Get your Goat (Cheese!)

Posted by Lesli

To make a quick appetizer, spread a thin layer of chevre onto a cracker and top with sliced fruit, shrimp, or an olive...

While visiting Kelowna last month not only did I discover some great wine, but I also checked out Carmelis, a goat cheese farm on the hill above Okanagan Lake.

To get to Carmelis, you have to take a rather scenic drive along the lake out of Kelowna and past a few wineries. There are some pretty amazing homes along the lake that make the drive worthwhile and enjoyable.

Carmelis is easily distinguishable by the goats climbing on their makeshift faux mountain that has been recreated for them, so they can enjoy their natural instinct to climb. (I once ate at a cafe outside of Parksville, B.C., where goats hung out on the sod roof all day long - and enjoyed themselves!)

Anyways, once we found Carmelis, we headed inside where we were offered sample after sample of delicious, and sometimes unusual cheeses made out of goat milk. One of the more unusual cheeses was a chevre (French for goat) soft cheese with lavender blended into it. This would definitely be an acquired taste! Another twist was Goatgonzola cheese. (A play on Gorgonzola cheese.)

We played it safe and picked up some chevre with dill and also some feta cheese. After all of the cheese sampling, I ordered a double espresso and enjoyed it while admiring the view of the lake from our hilltop position.

After finishing my espresso, we peeked in at the goat barn and watched the antics of the young goats. They were quite playful and oblivious to the larger goats that were giving them the eye to cool it.

With our purchases in hand we walked the incline back to our vehicle, glad that we'd sought out this small, but quality goat cheese operation.