A goat cheese creamery, Belle Chevre, is located near the small village of Elkmont, Ala. The artisanal cheese operation was established in 1989 and was acquired by its current owner, Tasia Malakasis, in 2007.
Belle Chevre Cheese Shop and Tasting Room opened on Saturday, April 13 in a 100-year-old building in downtown Elkmont.
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| Painting for sale in the Cheese Shop and Tasting Room |
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Creamery and shop owner Tasia Malakasis at the grand opening of her retail shop on April 13.
The product line includes classic goat cheese and fromage blanc, as well as a quartet of sweet breakfast cheeses - fig, honey, cinnamon and coffee; grape-leaf wrapped chevre; pimento chevre; olive oil marinated chevre with herbs and sun-dried tomatoes; and cranberry and walnut topped goat cheese.
I tasted several; all were very good.
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| Menu |
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| Kits to make your own cheese |
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| Picnic baskets |
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| A lovely arrangement of Redbud Tree blossoms. |
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| The creamery was featured in Southern Living magazine. |
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| Art on the walls |
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| On the outside looking in. |
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| The basket of white geraniums and sweet potato vine caught my eye. |
Sweet Baby Goats
Three baby goats were in attendance as well. Aren't they the cutest things?
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| This old building is located at the rear of the Belle Chevre retail shop. The creamery operation will eventually move into this space. |
Along the Way
Have you ever seen Canola growing? I had not until two years ago. I had no idea the crop is grown in this area. What a beautiful field the plants make.
Suppose I had never thought about where canola oil comes from! A plant, naturally!
I had an enjoyable Saturday tasting cheese, petting baby goats and looking at canola fields. I hope your weekend was good, too!
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Great post, Sanda. I love goats cheese, and this place looks the greatest. The baby goats are sure cute, too, and love the wall art. Canola is grown in parts of Australia, and the huge sweeping fields are always impressive when we pass them on the highway. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great place to visit. I want to return when the place isn't so crowded and have lunch there. The canola fields are just beautiful aren't they?
DeleteWhat a wonderful place, the owner has gone to so much trouble to make visiting really interesting as well as buying some delicious cheeses.
ReplyDeleteYour Canola fields are what we call rapeseed fields, apparently the name was changed in Canada for marketing purposes. It always makes a joyous colour across the countryside.
Enjoyed your post.
I would like to tour the creamery where the cheese is made. It was interesting the shop had kits for sale for making one's own cheese at home. I have heard of rapeseed but didn't realize it's the same as canola. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteI would have taken one of everything home Sanda. I love goats cheese and milk its so healthy for us. It looked like a grand opening. I hope that she does well, I am sure she will. I would also love one of those lovely little white goats.. so cute.
ReplyDeleteI think we have what you call canola, wild in the fields here.. As Rosemary pointed out rapeseed. Very interesting enjoyable post.
have a wonderful Tuesday .. val
I must admit I had to develop a taste for goat cheese, as it definitely tastes different from cheese made from cow's milk. The owner has a thriving business, selling to shops and restaurants all over the country. I think this little retail shop is just frosting on the cake for her. I too would love to have one of those baby goats,
DeleteWhat an interesting Saturday,and the variety of cheeses delicious,bet you took some home.
ReplyDeleteHave never heard of canola,we have fields of yellow rapeseed which is a popular oil here. It is in the same family (looked it up),the canola is a genetically modified,and not used in the UK.Though trials have been used causing much controversy!Judith
I actually did not buy any cheese that day. It was quite chaotic in there but I'll go back and get some cheese soon. Thanks for looking up that info on canola/rapeseed. I know the US is more lenient about genetically modified food than many EU countries. Thanks.
DeleteI'll bet the goat cheese was tasty. We have a fairly local (next county over) establishment that makes goat cheese and it is so good. So pricey too but every once in awhile we have a little splurge.
ReplyDeleteThose baby goats are adorable.
Darla
I am surprised at how expensive it is, but nice to have something produced locally. One of those little goats was bleating (is that the correct word) and it was such a sweet sound. They were two months old.
DeleteSounds like your Saturday was really fun! I have heard of this Cheese Company, but I had not heard of their Pimento Cheese. Never had Pimento Cheese when I lived on the West Coast, but now I find it addictive. I've seen canola fields in Canada, but never noticed them around here. Now I know what to look for. They look so much like Mustard fields.
ReplyDeleteI think this cheese is sold in many fancy gourmet shops in major metro areas. Ah, pimento cheese; so good. When I make it, I add fresh chopped red peppers to give it a nice crunch. Also add a dash of cayenne. That store-bought version in a plastic tub is horrible and it's so easy to make your own.
DeleteWhat a fun day we had. This place may put us on the map! Sweet little goats and the cheese was delicious and I live SO close to it. We must go back when the crowd is gone. Many fun stops after the goat cheese place. Thanks for coming!!
ReplyDeleteI signed up for the mailing list and I received an e-mail today that Belle Chevre has made Oprah's O List. You better watch out; all the tourists will be streaming into your area soon!!
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