Vtopia

1628 SW Jefferson St., 971-271-7656, vtopiancheeses.com. Lunch and dinner Wednesday-Monday.

Goose Hollow's new Vtopia Cheese Shop & Deli makes the best case we've tasted for vegan cheese, which is usually foul. Cheesemaker Imber Lingard started as a server at Cornbread Cafe in Eugene—arguably the best vegan restaurant in the state—where she served her homemade, cultured cashew cheese to customers so appreciative she ended up spinning off into a new business, figuring out how to wrangle a cornucopia of bacteria to turn humble cashew cream into very good milk-free cheese. The affable Australian has since expanded her line to include a tasty aged white cheddar, an herby Mediterranean feta and a purplish-brown fermented black garlic wedge that's aged for two months. You should definitely bring the latter to your next vegan-heavy party, or eat it here with olives and wine.

Check out Willamette Week's 2016 Cheap Eats guide here.

Willamette Week

Martin Cizmar

Martin Cizmar is the former Arts & Culture editor.

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