Burnett Dairy: 36 Fantastic Ideas For Road Tripping With Cheese

Amid tall pines, just off the shores of a pristine lake in Northwest Wisconsin, sits your summer sanctuary. The cabin itself is a charming tribute to Northwoods living. A screened porch stretches across the back, inviting you to sit with a steaming mug of coffee, breathe crisp morning air, and watch the sunshine evaporate the mist on the water’s surface. The only rhythm is the gentle water lapping against your boat.

Warm wood tones create a cozy atmosphere inside. Sunlight streams through the windows, illuminating comfortable furniture and well-worn board games stacked on a corner table. The back door opens onto a dock jutting out over the clear water. A red-striped aluminum fishing boat gently bobs, promising lazy afternoons casting a line or exploring hidden coves. In the evening, a loon’s haunting cry pierces the stillness. Finally, a crackling fire in the stone fireplace awaits your evening stories after a day of adventure.

A cabin is more than just a place to stay; it’s a portal to a simpler time, a place to reconnect with nature and create memories that will last a lifetime. This is summer in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, where legendary fishing and unforgettable lake life collide.

At any rate, a vacation up north requires snacks for the road trip and meals while you’re there. What better food than cheese—glorious Wisconsin cheese? Besides, cheese is perfect for road trips and vacations because it’s easy to pack. 

Why Cheese Is An Exceptional Traveling Companion

Cheese is loaded with protein and flavor, keeping you satisfied for longer stretches on the road, allowing fewer stops for snacks and more time for enjoying the scenery. Your budget will thank you, too, since snacks at convenience stores can be more pricey. Generally, harder cheeses like cheddar, Parmesan, and Gouda do not require refrigeration for safety, making them perfect for road trips when cooler space is limited. Likewise, cheese is finger food, which means less mess and crumbs in your car and can bridge the gap between sweet and savory cravings. Burnett Dairy Cooperative in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, should be on your road trip radar.

Burnett Dairy’s Master Cheesemaker Candidate Rob Stellrecht 

Wisconsin is the only state requiring a cheesemaker’s license. Additionally, there are only two places in the world where a Master Cheesemaker certificate can be obtained—Switzerland and Wisconsin. Many refer to Wisconsin’s Master Cheesemaker program as a Ph. D. in cheese. 

We sat down with Master Cheesemaker candidate (cheddar, mozzarella) Rob Stellrecht to find out why cheese is such an extraordinary food for traveling. Stellrecht has been a cheesemaker at Burnett Dairy Cooperative since 1986 when he was 15 years old. Like most teenagers, he needed a job and gas money.

Stellrecht consistently places in the World Championship Cheese Contest, U.S. Championship Cheese Contest, and statewide competitions for Colby, provolone, pepper jack, and string cheese, to name a few. However, Stellrecht’s favorite cheese is Cheddar Gruyere because it’s the most challenging to make. Cheddar Gruyere is also one of Burnett Dairy’s best-selling cheeses. 

In addition to Cheddar Gruyere, Burnett Dairy’s most popular cheeses include smoked and plain string cheese, aged and mild provolone, and flavored and plain Gouda. Gourmet Goudas with unexpected twists are a hit with consumers. Besides the original, Stellrecht said that truffle, rosemary, and hickory-smoked Goudas are crowd-pleasers, too. 

Burnett Dairy Cheese Store And Gift Shop In Grantsburg

We met with Brenda Bentley, the Burnett Dairy Cheese Store, and Bistro manager, to find out what the store carries for road trips and vacations. Of course, there’s plenty of cheese for turophiles—over 100 varieties, squeaky cheese curds fresh and fried, and sliced cheese for sandwiches. Cheese sticks, Landjaegers, and beef sausage sticks make a delicious snack combination, too. Burnett Dairy’s store carries plenty of wine, crackers, cheese trays, and cured meats like a mini grocery store.

Grab lunch at the bistro, which carries a full menu, including gourmet sandwiches and pizzas. According to Bentley, the best-selling sandwich, hands down, is the Wisconsin. The sandwich consists of Cheddar Gruyere, turkey, baby spinach, and cranberry-orange spread on cranberry wild rice bread. 

The Bistro offers made-to-order cooked pizzas and take-and-bake. Pizza is made with Burnett Dairy’s award-winning Patria pizza cheese, a specialty mozzarella cheese designed for New York-style pizzerias. In the Northeast, consumers prefer white bubbly mozzarella cheese over toasty brown cheese, as in Wisconsin. Patria pizza cheese can reach 650 degrees without browning. In 2022, Stellrecht won second place in the mozzarella category at the World Championship Cheese Contest for Patria. Shredded Patria is sold in the cheese store, so take advantage of an opportunity to taste this award-winning pizza cheese. 

You can stop in for ice cream, too. Bentley mentioned that last July, the shop sold 8,000 soft-serve ice cream cones, 4,000 single scoops, and 1,200 double scoops of hard-packed Cedar Crest ice cream.

You Might Also Like:

12 Excellent Small-Town Cheese Shops That Will Scream Wisconsin

Hurry To The Award-Winning Nasonville Dairy Cheese Shop

Hendricks County: How To Find Time Capsules Of Taste

36 Great Wisconsin Cheese Ideas For Vacations

Minnesotans love to vacation in Wisconsin’s pristine Northwoods as much as Wisconsinites. Many choose Hayward or Spooner as their favorite destinations. Luckily, the Burnett Dairy Cooperative Cheese Store is halfway from the Twin Cities.

When most people think of cheese, they think about slices with their favorite crackers, shredded in dishes, or on sandwiches. However, cheese is flexible, and there’s a type for every taste bud. Here are 36 yummy ways to enjoy cheese on your next adventure:

Snacks on the Go:

Classic Wisconsin Cheese Tray: Pack a variety of hard and soft cheeses with your favorite crackers for a simple yet satisfying snack. We like a variety such as baby Swiss, two or four-year cheddar, Muenster, bacon cheddar, and pepper jack. We’ll slice a stick of Usinger’s or Old Wisconsin hearty summer sausage to pair with our cheese tray.

Cheese Sticks: Burnett Dairy consistently places in the top three of the World Championship Cheese Contest and the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest with its string cheese and smoked string cheese.

Cheese curds: On a road trip, we usually stop at a cheese shop for a bag of fresh cheese curds. Burnett Dairy makes cheese curds daily so travelers can be sure to get their squeak on.

Cheese Spread: Without a doubt, cheese spread is one of our favorite traveling foods. Wisconsin-made brands and flavors are abundant. However you like to eat cheese spread, many flavors are available to satisfy any taste. Our first choices are sharp cheddar and bacon cheddar, but a few other popular flavors are port wine, Swiss almond, and garlic & herb. For Wisconsin-inspired flavors, try horseradish and cranberry cheddar cheese spreads. 

Trail Mix Upgrade: Elevate your trail mix with dried fruits, nuts, pretzels, and your favorite cubed cheese flavors for a sweet and salty explosion.

Cheese & Fruit Skewers: Thread cubes of cheddar or Gouda with grapes, apple slices, and a drizzle of honey for a refreshing and healthy snack.

Mini Grilled 3-Cheese Dippers: Make bite-sized grilled cheese sandwiches and pair them with marinara sauce or pesto for dipping. Use cheddar, Gouda, and Monterey Jack for an outstanding sandwich.

Pimento Cheese Spread: Whip up a batch of pimento cheese spread for a creamy and flavorful dip with crackers, veggies, or pretzels.

Amp Up Your Lunch:

Elevated Sandwiches: Elevate your sandwich game with gourmet cheeses like brie, havarti, or Gruyere.

Cheese Slices For Sandwiches: Some of our favorites are provolone, Swiss, Muenster, and pepper jack, 

Wraps with Flair: Fill your wraps with hummus, veggies, and a protein like chicken or falafel, and add a slice of provolone or Swiss cheese for extra flavor.

Salad Sensation: Crumble feta cheese over a salad with grilled chicken or fish for a protein punch and a salty kick.

Quesadilla Quick Fix: Pack tortillas, cheese, and fillings like beans, veggies, or leftover meat for a quick and cheesy quesadilla lunch.

Pasta Perfection: Stir freshly shredded parmesan or mozzarella into your pasta salad for a creamy and satisfying lunch. However, asiago is one of our favorite cheeses to add to pasta salads.

Dinner Delights:

Charcuterie Board on the Go: Pack a small cooler with cured meats, olives, grapes, and a selection of cheeses for a fancy and flavorful road trip dinner.

Melty Panini Press: If you have a car outlet converter, bring a panini press for hot and melty cheese sandwiches on the go. Burnett Dairy makes excellent Cheddar Gruyere and provolone for hot sandwiches.

Sheet-pan suppers: Marinate chicken or veggies, toss with cubed cheese and roast on a sheet pan for a hassle-free and delicious one-pan dinner.

Campfire Cheese Fondue: Invest in a portable fondue pot and enjoy melted cheese with bread cubes or veggies around the campfire.

Mac & Cheese in a Mug: Pack instant mac and cheese cups and doctor them up with shredded cheese and cooked bacon bits for a quick, cheesy comfort food fix. We prefer a combination of two-year cheddar to add a punch and Muenster for creaminess.

Pizza Cheese For Portable Outdoor Pizza Ovens: Use Burnett Dairy’s Patria pizza mozzarella cheese to create a creamy, stretchy New York-style pizza that requires temperatures over 500 degrees. 

Sweet Treats:

Cheese & Fruit Plate: For a delightful dessert, pair a selection of mild cheeses, such as brie or Camembert, with fresh berries and a drizzle of honey.

Grilled Cheese with a Twist: For a warm and gooey treat, make a dessert-inspired grilled cheese with sliced apples, cheddar cheese, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Trail Mix Cookies: For a surprising and delicious twist, add chopped dried fruit, nuts, and shredded cheese to your favorite cookie dough.

Chocolate & Cheese Pairing: For chocolate lovers, dark chocolate pairs beautifully with sharp cheeses like cheddar or blue cheese. Pack squares of both for a decadent and sophisticated treat.

Cheese Blintzes: If you’re feeling adventurous, try making sweet cheese blintzes filled with ricotta cheese, raisins, and cinnamon.

Burnett Dairy Cooperative Recipes With Our Suggestions

Find these recipes and more here:

Baked Ham and Colby Sliders: Wrap in foil, then cook on a grill over warm coals.

Ultimate 3-cheese Grilled Cheese: We suggest cooking in a sandwich maker over a campfire.

Thanksgiving Turkey Cheeseboard: A perfect addition to celebrate holiday get-togethers.

Pepper Pecan Cheeseball: Picnics and this Cheddar Gruyere cheeseball go hand in hand.

The Lovers Charcuterie Board: A scrumptious project for Valentine’s Day to make and eat together. 

American Original Taco Dip: Create the American flag with colorful ingredients and use a small cookie cutter for the stars.

Pastry Cheese Twists with Trio of Dips: Cheese twists make an excellent road trip snack for kids and adults. 

The Best Cheese Scones: We like to add more cheese than a recipe calls for. 

Sun-dried Tomato and Cheddar Gruyere Sourdough Bread: From how we travel, we never know when or where we’ll eat, so our go-to is to pack a loaf of artisan bread. Plain, with sandwich meat and cheeses, and sometimes cheese spread are our favorite ways to eat while we drive.

Baked Cheese Sticks: Whether eaten hot and stretchy out of the oven or at room temperature on a road trip, these string cheese sticks are clean and easy. We don’t use marinara sauce because it can get messy in the car.

Pepperoni Pizza Sticks: You can easily eat this pepperoni and Burnett Dairy string cheese treat warm at your vacation location or save them for the road.

With these ideas, cheese can be your companion on the road, keeping you satisfied and adding delicious variety to your road trip meals. Enjoy the open road and cheesy adventures!