http://news.yahoo.com/dutch-cheese-p...035630714.html
The World Champion Cheese Contest sold out of all 400 tickets in the first year they were offered; the artisan cheese competition has become another way for foodies to outdo one another in the pursuit of local, sustainable and handcrafted fare.The contest, held every two years in Madison, typically draws more than 2,000 entries from nearly two-dozen nations. Usually only the judges taste the cheese, but this year's ticketholders sampled 15 of the top entries while they mingled with Wisconsin cheesemakers and the international panel of judges.
The spectators witnessed a mild upset in the judging. Swiss cheesemakers had won the past three contests, and comprised two of the top three finalists this year. But it was a low-fat Gouda named Vermeer from Friesland Campina, a company based in Wolvega, Netherlands, that took top honors.
The company didn't have any representatives in Wisconsin, but will receive its formal award at a banquet in Madison next month.
Dutch judge Peter Piersma woke up the cheesemaker's plant manager, Piet Nederhoed, with a phone call. It was about 1 a.m. Holland time.
"I got him out of bed so he was a little quiet, but then he got very excited," Piersma said.
Dan Konz, a cheese grader from Minnesota, said the winning Vermeer stood out for its "nice, smooth, clean flavor. It had nice body and mouth-feel. A very clean taste."
Wolvega is actually quite close to my city.
Damn Dutch...:shock: