Laura Chenel

Laura Chenel is an American cheesemaker and entrepreneur, best known for pioneering the production of goat cheese in the United States. She founded Laura Chenel's Chèvre, a company that produces and sells a variety of goat cheeses.

Early Life and Education

Laura Chenel was born and raised in Sonoma County, California. She grew up on a small family farm where she developed a love for animals and agriculture. She attended the University of California, Davis, where she studied animal science.

Career

After graduating from university, Chenel returned to Sonoma County and began raising goats on her family's farm. She started making cheese from their milk as a hobby, but soon realized that there was a market for high-quality, artisanal goat cheese.

In 1979, she founded Laura Chenel's Chèvre, becoming one of the first commercial producers of goat cheese in the United States. The company quickly gained a reputation for its high-quality products, and its cheeses were soon being served in some of the country's top restaurants.

Chenel's success helped to popularize goat cheese in the United States, and she is often credited with sparking a renaissance in American cheesemaking.

Legacy

Laura Chenel's Chèvre continues to be a leading producer of goat cheese in the United States. The company's products are sold in grocery stores and specialty food shops across the country, and are used by many top chefs.

Chenel herself is widely respected in the food industry, and is often invited to speak at conferences and events. She has also been the recipient of numerous awards for her contributions to American cheesemaking.

See Also

• Cheesemaking
• Goat cheese
• Sonoma County, California