Goot Essa

10/09/2026

This month's featured recipe is a warm dish for the start of fall.

Der Vauden Swiss Potato Soup
Serves 4

Ingredients:
5 bacon strips, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups water
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 cup Der Vauden Swiss

Instructions:
1. Cook the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon, leaving 1 tablespoon of drippings in the pan.
2. Saute the onion in the bacon drippings until soft. Add the potatoes, water, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the potatoes are tender.
3. Whisk together the milk and flour. Add to the potato mixture and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the Der Vauden Swiss until melted.
4. Sprinkle with the reserved bacon and serve.

Der Vauden Swiss is available on our website and in our retail store in Howard, PA. https://gootessacheese.com/products/der-vauden-swiss-cheese

10/02/2026

October’s Cheese of the Month is Garden Pepper Cheddar.

This is a farmstead, washed-curd cheddar aged 12 months, with natural red chile bits running through it. The texture is smooth and semi-hard, and the heat is real but short-lived, finishing mild and soft-creamy rather than sharp.

If you like a little bite in your cheese without the flavor taking over, this is the one to try.

Available in 4 oz and 8 oz blocks. Purchase on our website or in our retail store in Howard, PA.

09/28/2026

For the first time, we're offering our cheese pre-cut and arranged on a board, ready to serve. It's one less thing to prepare on game day, whether you're at a tailgate or watching from home.

Two sizes available:
Small (serves 4 to 6) — $65
Large (serves 8 to 10) — $90

Contents change week to week, chosen to pair well together.

This week's small board includes Der Vauden Swiss, Old German Weissa, and Mountain Meadow Mild Cheddar, paired with Autumn Dawn Apple Butter and Sweet & Spicy Dipping Mustard, alongside Limoncello and Rustico salami.

The large board includes Garden Pepper Cheddar, Old German Weissa, Mountain Valley Sharp Cheddar, Der Weichen Gehl, and Der Gouda, paired with Nittany Valley Honey, Sweet & Spicy Dipping Mustard, and Henry's Horseradish Mustard, alongside Bourbon, Rustico, and Dry Chorizo salami.

Order by phone, in the shop, or on our website by Friday at 8am. Pick up at our shop during regular hours, or at Nature's Pantry in State College from 5 to 7pm on Friday evening. Visit https://gootessacheese.com/ to learn more.

Unwrap the board, gather your people, and enjoy the game.

09/23/2026

Reminder: September's featured cheese is Mountain Meadow Mild Cheddar.

Aged 10 months using a traditional recipe, it lands smooth and semi-hard, with a fresh tang and full cheddar character that never turns sharp.

If you haven't tried it yet, stop by our retail shop in Howard, PA, Monday through Saturday, for a free tasting. Or order online, and we will ship nationwide.

https://gootessacheese.com/products/mountain-meadow-mild-cheddar?srsltid=AU7gw4UPu9tzJooIPiDpq0kW0zT6WPxXLbdDyvGkQx0RUgEr_PYTmmQ_

09/18/2026

This month, we are sharing some pairings for early fall.

Der Edel Bleu paired with Dutch Treat Raspberry-Red Beet Spread brings together a rich, Stilton-style blue and a spread built on sweet raspberry and earthy beet. The cheese's cheddar base and clean finish keep it approachable, even if blue cheese usually isn't your first pick.

Der Weichen Gehl paired with Aunt Ruth's Strawberry Rhubarb Conserve brings together a mild, buttery Camembert-style cheese with the sweetness of strawberry and the tartness of rhubarb. It's simple enough for a weekday afternoon and elegant enough for company.

In John's words:

"As summer gives way to fall, I hope you'll take a little time to enjoy some of these seasonal favorites with the people around your table. Thank you for being part of our cheese family."

Both pairings ship in this month's subscription box. Individual cheeses and condiments are always available at gootessacheese.com.

09/16/2026

This month’s behind-the-scenes process is called the Clean Break. After the rennet sets the milk, our cheesemaker inserts a knife into the curd and lifts it to see if the curd splits cleanly. That’s the sign the curd is ready to cut.

Getting this timing right affects how much moisture stays in the curd, which shapes the texture of the finished cheese, and gives our customers a product worth enjoying.

Visit our retail store in Centre County for a free tasting experience. Or order your favorite cheese online (we ship nationwide).

09/15/2026

Fast Food Club included us in a roundup of Pennsylvania cheese shops that make and age their cheese right on the farm. The article covers our work with cow, goat, and sheep milk from area dairy farms and how the cellars and caves on-site give our cheeses their character.

You can read the full piece and see the other seven shops here:

There is something pretty amazing about cheese that starts and finishes in the same place, with cows grazing just steps from where the wheels are aged. Across

09/11/2026

This month's featured recipe turns a loaf of sourdough into a pull-apart spinach dip, built around our Der Smoked Alpen Cheese. This is the perfect recipe for Fall gatherings or tailgates.

Spinach Dip Hot Bread

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole milk
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon ground white pepper, divided
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
10 ounces fresh baby spinach
14 ounces Der Smoked Alpen Cheese, shredded
1 (24-ounce) round sourdough boule
1 tablespoon chopped Calabrian chiles (from a jar)
1/3 cup shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 450°F. In a small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth, about 1 minute.
2. Slowly add the milk and cream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon white pepper, then remove from heat.
3. Meanwhile, melt the remaining 1/4 cup of butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes.
4. Add the spinach and cook, stirring often, until the liquid evaporates and the pot is dry, about 4 minutes.
5. Pour the milk mixture into the Dutch oven with the spinach and onion. Stir well to combine.
6. Mix in the Der Smoked Alpen Cheese and the remaining salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
7. Cut the sourdough boule into 5 slices, each about 1 inch thick, cutting almost all the way through and leaving the bottom crust intact. Slice each piece in half lengthwise, again leaving the bottom crust intact.
9. Arrange the boule on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil. Spoon the spinach-cheese mixture evenly between the bread slices. Top with Calabrian chiles and mozzarella.
10. Bake until the top is golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly, 7 to 10 minutes.

Der Smoked Alpen Cheese is available on our website and in our retail store in Howard, PA.

https://gootessacheese.com/pages/spinach-dip-hot-bread

09/11/2026

This month's Staff Pick comes from Lex, our lead cheesemaker, whose favorite is Felsa Yehr.

In Lex's words:

"I had never been around sheep's milk until I started at Goot Essa. It opened up a whole new world for me as I learned about the sheep and everything that goes into producing their incredible milk. Sheep's milk carries so much flavor and depth, making it unlike anything I had experienced before.

In 2025, our Felsa Yehr won a Gold Medal at the American Cheese Society. That achievement became a learning opportunity for me, inspiring me to better understand what judges and consumers look for in an award-winning cheese. I found those qualities in Felsa.

Its unique character has made it a favorite among my family and friends, and even among our furry friends when it's time to pay the cheese tax. To everyone who enjoys this nutty, buttery, earthy Manchego, I hope you can taste the love that is poured into every wheel. From the care given to the sheep to the transformation of their milk into cheese, our passion is present in every step of the process."

Felsa Yehr is available in our retail store in Howard, PA, or on our website, where we ship nationwide.

https://gootessacheese.com/products/felsa-yehr?srsltid=AfmBOornxdJq-BsLAs2wy8eR-MrbHTzJK6AOMA8Aoa7AbCK9hmI1k-PT