201: Christian Hansen, Blue Ridge Creamery (Travelers Rest, SC)

Christian Hansen's journey in cheesemaking started as a hobby while working for Dell in Austin, TX.  His instant passion for the craft was grounded in part by a sense of ancestral connection because his grandfather and great-grandfather both operated creameries in Christian's native Denmark.  In 2015, he left behind the corporate world to open Blue Ridge Creamery in Travelers Rest, SC. His cheeses were pretty quickly some of the best being produced in the region, and his work has been featured in Men's Journal and Huffington Post Taste, and of course, on my table on occasion. As an artisan, he has a unique point of view, but understands the classics too, and I'm excited to taste whatever he cooks up.