Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1513211
4 culturecheesemag.com BES T CHEESES 2024 CONTRIBUTORS Austin Banach is the cheese department manager for Guido's Fresh Marketplace in western Massachusetts— the latest phase in a culinary career that includes cooking, catering, consulting, and writing. Besides cheese, Austin's favorite foods are fresh oysters and barbecue, and he will go to great lengths to feed his soul. When Austin is not directing his team of mongers at Guido's, he's helping raise two little cheese connoisseurs at home. Chala June is a freelance writer, chef, and cultural artist based in Brooklyn, NY. Their work examines culinary culture from the personal to the political, and has appeared in Bon Appétit, Cherry Bombe, Edible Manhattan, Condé Nast Traveler, and more. Follow Chala on Instagram at @chala.gram Madison Trapkin is an Atlanta-born, Boston-based editor, stylist, and art director. After completing Boston University's Gastronomy Master's program, she founded GRLSQUASH, a women's food, art, and culture journal. Her body of work includes writing, editing, art direction, food styling, prop styling, and recipe testing, and has appeared in Food52, Boston Magazine, Boston Home, Wildsam, culture, Gather Journal, The Boston Globe, Cherry Bombe, and SAVEUR. Lilith Spencer's cheese journey began in college, where they studied cheesemaking and music composition and started their eight-year mongering career. After winning the 2016 Cheesemonger Invitational in San Francisco and competing at Mondial du Fromage in 2017, Lilith joined the team at Jasper Hill Farm and has since worked in the Cellars, the creamery, and creative marketing. This past fall, they returned to the vaults to assist with soft cheese affinage. Lilith loves marrying their passion for cheese and music, and is currently working on a cheese musical. Alexandra Jones is an award-winning writer and author based in Philadelphia. Her work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, Food & Wine, Forbes, Civil Eats, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She teaches cheese history and appreciation classes and writes about the intersections of cheese, culture, and climate in her newsletter, Milkfed. Her first book, Stuff Every Cheese Lover Should Know, was published in 2020. Kristine Jannuzzi, aka NYC Cheese Chick, is a journalist, cheese specialist, content creator, and four-time World Cheese Awards judge. She also judged in the 2023 Italian Cheese Awards in Ancona. A bilingual dual American and Italian citizen, Kristine hosts private cheese tastings and bespoke cheese-focused tours in Tuscany. Follow her adventures and travels on Instagram @nyccheesechick.