RauDZ© Friends and Neighbours
RauDZ© Regional Table is committed to working in partnership with regional farmers,
ranchers and artisans. We are leaders in the use of organic, sustainable and naturally
raised ingredients and concentrate on pure, simple flavours with a fun presentation.
it’s with this guiding philosophy that we’re proud of all our suppliers and want to feature a local business on a regular basis. This month, we turn the spotlight on Carmelis Goat Cheese.
Carmelis is a family owned boutique dairy, which takes pride in the uncompromising approach taken to ensure the unique quality of its cheeses. The cheeses are produced on a small scale which enables them to closely monitor each and every cheese while placing an emphasis on their place’s design and its integration into nature, the landscape around them, and the quality of the environment.
The story of Carmelis is one rooted in determination and the pride of it’s founders - Ofri and Ofer Barmor. It was the birth of their lactose intolerant oldest daughter, Carmel, that prompted the couple to go into the goat farming and goat cheese-making business. Unlike cow’s milk, lactose intolerant people have no trouble digesting goat milk.
Their life has been touched by tragedy, but they refuse to give up and in this day and age when we look for inspirational stories, their tale certainly fits the bill. It was a near fatal car accident that confined Ofer to a wheelchair, and seriously injured Ofri. Undeterred the couple soldiered on. Ofri has often remarked that “what doesn’t kill you - makes you stronger.”
Their connection to the Okanagan began after a ski and wine tasting holiday in our area in March 2003, which prompted the family to decide to immigrate to Canada.
During the holiday they had noticed a distinct lack of local specialty cheeses – particularly goat products. With the Okanagan’s rich harvest of wines, what better product to pair them with than a great cheese?
In the spring of 2004, Carmelis (a blending of the names of their daughters Carmel, 16, and Lior, 14) opened for business. Since then they have become a point of pride in the Okanagan, with visitors streaming to their operation, enjoying not only the many different cheeses but also the great gelato.
While Ofri handles the extensive business side of Carmelis (and is a frequent visitor dropping off product to the RauDZ© kitchen), Ofer is the master craftsman when it comes to making goat cheese. He’s considered an artisan, which, if you’re going to stand out in the cluttered food industry, you have to be a talented, passionate artisan in order to thrive - which Carmelis has done.
All of their cheeses bear the stamp of the research, zeal and commitment they put into their work. At the dairy, they choose to specialize in rich, complex and refined cheeses that render full justice to the quality of the milk and the art of cheese making. The cheeses are produced using traditional techniques learned during many visits to various areas of France, in particular, and Europe in general. All of their cheeses are made from 100% goat milk produced on their farm, as well as milk they buy from an organic goat farmer in Grand Forks.
The milk contains no additives or preservatives, and they use no stimulation processes in its production, making sure to allot proper time for every type of cheese to reach its true maturity.
The ripening process does not end with taking the cheese out of the cheese cellar. It goes on throughout the life span of the cheeses, which will continue to ripen, the flavor of each type of cheese evolving and becoming more piquant.
The goats on their farm are treated with care and respect, and enjoy excellent living conditions along with natural food that includes a variety of grains and alfalfa, free of any hormones or food additives. This ensures that the milk produced meets the highest standards, and has a direct effect upon the superior quality of the cheese. Their unique approach is based on sincere passion for cheese making, and as a result every cheese is a work of art.
For more information you can go to http://carmelisgoatcheese.com/