Vtopia

By Martin Cizmar

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

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.