Skowhegan’s Crooked Face Creamery is a global cheese champion, winning a top prize for its Pressed Herbed Ricotta in the 2023 World Cheese Awards.
Out of more than 4,500 entries, Crooked Face Creamery received a coveted Bronze Award in the world’s most distinguished cheese-only competition. The contest was held Oct. 27, in Trondheim, Norway.
The award-winning cheese is made by hand, with fresh lemon zest and fennel, at Amy Rowbottom’s creamery in downtown Skowhegan. She makes her ricotta fresh every week with local cow’s milk and seasonal herbs, and presses the cheese overnight to achieve the desired flavor and consistency.
Rowbotttom, who founded her company in 2009, employs one person part-time and works with contractors.
“Our successful showing is a testament to not only the hard work that we’ve done in recent years, but also the high standards that we strive to achieve with all of our cheeses,” Rowbottom said.
“Securing such a strong seal of approval from so many different cheese experts on a global stage is truly priceless for a cheesemaker, and we look forward to continuing to serve our many loyal customers in Maine and beyond.”
Crooked Face Creamery’s artisanal cheese impressed a panel of leading cheese experts, including critics, chefs, recipe creators, buyers, retailers, journalists, broadcasters and other experts.
Judges evaluated each cheese for factors including rind appearance and paste, aroma, body, texture and most notably, flavor and “mouthfeel.”
A total of 4,502 cheeses were submitted for the 35th World Cheese Awards, representing 43 countries and garnering participation from 954 companies. All entries were judged in a single day by 264 experts from 38 countries.