Say Cheese! Orrman’s Cheese Shop is Our New Best Friend

By Melissa Dorsch

Orrman’s Cheese Shop opened in 2012 and has been a go-to source for cheese lovers ever since. Orrman’s specializes in local and regional cheeses as well as the incredible artisanal additions you want on your charcuterie boards.

We asked owner Rachel Kelbaurr how she “melted” into the cheese biz. “Most cheesemongers are self-taught,” she said. “I attended culinary school and wanted to learn more about cheese, so I got a part-time job at a cheese shop. I started reading a lot of books, asking cheesemakers a lot of questions and eating a lot of cheese.”

If eating a lot of cheese is a job prerequisite, sign us up.

The truffle Brie is Orrman’s best-selling item. It’s a French Brie they enhance with mascarpone and truffles. “This is quite common for cheese shops in France,” Kelbaur said. She’s excited about making it more well-known in Charlotte. Other top-selling cheeses are aged Goudas and cheddars.

And, oh the raclette. Oh, that sweet, sweet raclette. Our mouths are watering over here at The Biscuit just thinking about it. The raclette events sell out most weeks (tickets range from $19-$22). They are held on Thursday evenings and there are three seatings, allowing 15 participants to indulge in raclette.

It’s scraped from the wheel and served over potatoes along with cornichons, a baguette, side salad, salami and chocolate pots de creme for dessert. You can also purchase beer and wine from Assorted Table Wine Shoppe (also inside 7th Street Station), and reservations are available on the Orrman’s Cheese Shop website.

But, you get so much more than cheese at Orrman’s. They offer gift boxes, virtual wine and cheese pairings as well as virtual shopping experiences and online shopping. Once it’s safe to gather again, they will begin hosting in-person pairings and field trips to learn from other cheesemakers.

We asked Kelbaur what’s going to be the next, um, Big Cheese. “I’m looking at Walden to be the new darling,” she said. “It is milky and creamy with a hint of barnyard. If you are looking for the much sought-after but unobtainable Reblochon, this is your cheese.”

And Orrman’s is your cheese shop.