Meet Your Monger - Ike Wagner

Behind every great creamery is an excellent cheesemonger selling our cheese...or should we say behind every great counter there is an excellent cheesemonger selling our cheese!  In our third installment of this series, we introduce you to Cheesemonger Ike Wagner.

What's your name and where do you work?

My name is Ian Wagner (Everyone calls me by my nickname, Ike 😊 ) and I work for Lunds and Byerlys at their Northeast Minneapolis location as a Specialty Cheese Monger!

What is your background in the cheese industry?

 I’ve been working with cheese for a little over 15 years now!  I started in 2007 as a backup to two fantastically cheesy professionals who taught me everything they know.  I discovered a love for cheese during my early years, and 15 years later, I’ve turned that passion into a career as an ACS Certified Cheese Professional, where I’ve learned not only how to sell/produce cheese, but also to educate and teach others about the wonders of artisan handmade cheeses!

What does the Minnesota cheese industry mean to you?

Being a lifelong Minnesotan, it’s been amazing watching the artisan cheese landscape grow so fast and so incredibly.  I’ve always admired how Minnesota cheesemakers strike a perfect balance in showcasing artisan cheesemaking tradition, but also finding outstanding ways to innovate in new ways all of the time.  We’re constantly trying new things and pushing boundaries to bring people new flavors, new styles and just generally awesome experiences.  How can you not take pride in that? 😊

What is your favorite Caves of Faribault cheese and what do you love to pair with it?  Or, alternately, do you have a favorite recipe you use our cheese in?

My favorite Caves of Faribault cheese is (without a doubt) St. Pete’s Select Blue Cheese!  It’s bold, bright Blue flavor gives the perfect Blue bite for many things, from salads to steaks!  I personally love to make bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with St. Petes; it’s bite-sized but packs a big ol’ punch of flavor that can’t be beat!