Handcrafted, European-Style Cheese and Butter Made in Clearview, Washington
Bellsong Creamery cheeses echo the time-honored dairy traditions of the European mountains and valleys. We are a team of cheese lovers who also make cheese, and our goal is to create cheeses, butters and fresh dairy products that act as little homages to the treasures we have tasted in those European nations, everywhere from market stalls in France to farms in the Italian alps.
Fall/Winter 2024-25 Classes
Our Dairy
We are lucky to be working with a local, third-generation dairy that produces impeccable milk from their mixed herd of Jersey, Brown Swiss, Guernsey and Holstein cows. Anna and Chris Groeneveld are wonderful people who care for the health and wellbeing of their animals and their land. As one of the first suppliers to Beecher’s Cheese in Pike Place Market, they have long focused on producing milk with the right fat and protein profile for cheesemaking. We hope to show off all their hard work by making truly special cheeses from their lovely milk, and are excited to bring you some old favorites and hopefully introduce you to your favorite new cheese.
Our Creamery
Our sweet creamery is tucked in the rolling hills of Clearview outside of Snohomish, Washington. Bellsong Creamery is a part of Bella Luna Farms, a beautiful wedding and event venue. Here, you could stroll through the walled garden and say “hello!” to the friendly gaggle of goats that we used to milk for cheese years ago. Owner and founding cheesemaker, Pamela Thompson started milking a small herd of Toggenburg goats in 2013 and used their luscious milk to make beautiful cheeses up until 2020, when the demands of other businesses and the pandemic caused cheesemaking to take a back seat. In 2023, renowned local cheesemaker Meghan McKenna joined Pam to reinvigorate Bellsong Creamery.
Our Cheeses
Bella Rossa
This cheese is an homage to the great washed-rind cheeses of the French and Italian Alps. We start with the freshest raw cows milk from the Skykomish Valley. This raw milk cheese is aged at least three months, all the while being washed and turned in our aging cave. This process turns the rind a beautiful pinkish copper color and brings out creamy, brothy notes. It’s a cheese we love to serve on a charcuterie board, or to melt onto roasted potatoes.
Piccola Rossa
You might call this cheese the sweet little sister to big Bella Rossa. This pasteurized beauty is aged 4 to 6 weeks and is reminiscent of the small farmstead mountain cheeses that rarely made it out of their region, but are world-renowned. Rich and savory, this cheese is the centerpiece of any cheeseboard.
Toma Alpina
This rustic, raw-milk alpine-style cheese is washed for weeks and aged in our cave to creamy, mild perfection. An ideal partner for charcuterie!
Fromage Blanc
This fresh and versatile cheese is the workhorse in any kitchen. It’s light and slightly tart and oh so creamy. We love it spread on crusty bread with September tomatoes and olive oil or dolloped on a winter squash Galette.
Ricottone
Pillowy soft cheese crafted from the whey of our pasteurized cheeses. Creamy with a slight tang, our whey ricotta is ladled and sold in traditional Italian whey cheese baskets.
Halloumi
Our pasteurized cows milk version of the classic grilling cheese from Cypress is an occasional treat from the farm. Firm, tangy and so rich and buttery. It’s amazing pan-seared and tossed in a salad or as part of a Mezze platter or meatless main.
Butters and Others
Unsalted Cultured Butter
Our European-style unsalted butter is cultured and churned in small batches from pasteurized Skykomish Valley cream.
Cultured Gray Sea Salt Butter
Made in small batches from pasteurized Skykomish Valley cream, our European-style butter is cultured and salted with fine French gray sea salt.
Cultured Brute Sea Salt Butter
For these batches of our cultured butter, we add in big crystals of Brute French gray sea salt. The crunch of the sea salt is a perfect counter to the dense and nuanced butter.
Buttermilk
Classic European-style cultured buttermilk from our small batch buttermaking. This is real deal, old-fashioned buttermilk perfect for your biscuits, dressings, and pancakes.
Creme Fraiche
Crafted from pasteurized local cream, our small batch crème fraîche is rich and silky. Add a dollop to desserts, whisk into dressings, or use in place of cream when cooking.
Our Farm
In addition to hosting one-of-a-kind weddings, intimate gatherings and special events, Bella Luna Farms also brings the community together to work and learn from experts in various creative fields. We are looking forward to joining other craftspeople, artisans and renowned chefs to present a fantastic lineup of classes as part of our ongoing Classes on the Farm series. These workshops will include butter-making courses and fresh cheese classes, and often feature creations from Bellsong, so we hope you’ll consider joining us for an event and get to know us further!
