Oakland’s Market Hall Foods has been a destination for food lovers since opening in 1987. Originally named The Pasta Shop, it has endeared itself to its affluent neighborhood by supplying top-of-the-line pasta, olive oils, vinegars, prepared foods and—most notably for me—cheese. Under the guidance of cheesemonger Juliana Uruburu, who was 18 when she started working there, Market Hall Foods has become one of the nation’s most influential cheese merchants.
Read moreU.S. Cheesemongers Vie for World Champion
Photo: Janee' Muha
Will an American be the next World Champion Cheesemonger? It could happen, although it never has. But this year is different. This year, a small army is working mightily to clinch the title for Team U.S.A. The U.S. has two entrants—Courtney Johnson from the Seattle area and Sam Rollins from Portland, Oregon—who will be competing against each other and against 14 mongers from other nations at the biannual contest in France in September.
Read moreRock-Star Monger Takes the Stage
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Jill Zenoff, winner of the 2019 Cheesemonger Invitational. This semiannual competition is the Wimbledon of the retail cheese world, an opportunity for the people behindthe counter to strut their stuff. In a series of zany challenges, the contestants flaunt their skills at cutting, wrapping, pairing, plating and selling cheese. A combination of Jeopardy!, Top Chef and America’s Got Talent, the day-long battle ends with a winner crowned on stage before a frenzied audience. Despite the contest’s madcap nature, victory confers prestige. For the monger who prevails, doors can open.
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