A Visit to Arethusa Farm Dairy
Last weekend we had the pleasure of visiting
Arethusa Farm Dairyin Litchfield, CT. This incredible operation was founded by George Malkemus and Tony Yurgaitis of Manolo Blahnik shoe fame. When the farm near their home was under threat of being redeveloped into a golf course, George and Tony jumped in (an understatement if there ever was one!) to start Arethusa Farm Dairy.
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| We couldn’t agree more… |
When asked by a local magazine how great the distance was between running a shoe business and a dairy farm, George answered, ‘An inch. It’s not about the kinds of businesses; it’s about the passion. If you are committed to one thing in life, it should be passion because that oversteps itself into every endeavor. At the beginning our passion was shoes, and then the dairy and then the store and then the restaurant. When you are passionate about something, it helps in its success.’
Their award-winning Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss cows produce top quality milk that is transformed into delectable dairy products ranging from fresh milk to finished cheese!
Stop by Saxelby for a taste of their superb sour cream, fresh farmer’s cheese, and their newly-released Arethusa Blue. This Stilton-style blue is made from a blend of whole milk and cream, giving it a luscious creamy mouthfeel and flavor of toasted bread.
Arethusa Farm Dairy supplies two other gastronomic temples with dairy goodness – Arethusa al Tavolo and Arethusa Creamery, both of which are highly recommended stops! All together, the Arethusa empire employs close to 100 local people, the sincerest testament to a sustainable farming venture.
Burger Cheese – No barbeque is complete without a burger! Try these cheeses to turbo charge your burgers this Memorial Day:Reading Raclettefrom Spring Brook Farm, Pleasant Ridge Reserve from Uplands Cheese Co, or Hook’s Bluefrom Hook’s Cheese.
Watermelon & Feta Salad – There’s no more refreshing way to enjoy cheese in the hot summer months! We’ve got three (count ’em three!) varieties of feta: Salty Sea Feta(cows’ milk) from Narragansett Creamery, Sheep Milk Feta from Hidden Springs Creamery, and Goat Milk Feta from Lively Run Goat Dairy.
Potato Salad – Liven up this classic dish with a little dairy from your favorite mongers! Add a bit of Animal Farm Buttermilk, Creme Fraiche from Vermont Creamery, or Sour Cream from Arethusa Farm Dairy to give your potato salad a tangy kick in the pants!
