Hot Chili Chocolate Ice Cream?

You know it's not just independent book stores that have a tough time surviving but farmers can suffer the same demise... 


Not long ago we were at the Mall and while Natureman was finalizing his eyeglass purchase, I ventured out into the Mall and noticed a new addition, a holiday kiosk for Nordic Creamery, a locally run business actually closer to us in the End of the Rainbow Valley than the city's northside Mall. Of course as long as I was in the Mall, I patronized them purchasing some feta, a 7 yr old cheddar and the infamous Wisconsin cheese curds. You know, buy local!

The friendly salesclerk told me that they also have a salesroom at the creamery. Aha...

Perfect field trip op to head westward to Westby, home of Nordic  Creamery, only some 20 minutes from home to learn more about the business and buy more cheese.

It turns out the Bekkum-Langaard family originally settled in this Norwegian area in the early 1900's. The fertile coulee guaranteed rich pastureland for their cows. 

In the creamery you can observe the process through a window besides purchasing award winning cheeses/butter and their grass fed beef in addition to other local products. (Amish supply the 'goat' milk bringing it in in metal milk cans no less. )

AND Nordic Creamery also has yummy homemade ice cream. I tried the "Hot Chili Chocolate". Talk about warming up on a snowy day!

At the time of our visit there were 3 on site employees, one in the salesroom and 2 in the creamery, one handling the machinery and the other busy hand packing butter. I included their you tube link under the butter pic I took...

Butter making link for Nordic Creamery

Nordic Creamery store is a relatively new addition to the family dairy business, approximately 2 years old, although the proprietor, Al Bekkum has been an award winning cheesemaker for about 25 years. Business is bustling this week especially with holiday orders and about 200 gift boxes of artisan cheeses and butter expected to be Fed Exed daily. It appears that the Bekkums will have a nice legacy as there is always the possibility of their 6 offspring wanting to go into the family business...

So when you need a special Wisconsin treat and you can't just stop in, I'd suggest you check out their website and order some artisan butter and cheeses. You won't be sorry... Keep our farmers in business...
Nordic Creamery's Website