7 curds worth traveling for on National Cheese Curd Day

October 15, 2016, marks the second celebration of National Cheese Curd Day. What are cheese curds, you might ask (if you’re not lucky enough to be from Wisconsin)? Cheese curds are the very young bits of cheese that form before becoming the blocks of cheese we know and love. For many years this tasty appetizer / snack hasn’t gotten the attention it truly deserved, so we’ve tracked down seven of the best places for you to celebrate the curd and get your fix.

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A little taste of deep fried heaven – Photo by GettingStamped.com

Milwaukee Brat House: Milwaukee, WI

With curds being a staple on many Milwaukee menus, it’s tough to choose just one top curd, but the Brat House does it a cut above the rest thanks to the perfect blend of fresh cheese that stretches across the table and light, crispy breading. Don’t forget to pair your authentic Wisconsin cheese curds with some local brews.

Address: 1013 N Old World 3rd St, Milwaukee, WI

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Those who know order fresh cheese curds – Photo by Another Believer wiki cc

Beecher’s Handmade Cheese: New York, NY 

Fourth in National Cheese production, the state of New York is no slouch in the dairy game. For some of the best curds in the Big Apple, head to Beecher’s Handmade Cheese in the Flatiron District. Here you can pre-order your curds and get them as they were intended to be eaten: fresh before they’ve even been refrigerated and still squeaky.

Address: 900 Broadway, New York, NY

Gooey cheese! – Photo by GettingStamped.com

Curd Girl: Madison, WI

Only in Wisconsin would you find a food cart selling only cheese curds. This popular food cart in Madison has only one thing on the menu: fried cheese curds. You can find this cart roaming the street of the capital city of the Dairy State. Follow your nose to the frying battered delicious little morsels and pair them with one of the homemade dipping sauces like the sriracha aioli. Every Saturday morning you can find the Curd Girl parked at the Dane County Farmers’ Market on Pinckney Street and other area locations throughout the week.

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Tillamook Co-Op: Tillamook, OR

Bringing tasty dairy, and more importantly, fresh squeaky cheese curds to the West Coast, this dairy makes the perfect stop off while cruising down Oregon’s Highway 101. Although frying the curds hasn’t quite caught on in this part of the country yet, their fresh cheese curds and giant ice cream cones are worth pulling off the highway for.

Address: 4175 Highway 101 North, Tillamook, OR

Fresh or fried Mullins has you covered – Photo by GettingStamped.com

Mullins Cheese: Mosinee, WI 

It doesn’t get much better than curds straight from the source. Mullins’ location just off the highway on the way to Northwoods getaway towns like Minocqua and Eagle River make it a popular stop. The counter at Mullins is always full of fresh, right from the vat and not yet refrigerated cheese curds that squeak as you bite into them. The fresh curds can also be battered and deep fried for a life changing cheese experience. The combination of fresh cheese and crispy thin breading make these some of the best curds (dare we say it?) in the world.

Address: 598 Seagull Dr, Mosinee, WI

Did someone say poutine? – Photo by Veronica Belmont Flickr cc

La Banquise: Montreal, Quebec 

The cheese curd is an integral part of the national dish of Canada, poutine. For those not familiar with this Canadian comfort food, it’s an order of french fries piled with cheese curds, gravy and any number of other ingredients, all on one plate. Poutine has its roots in the city of Montreal and a round up of places to eat cheese curds would not be complete without it. In a city where the bestPoutine is as highly debated a subject as the best cheese curds in Wisconsin, a perennial favorite is La Banquise.

Address: 994 rue Rachel Est, Montreal, Quebec

Finally curds get the day to shine! – Photo by tiny.tussle Flickr cc

Culver’s: multiple locations

If you find yourself far way from these other cheese curd meccas, one fast food chain has embraced the curd and is bringing it a little bit closer toyou. This Wisconsin-based chain of restaurants now has nearly 600 locations in 24 states across the United States. Besides the curd credability booster of being from Wisconsin, Culver’s actually was the driving force behind National Cheese Curd day and we have them to thank for this glorious cheese-filled day.

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