Laura Chenel

American cheesemaker

Laura Chenel is a pioneering American cheesemaker known for her role in popularizing goat cheese in the United States. Her work has significantly influenced the American artisan cheese movement.

Early life

Laura Chenel was born in 1955 in Sonoma County, California. Growing up in a region known for its agricultural richness, she developed an early interest in farming and cheese production.

Career

Founding of Laura Chenel's Chèvre

In 1979, Laura Chenel founded her own cheese company, Laura Chenel's Chèvre, in Sebastopol, California. She began by producing fresh goat cheese, which was relatively unknown in the United States at the time. Her cheeses quickly gained popularity among chefs and consumers alike.

Laura Chenel's goat cheese

Collaboration with Alice Waters

Laura Chenel's breakthrough came when she began supplying her goat cheese to Alice Waters, the renowned chef and owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. Waters featured Chenel's cheese in her restaurant, helping to introduce it to a wider audience and establish its reputation for quality.

Expansion and Influence

Over the years, Laura Chenel's Chèvre expanded its product line to include a variety of goat cheeses, including aged and flavored varieties. The company became a leader in the American goat cheese market, inspiring other cheesemakers to explore goat milk products.

Legacy

Laura Chenel is often credited with helping to establish the American goat cheese industry. Her dedication to quality and innovation has left a lasting impact on the artisan cheese community.

Related pages

• Goat cheese
• Artisan cheese
• Alice Waters
• Chez Panisse