American cheese has finally come into its own, and Thorpe has criss-crossed the country to taste, talk, study, and celebrate it in all its milky guises. Providing a unique insider’s look at the burgeoning world of American cheese, The Cheese Chronicles will pull any food-loving reader along with Thorpe’s delightful stories about, and notes on, the past, present and future of farms and cheesemakers who are changing the face of food in America.  Thorpe’s chronicle of cheese is as much her own story: changing her life and career to follow her passion, and becoming the country’s youngest leading expert on cheese along the way.

The Cheese Chronicles also details the evolution of American cheesemaking, and examines all aspects of the industry, including the importance of grass-fed animals, the favorite American cheeses of New York’s top chefs, and a redefinition of the much-abused term, “artisanal.”  A resource for chefs, restaurateurs, retailers, and food lovers alike, Thorpe’s engaging account of her tastings and conversations with cheesemakers offers a valuable and representative look at the most important cheesemakers in America.