-pulled mozzarella. Next, try the Forager Burger, loaded with blue cheese and bacon, or the cast iron mac and cheese topped with panko and flavored with kimchi for an extra umami kick. The menu also features over a dozen specialty pizzas; the Big Cheese features smoked gouda, fresh mozzarella, and Parmesan.
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Stacy Brooks is a lifelong Minnesotan and Minneapolis-based freelance journalist who covers the Twin Cities dining scene for local and national publications. She loves walking around Lake Harriet, running through the woods, and hanging out at coffee shops with her knitting and a good book. |
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from top to bottom: Cheese plate, photo by Karolina Grabowska | Cubed cheese plate, photo by B Schneider | Grilled cheese, photo by Polina Tankilevitch | Surdyk's sandwich, photo by Andrew Zimmern | Cheese curds at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, photo by Andrew Parks | Cheese curds at Bongards Retail Store in Bongards, photo by Micah Kvidt | Video still of cheese board, video by Explore Minnesota | Pizza at Forager Brewery in Rochester, photo by Melanie Graves | Stacy Brooks author bio portrait
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This article has been edited for length and clarity.
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