Bessy's Best Cheese and Yogurt

Can you believe there was a time that I didn’t like cheese? I know, I can hardly believe it myself. I was practically a vegan for a few years there, but alas, life without real ice cream is not much of a life at all. After college, I spent a few months in Switzerland and that sealed the dairy deal. I returned home with some new H&M garb, a couple German dictionaries, a suitcase full of chocolate, and a renewed appreciation for cheese – thank goodness.


Although we are an agricultural state here in North Dakota with cows galore, we don’t have much dairy – and even fewer cheesemakers. Actually, the only time I had local cheese was picking up cheese curds from the old Bridgeman milk store on Main in Bismarck. Not exactly artisan and the little store always smelled faintly like…well, cows, I guess, but the cheese was delish nonetheless. Why didn’t the Wisconsin cheese zeal make it here? ND should hitch its wagon to the WI cheddar train, creating economic growth AND making my taste buds happy. Win win.

Well, we have a start thanks to Bessy’s Best. The little local dairy out of Sterling is now retailing farmhouse cheese along with, yes, the ubiquitous cheese curd. I haven’t cracked into the farmhouse, but the curds are great. Resist the urge to eat them all in one sitting as your colon will have its revenge. But that’s another story for another day…


Bessy’s is also making yogurt. It comes in a plastic milk bottle, the flavor is good, not super saccharine, and the runny texture is PERFECT for granola since it gets into every nook and cranny. I ate this yogurt w/ granola and chopped figs for breakfast all last week and I like to think I’m a better person because of it.

Check the organic dairy section of Bismarck grocery stores for new Bessy’s Best products. If you know of any other ND cheeses – or maybe just favorite cheeses in general to try - I’d love to hear it!