Anne Saxelby Interview!
by LittleMissMatched
How did you become such a cheese connoisseur? Was it something you were always interested in or did you become a fan of the food group after working at local cheese shops such as Murray’s?
I have always loved cheese… ever since I was little I can remember relishing slices of cheddar and (embarrassment!) American cheese. But, I really fell in love with cheese while visiting a friend studying in Florence, Italy. She took me to all the local markets and that was truly the first time I had ever tasted real, handmade cheese. I fell so head over heels that after graduating college, I got a job at Murray’s Cheese Shop in NYC, and then got an internship as a cheese maker on a dairy farm in Connecticut. It was sort of a snowball effect from there. I ended up leaving Murray’s to take a six month tour around Europe, learning to make goat cheese and wine, and then came back to NY to open my own shop!
You’re pretty young to have already become such a pioneer in the industry…how do you think you got to where you are today? (This can be a short story of your life, milestones, important steps, etc…whatever you’re comfortable with!)
I think I got to where I am today largely because of my family. No matter what I did, or what I was interested in, they were always super supportive. I felt like I could have no interest too weird or out there… they were always totally warm and accepting. That, coupled with the fact that I’m the first born (we’re known for being a little type A) and knowing that I wanted to have my own business since I was a kid… It’s funny how things fall into place though. I feel like timing is everything. I happened to move to New York and become interested in food, then specifically with cheese. Then I met these farmers from Connecticut who ended up giving me a job and showing me a window into the world of American farmstead cheese, which up till that point, I knew very little about. I think I learned the most and became inspired the most by all the cheese makers I met over the past six years or so. As for being a pioneer, I don’t know, I just wanted to tell the stories of all the cheese makers and cheeses that I love.
Being environmentally friendly is something that seems very important to you – why is that and how do you go about ensuring your company reflects it??
I firmly believe that everything in the world is interconnected. I think that all people have an inherent appreciation for things that are good for us, mentally and physically. With cheese, it’s an easy one… you start with taste and go backward from there. It’s a virtuous circle, where the cheese tastes good because of the time and effort put into making it, the quality of the milk, which is related to the health and happiness of the animals, and finally back to the land (the good pasture that feeds the animals), where everything starts. By supporting these small farms, I feel like not only am I selling something that makes people happy, I am investing in all the small communities that these cheese makers live in, and helping them to make a life for themselves and their families that is good for them and for the land they live on.
I’ve noticed you only work with American and local farms – how do you find them and do you visit them often?
I work with about 30 local farms (and one or two out in the midwest) I have found them over a six year period of meeting, visiting, and word-of-mouthing with other cheese makers and cheese lovers. It’s developed pretty organically actually. I try to get out and visit them as often as I can, but usually I’ll take two semi-long trips during the year to go out and visit people. It’s definitely the best part of the job!
What’s the hardest thing that’s ever happened to you in your career (or in your life) that you’ve had to overcome?
The hardest thing in my career that I’ve had to overcome (well, I don’t think I’ve overcome it actually!) is learning to balance all the demands that are placed on you as a small business owner. I jumped in to the shop head first, and have been having fun ever since! But it’s a challenge to maintain everything that is going on in life, both business-wise and personal-wise, and I think it’s been a really great learning experience to get better at managing that. There are lots of things about being a business owner that I didn’t really imagine myself being good at (bookkeeping and other fun stuff like that!) but the reality is that you can teach yourself anything and in the end it just gives you more experiences to draw from!
What is your favorite cheese? And what about your favorite recipe or flavor combination using cheese?
My favorite kind of cheese (as a broad category!) is goat cheese. Fresh, aged, gooey, stinky and everywhere in between. I love it all! I am usually a purist when it comes to eating cheese (just cheese and nothing to interfere!) but I do like eating cheeses with dried fruits and nuts, or a nice homemade preserve.
Are there any kinds of cheese that you don’t like?
I’d love to say that I haven’t met a cheese I don’t like. However, I do remember this one cheese called Cotswald, which is some kind of cheddar-ish cheese all full of weird little chive bits. That stuff was pretty bad.
Cheese making isn’t one of the most common professions out there so what’s the most interesting (or surprising) thing you’ve learned about it in your experience?
The most interesting thing I’ve learned about cheese making is the sheer variety that is possible within the craft. You start with milk, and can reach literally thousands of different cheesy outcomes! I love to see how cheese makers create new styles and new tastes by manipulating different parts of the cheese making process. It’s really incredible to me.
What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you on the job?
One of the most embarrassing things that’s happened to me on the job… hmmm… there are so many things! Well, I’m usually pretty good with names, and always want to be friendly with my customers, but sometimes I’ve guessed some pretty outlandish things. The best was when a chef who I’d known years ago (at Murray’s) came into the shop after not seeing him for a few years. (His name, as it turns out, is Josh) I saw him coming up to the counter and blurted out ‘Scooter! It’s so good to see you!!!’ He looked at me like I was a crazy person. Which I sort of am. But, it taught me to not always trust my first instincts when it comes to people’s names…
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