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Who We Are

 

Cheesemongers of Santa Fe is the culmination of many years of combined experience working with cheese, food, and community; and a desire to share that experience and our love of food with others. We look forward to seeing you, and offering exemplary products, selection, and service. 

Lilith

Operations Manager, Head Cheesemonger

Lily's a veritable cheese rockstar: winner of the Cheesemonger Invitational, featured in numerous publications (like Saveur, Culture Magazine, and the Daily Mail, among others), and the creative force behind our fab cheese platters. Lily's favorite cheese is the smoochable Berner Muentschi (aka "The Kiss"), but she holds a special place in her heart for the King of Cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano. Prior to moving to Santa Fe, Lilith worked on such venerable counters as Bklyn Larder and Bedford Cheese Shop, as well as curating a shop and cheese counter in Crown Heights. Lily is a maker of the highest order-- including currently building her own tiny house! Lily also oversees store operations, trains new cheesemongers, teaches cheesemaking and pairing classes, and has the most gorgeous Instagram account you’ve ever seen.

 

Gaston

Gaston hails from Gruyère (no, really!), by way of Oklahoma and New Mexico. He's been a baker, a chef, a pastry chef, and more, and brings this experience to the cheese counter every day. We think Gaston would prefer that we sold only Gruyère, so enamoured is he of his homeland's signature cheese. Gaston has fabulous stories, exceptional knowledge, and a really terrific accent. Also, he's married. Just in case you wondered. Ask him for his perfect fondue recipe.

 

Adam

Adam joined our team in 2015, and quickly fell in love with the custardy stinkbomb that is Affidelice, especially when paired with the imminently snackable buffalo butter Tozzetti. Adam is an exception cartwheeler and loves meeting kids who like weird cheese.

 

Sophie

Prior to her cheesemongering days, Sophie worked as a cheesemaker in Vermont, a dragon trainer, and a baker. She adores the cheese Alp Blossom, so named because of its colorful floral rind, and you'll probably catch her sneaking tastes of her favorite Québécois honey in between helping customers and learning French from Gaston.

 

Madeleine

Maddy loves bread. And rightly so, since she worked at Cloud Cliff Bakery before joining the Cheesemongers. Maddy was born here all her life, as they say, so she lends us that special Santa Fe cred, but she's as smitten with cheeses from far flung locales as she is our local offerings.

 

Matt

Need a pairing? Matt’s your guy! Prior to working in cheese, Matt worked in coffee, beer, and spirits, so his knowledge of beverages is top notch. When not slinging cheese and seeking out new brews, Matt fancies himself a writer and culinary adventurer. He really digs the tangy, hearty gigande beans in vinaigrette, so be sure to ask him for a sample!

 

Sascha

Director of Business Development

Sascha got her start in cheese from CSFe owners Suzy & Steve at their Oklahoma shop Forward Foods in 2007, before heading to NYC to work for the famed Murray’s Cheese. At Murray’s, Sascha served as Head Cheesemonger before taking the helm of cheese education, where she served as Director of Education and then Director of E-Commerce until her departure in 2014. During that time, she was lucky enough to preach the curd to chef-instructors and sommeliers at the International Culinary Center, cheesemakers and dairy farmers through Cornell University Dairy Food Extension, students from preschoolers to graduate students at institutions like New York University and the New School and through programs like the Just Food Conference and the Edible Institute.  Sascha has served as a most cheesy guest on WNYC, Martha Stewart Radio, and the Heritage Radio Network and gained certification as a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society's rigorous exam. Sascha has served as a consultant and event producer for such cool institutions as Cider Week NYC, and has taught dozens of classes on cheese with wine, beer, tea, coffee, chocolate, honey, jam, kimchi, cocktails, bourbon, scotch, cider and more (yes, more!). Sascha’s desert island cheeses include Rush Creek Reserve, Colston Bassett Stilton, and every natural rind cheese ever (it’s a big desert island).

 

Suzy Thompson & Steve "Wampus" Reynolds

Owners

Suzy and Wampus own and operate Forward Foods - a cheese shop, specialty grocer, and café - in Norman, Oklahoma, which they opened in 2006.  

 

Previously, Suzy owned and ran the café at Opolis, a local music venue, where she began to offer cheese sales once a month, and a six-week series of cheese classes - the success of which led to the opening of Forward Foods.

 

After a stint in Los Angeles where she came to be with Wampus, she worked as editorial assistant at Martha Stewart Living, and worked in production for a test kitchen at the Food Network, in New York. In LA, Suzy worked at The Cooks Library, the most awesome cookbook store in existence.

 

Shop owner, Dad, part-time stand-up comic, and founder of the Okie Noodling Catfish Cookoff, Wampus has done every job in the book, from accounting to zipper-sewing.  He shares the passion for wonderful foods, and is as excited as Suzy to share them with the people who visit the shop. Interesting fact: the opening of Forward Foods was funded by Wampus' winnings from the Jeopardy! TV game show, in 2003.  

 

"The markets in New York City definitely inspired the stores as much as my work-experience did. The moment I moved there, I was struck by how you can find quality at every corner," says Suzy. "I wanted to create the convenience of one of those corner groceries, but with the added bonus of premium products and beautiful, delicious cheese."

 

 

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