Authentic Texan
J. Carol Richards
Umami, a Japanese word loosely translated as pleasant savory taste, refers to what is recognized as the fifth taste, following sweet, savory, salty, and bitter. The taste lingers on the tongue and adds complexity when combined with other ingredients, creating a symphonic flavor profile in any dish. Aged cheeses are among those foods that are rich in umami flavor. The founder of River Whey Creamery, Susan Rigg, who attended the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio and graduated from CIA in Hyde Park, New York, developed a passion for food that ultimately led her to become an award-winning Artisanal Cheesemaker in Schertz, Texas.
She learned the nuances of cheese at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and has applied that to the art and science of cheese making, along with what she gained from experts in the field. However, Susan has a chef’s heart and an innate understanding of food with the desire to use her gifts to bring world-class cheese to Texas. “We are not just farm to table, but Earth to soul with a true belief in sustainability and transparency.” At River Whey Creamery, every cheese is handmade in small batches from raw Texas cow’s milk and cave-aged. In the American Cheese Society competition in 2018, Indigo Ridge® was declared an American Original and is not made like any other cheese worldwide, making it a genuine Texas original. All the cheeses at River Whey Creamery are produced from Susan’s creative recipes, and the names are trademarked. Susan is on the board of directors of the American Cheese Society and chairperson of the Food Safety and Regulatory Committee.
River Whey Creamery produces five unique aged cheeses: Keystone®, Caldera España®, The Welshman®, Indigo Ridge®, and Whey Blue®. In addition, each has a story to tell. The Welshman® is a tribute to her family’s roots in Wales. The Welshman has an earthy, cheddar flavor profile that pairs well with mushrooms, red wine, or fruits like apples and pears on a charcuterie board. Try replacing your traditional cheese on a baked potato or vegetable with The Welshman for a blast of flavor.
The award-winning Keystone®, which took first place in the 2023 American Cheese Society Judging and Competition, is reminiscent of the sweet buttery Italian tomme cheeses. Made with raw cow’s milk and cave-aged for four months, it is River Whey Creamery’s most versatile offering. Keystone® is perfect for pasta sauces, grated over salads, and the best part of a sandwich. Pair it with fresh fruit and wine. It might become the best part of your day. In addition, it melts beautifully, so it is great to cook with. Keystone® makes an amazing Alfredo sauce; the recipe is on the website.
Caldera España® is a Texas pecan-smoked Spanish-style cheese. It melts well and is the perfect cheese for pizza or grilled cheese sandwiches, and it pairs well with cured meat and your favorite beer.
Indigo Ridge® is River Whey Creamery’s best-selling cheese and is aged for twelve months. Susan calls it “a Gouda style with a Gruyere flair” and recommends trying it with grilled onions, baked ham, or a fondue. Indigo Ridge® is a true American Original and has been certified by the American Cheese Society.
The newest creation is Whey Blue®, a full cream, raw milk blue cheese in the style of the creamy French blues but with the terroir or regional characteristics of great Texas raw milk. Whey Blue® is a complex cheese aged for sixty to ninety days and will elevate compound butter and makes a full-flavored blue cheese dressing.
Learn the art of fresh cheesemaking at River Whey Creamery with the Hands-On Fresh Cheesemaking Class for beginners or an advanced class in making aged cheeses that will take you into the in-depth science behind cheesemaking. The three options are: Milled, Curd, Washed Curd, and Blue Cheesemaking.
Susan and her staff love visitors, so if you find yourself in the area, they offer Tour & Tasting Days every first Sunday of the month, allowing you to taste all of River Whey Creamery’s world-class cheeses. They also sell on a B2B platform called FAIRE Marketplace to cheese shops, specialty food retailers, and wineries.
River Whey Creamery is located at 17361 Bell Drive, Suite 115, Schertz, Texas
