Get specialty cheeses and deli food items in downtown Meeker at the Little Cheese Shop

MEEKER | The bright blue door in the alley between Sixth and Seventh streets in Meeker is the entrance to a world of epicurean delights: The Little Cheese Shop and Blanco Cellars.
Wanting to put her 20 years in the food and wine industry to use, proprietor Vanessa Trout opened Blanco Cellars in March of 2016, offering a selection of quality wines, craft beers and spirits in a tiny space tucked behind Meeker Realty and beside the Smoking River Gallery. “Better Booze for the Back Country” is her tagline.
Trout has traveled the world studying wine and her experience is evident. Come in to get a bottle of wine and she can tell you where the grapes were grown, how it was made and by whom, what variety they are, and what to expect from your selection. Take the pretension out of this industry by attending one of her tastings; learn about whiskey, specialty spirits, cocktails and obscure grape varieties so you can make informed choices when you shop.
It was at one of those wine tastings, held at Buffalo Hall at Chippers for a Pioneers Healthcare Foundation fundraiser, that Trout had an idea for expanding her business: cheese.
After years of working as a sous chef in Chicago for a high end restaurant, she understood that cheesemaking, like winemaking, is an art form.
“It’s a craft, both cheese and wine, that reflects nature and history, Trout said. “I want to excite palates with diverse selections of all things fermented and hand-crafted from ingredients sourced from nature, animals and plants and made by passionate artisans.”
With the help of a small business grant through the Town of Meeker, Trout made the necessary changes to add The Little Cheese Shop to Blanco Cellars.
This isn’t deli cheese you pick up at any supermarket.
The cheese case is filled with all types of cheeses from around the world: France, Spain, the United States and more. Choose from cow cheese, sheep cheese, goat cheese and combinations. Every cheese has a story, a description and comes cut-to-order.
The shop also offers specialty food items, like honey, marinades, olive oil, charcuterie and locally made crackers. Things that are perfect for building an appetizer platter or a classy picnic. There’s something new and different to try every week.
The Little Cheese Shop and Blanco Cellars is open Tuesday through Friday from 1-6 p.m., and Saturday from 12-5 p.m.
Trout will be at the Meeker Classic on Friday from 11 a.m to 12 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. providing a free sheep cheese tasting in the education tent. Blanco Cellars and The Little Cheese Shop will also host “Art, Wine and Cheese Meeker Style” at Smoking River Studio Arts on Friday from 6-9 p.m. providing a plate of three different cheeses, charcuterie, fruit, wine and fresh baked bread from Meeker Drugs’ new bakery.