Want to check out the farm and see how one of Georgia's top producers of artisan cheese works?
Join us at Flat Creek Lodge for our Behind the Scenes Dairy Tour on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Lunch included for $15. Please call for reservations at (877) 352-8273. Group tours scheduled by appointment based on availability - reservations required.
Swainsboro, Georgia (April 1, 2009) – The Flat Creek Lodge Dairy sent its cheese a long way from Swainsboro this month – all the way to Green Bay, Wisconsin to compete in the US Championship Cheese Contest. The results are in, and Flat Creek Lodge is astounded and elated to have earned Second Award in the Blue Veined class for its Blue Farmhouse and Third Award in the Bandaged Cheddar class for its brand new Cypress Cheddar. Coming off the Grand Award win in the Flavor of Georgia products competition earlier in the same week, Flat Creek Lodge is proving itself to be one worthy little dairy.
“Of course we are thrilled to have placed so high in two categories,” says Flat Creek Lodge owner Caroline Harless. “One aspect of these competitions that is really important to us is the chance to get feedback about our cheeses and their quality. As a new dairy, this is very helpful to us.”
The Cypress Cheddar – a six-month cloth-bound cheddar that had basically just come out of the aging closet to be sent to the competition – topped most of the cheddar producers in the country. With a 99.1 rating, this cheddar is sure to be a best seller. The First and Second awards went to Springside Cheese Corp. and Glanbia Foods, Inc. In the Blue Veined Category, out of 25 entries from all over the country, only Sartori Food Corporation scored higher than Flat Creek Lodge.
Even Flat Creek Lodge Head Cheesemaker Dane Huebner was a bit surprised by the wins, stating, “In a competition like this one, it can be difficult for an artisanal dairy to place high, and it’s usually large company dairies that win these competitions.” When you craft each batch of cheese by hand and milk under 30 cows, seasonal differences come out in the cheeses, making each batch of artisanal cheese special. The uniqueness is one thing to love about small dairy cheeses, but it makes difficult winners in these big contests. That just means that the Second and Third awards are even more special for the Flat Creek Lodge Dairy.
The US Championship Cheese Contest was held March 17 – 19 in Green Bay, Wisconsin and featured more than 1,360 cheese and butters submitted by artisans and manufacturers in 32 states. With roots back to the 1890s, this competition presented by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association is the Superbowl of dairy product competitions, according to John Umhoefer, executive director of the Association.
Cheese lovers can celebrate with Flat Creek Lodge by finding the cheeses at a variety of retails spots (like Whole Foods and Savor in Atlanta and Sawecki’s in Decatur) and restaurants throughout Georgia and the Southeast. This month, Destiny Produce - the only Certified Organic distributor in Georgia – began distribution of Flat Creek’s line of artisanal cheeses. The cheeses are also available online anytime at www.flatcreeklodge.com. This summer, fans will have a new reason to celebrate when Flat Creek Lodge releases the first round of sheep’s milk cheeses.
Located just three hours southeast of Atlanta, Flat Creek Lodge welcomes the discerning sportsman and sportswoman to an unforgettable hunting and fishing adventure. Amid a pristine and private woodland preserve, guests can stay in the main Lodge or in a private Cottage. Visitors can enjoy many outdoor activities, relax in the Spa, or pamper themselves in the uniquely designed Japanese Bathhouse before experiencing the cuisine in the Flat Creek Lodge Dining Room. Menus feature fresh, seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables, wild game and seafood from the Golden Isles of Georgia. Dining on Friday and Saturday evenings is four or five courses paired with just the right wine. The 2,000-acre Flat Creek Lodge is located at 367 Bishop Chapel Church Road, Swainsboro, Georgia 30401. The Lodge can be reached at 478.237.FISH or 877.352.8273. It can also be visited online at www.flatcreeklodge.com.
Swainsboro, GA (March 17, 2009) – Why, Governor, we're flattered! Governor Sonny Purdue announced the 2009 Flavor of Georgia contest winners, and we're thrilled to announce our Aztec Cheddar the 2009 Flavor of Georgia Contest Winner!
The Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest is provided by the University of Georgia’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, along with partners and sponsors, the Governor’s Agricultural Advisory Commission, Georgia Agribusiness Council, Georgia Rural Development Council, and the UGA Department of Food Science and Technology.
Our Birth Announcement!
Swainsboro, GA (March 14, 2009) – Remember the arrival of our 40 sheep a few months ago? Well we're thrilled to announce the arrival of our new little lambs. Soft and cuddly, we welcome our new additions! And just like any proud parent, here are a couple photos we'd like to show off! The Lacaune-East Friesian mix bunch is the ideal breed for crafting our farmstead sheep's milk cheese, scheduled for debut this summer!
GEORGIA MADE, GEORGIA GROWN SAYS FLAT CREEK LODGE IS A WINNER
Flat Creek Brings Home Producer of Distinction Award
Swainsboro, Georgia (October 16, 2008) – Practically an old hat at raking in cheese awards, Flat Creek Lodge in Southeast Georgia recently won an award from the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) for the many products it distributes from Georgia to Georgians. Named as a Producer of Distinction, the fishing and hunting resort and spa was honored for its local products like artisanal cheeses, berries and the 2,000-acre property itself, which is a popular tourism draw. The Georgia Made Georgia Grown designation is a two-year distinction.
“We are honored to be recognized by the tourism division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development,” says Flat Creek Lodge owner Caroline Harless. “When Steve and I started Flat Creek Lodge, our goal was to work with local suppliers, artists and companies to develop the local economy. Now that we have our own products to offer, we are excited to become part of that Georgia network.”
GDEcD also awarded Producer of Distinction designation to the Averitt Center for the Arts, Meinhardt Vineyards and Winery, National Barbeque Festival and Flat Creek Lodge. The designation recognizes the best of Georgia’s artists, craftmakers, entertainers, authors, food product creators, festivals, agritourism venues, bed & breakfasts, shops and galleries. Flat Creek Lodge and the other recipients were honored at the “Making Your Mark in the Magnolia Midlands” symposium in September at the Averitt Center for the Arts in Statesboro where Cathy McDaniel, Flat Creek Lodge general manager, accepted the award with enthusiasm.
Participation in the Producer of Distinction Program is voluntary and open to all Georgia creative businesses that consistently meet and exceed specific quality standards. Eligible business owners must recognize the importance of designing and creating quality work, invest their time and resources in making a difference by mentoring and giving back to their communities and share their expertise with others.
With the opening of the Flat Creek Lodge Dairy in 2007, Flat Creek became only the second licensed artisanal cheese dairy in Georgia. Cheeses like the signature Farmhouse, Farmhouse Blue and spicy Aztec Cheddar have now made their way to restaurants and retail spaces in Atlanta as well as Savannah and North Georgia, Highlands, North Carolina and Murray’s, a renowned retailer of cheeses in New York City. Flat Creek also often partners with other local growers such as wineries like Persimmon Creek Vineyards in Clayton. Additionally, the line of cheeses is available onsite at Flat Creek Lodge or through the website. www.flatcreeklodge.com
The Flat Creek Lodge Dairy produces a full line of artisanal cheeses including: Cheddars – Aged, Horseradish, Aztec and Thai Chili; Onion Mustard Kase; smoked cheeses such as Smokin’ Jack; the original Flat Creek Farmhouse and Farmhouse Blue; Dutch–style Leiden and cheeses flavored with herbs and other produce from the Flat Creek Lodge greenhouses. All of the cheeses are made from raw milk except the Flat Creek Feta, which is pasteurized. New Flat Creek Lodge cheese creations will be perfectly aged and ready soon including the Aged Stir Curd, Grana Kalamata Olive and White Wine Feta and the unique Vidalia Onion Kase.
Located just three hours southeast of Atlanta, Flat Creek Lodge welcomes the discerning sportsman and sportswoman to an unforgettable hunting and fishing adventure. Amid a pristine and private woodland preserve, guests can stay in the main Lodge or in a private Cottage. Visitors can enjoy many outdoor activities, relax in the Spa, or pamper themselves in the uniquely designed Japanese Bathhouse before experiencing the cuisine in the Flat Creek Lodge Dining Room. Menus feature fresh, seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables, wild game and seafood from the Golden Isles of Georgia. Dining on Friday and Saturday evenings is four or five courses paired with just the right wine. The 2,000-acre Flat Creek Lodge is located at 367 Bishop Chapel Church Road, Swainsboro, Georgia 30401. The Lodge can be reached at 478.237.FISH or 877.352.8273. It can also be visited online at www.flatcreeklodge.com .
Atlanta (April 2, 2008) – The results are in, and Flat Creek Lodge Dairy is, in fact, The Big Cheese. Open for less than one year and under the leadership of Head Cheesemaker Dane Huebner only half of that time, Flat Creek Lodge Dairy’s rankings in the recent World Cheese Championship Contest show that not all cheese has to be aged to taste great!
Hosted by the Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association, the 27th Biennial World Cheese Championship—the largest international cheese contest—was held March 11-13 in Madison, Wis. The contest judges cheeses and butters by class; each is evaluated by an international panel of 22 expert judges. Flat Creek Lodge Dairy placed 12th out of 29 places, putting it in the top 43 percent of participants—pretty sweet for a young dairy.
Of course it doesn’t hurt that Huebner, Flat Creek’s Big Cheese, came to the Dairy with plenty of cheese-making credentials. In addition to working in beer production and as a scientist in a bakery, he served as Research Chef and Cheesemaker at Cedar Grove Cheese in Wisconsin, where he developed different cheese and flavors for private label companies, helping them win cheese awards.
With the Flat Creek Lodge Dairy since November, Huebner has been hard at work making local versions of some of his favorite cheeses from around the world, as well as coming up with several of his own American Originals. Since elements like type of milk, microbes and the terroir affect the flavor of every cheese, no cheese can ever be exactly duplicated. So Flat Creek Cheddar will only taste like Flat Creek Cheddar.
Feeling cheesy? Flat Creek Lodge Dairy cheeses are available at the Flat Creek property, online or by placing a telephone order.
Located just three hours southeast of Atlanta, Flat Creek Lodge welcomes the discerning sportsman and sportswoman to an unforgettable hunting and fishing adventure. Amid a pristine and private woodland preserve, guests can stay in the main Lodge or in a private Cottage. Visitors can enjoy many outdoor activities, relax in the Spa, or pamper themselves in the uniquely designed Japanese Bathhouse before experiencing the cuisine in the Flat Creek Lodge Dining Room. Menus feature fresh, seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables, wild game and seafood from the Golden Isles of Georgia. Dining on Friday and Saturday evenings is four or five courses paired with just the right wine. The 2,000-acre Flat Creek Lodge is located at 367 Bishop Chapel Church Road, Swainsboro, Georgia 30401. The Lodge can be reached at 478.237.FISH or 877.352.8273. It can also be visited online at www.flatcreeklodge.com.
Swainsboro, Georgia (May 29, 2007) – Peaches, peanuts and … cheese. In recent years, the art of dairy farming in Georgia has been on the decline even as the global demand for dairy products rises. With a goal of growing the local economy, the folks at Flat Creek Lodge, a hunting and fishing resort and spa in southeast Georgia, have announced the opening of the Flat Creek Lodge Dairy, and they are kicking off with a line of artisanal cheeses.
In keeping with the Flat Creek Lodge mission to support the local economy of Emanuel County and provide an eco-friendly environment, owners Steve and Caroline Harless instigated the micro-dairy project to bring the small family dairy that might be found in Europe or New England back to Georgia. Since the process began one-and-a-half years ago, it has been truly a labor of love for these dairy neophytes.
“We didn’t even have a herdsman when we got the cows,” says general manager Cathy McDaniel. The team learned everything as they went along and even hand-milked the cows for the first three or four weeks. The hard work has paid off, and on Saturday, June 9, Flat Creek Lodge Dairy will officially celebrate its opening with a line of four delicious cheeses – Havarti, Gouda, Edam and Colby.
Working in tandem with the supportive Department of Agriculture, the Flat Creek Lodge Dairy has become only the second licensed artisanal cheese producer in Georgia. In addition to serving the cheeses in their own fine dining restaurant onsite, Flat Creek Lodge plans to market the Flat Creek Lodge cheese brand to restaurants and retail outlets and is looking to the rising interest among chefs, restaurateurs and consumers in using locally produced products.
The Dairy isn’t the only thing keeping it local at Flat Creek Lodge. The site also includes several greenhouses where herbs and vegetables are grown and then served in the dining room. The Lodge employed Emanuel County builders to erect the structures on the property, and they used only local materials like pine and cypress. Inside, each building has been decorated using art by local artists, including custom made furniture and taxidermy. Outside, all sporting activities are stocked with wild game indigenous to Georgia or that thrive in the southeastern environment. That means, hunters and fishers can expect Mallard ducks, bobwhite quail, pheasants, wild turkey, white tail deer, wild boar, trophy-size large mouth bass, bream, blue gill and crappie.
Located just three hours southeast of Atlanta, Flat Creek Lodge welcomes the discerning sportsman and sportswoman to an unforgettable hunting and fishing adventure. Amid a pristine and private woodland preserve, guests can stay in the main lodge or in a private cottage. Visitors can enjoy many outdoor activities, relax in the spa, or pamper themselves in the uniquely designed Japanese bathhouse before experiencing the cuisine in the Flat Creek Lodge dining room. Menus feature fresh, seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables, wild game and seafood from the Golden Isles of Georgia. Dining on Friday and Saturday evenings is four or five courses paired with just the right wine. The 2,000-acre Flat Creek Lodge is located at 367 Bishop Chapel Church Road, Swainsboro, Georgia 30401.
Our cheeses are now being featured at the Cloister on Sea Island and Ray’s on River in Atlanta.
Also cheese maybe purchased online at dairy@flatcreeklodge.com.
For more information about our cheeses and to place an order, please contact us toll free at 877-352-8273 or fax to 478-237-6354 or email us at dairy@flatcreeklodge.com.
