Albuquerque cheesemonger wins national competition
Hanna Lee of the Mouse Hole Cheese Shop won the Cheesemonger Invitational, turning years of persistence and practice into a national victory
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
After twice coming within reach of the top prize, Albuquerque cheesemonger Hanna Lee has won the annual Cheesemonger Invitational in New York City.
Lee, who works at the Mouse Hole Cheese Shop, took first place on her third attempt. Previously, she finished twice before returning to the national competition determined to win.
“After that, I was like, ‘I want to win this,'” Lee said. “It ignited this fire in me that I wanted to keep striving and pushing myself and increasing my knowledge and increasing my skills.”
The competition tests far more than a contestant’s ability to identify cheese. Competitors complete a written knowledge exam, blind tastings, aroma identification and simulated sales scenarios. They are also judged on their ability to cut precise portions and wrap cheese neatly under strict time limits.
Other challenges require contestants to create beverage pairings, compose cheese plates and a single “perfect bite” designed to complement an assigned cheese.
The top six competitors advance to an onstage final featuring additional blind tasting, cutting and wrapping challenges. Lee entered the final round 15 points ahead of the second-place competitor and ultimately won by 31 points.
The victory followed years of work to strengthen both her technical skills and confidence.
“The stage has always been nerve-wracking,” Lee said. “I don’t like being in front of people, really, and so I feel like I have worked a lot on my confidence in myself as a cheesemonger.”
Lee also entered the competition with international experience. She won the Young Cheesemonger of the Year at a competition in Switzerland, a victory she said gave her a significant confidence boost.
Her national win also brings attention to Albuquerque’s specialty cheese industry. Lee said the Southwest can be a “cheese desert” because the region is outside many major distribution routes. She hopes the recognition will demonstrate New Mexico’s demand for specialty products and help local shops gain access to more vendors.
Lee and her partner, David, are also focused on expanding the Mouse Hole Cheese Shop’s role in the community. They hope to offer more public classes, including introductory cheese courses, country-specific lessons and pairing events.
For those interested in becoming cheesemongers, Lee recommends tasting different cheeses, visiting specialty shops and asking questions when staff members have time to talk. Above all, she encourages aspiring professionals to remain curious and persistent.
“I think for me the biggest thing was to just keep trying and to not give up,” Lee said. “That perseverance to keep attempting to achieve this goal and to not give up was really important for me.”
