Stew Leonard’s: Come See Half-Ton Of Cheese Become Art

PARAMUS, NJ – It’s about to get pretty cheesy at the new Stew Leonard’s store in Paramus.

Over the course of three days, Sarah Kaufmann, a professional cheese sculptor, will transform two 500-pound wheels of Wisconsin Cheddar cheese into an autumn harvest scene.

On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Kaufmann - also known as “The Cheese Lady” – will be at work by the store’s deli department, where shoppers can watch.

The Wisconsin native and Guinness World Record holder for World’s Largest Cheese Carving, is coming to Paramus to celebrate the opening of Stew Leonard’s first-ever location in New Jersey.

She will use simple tools, such as a ceramic wire loop tools, cheese wires and draw knife, to create a scene featuring a turkey in honor of the word “Paramus,” which, originates from the Lenni Lenape phrase meaning “land of the wild turkey.”

After the carvings are complete, they will be cut up as free samples for shoppers or sold, according to Stew Leonard’s.

STEW LEONARD'S: New Store Plans October Filled With Family Friendly Events

According to Stew Leonard’s, Kaufmann will be working on mammoth cheese wheels from Henning’s Cheese, an award-winning, fourth generation family-owned cheese produce in rural Wisconsin. Henning’s is the only cheese factory in the country making wheels up to 12,000 pounds.

“Saluting the debut of Stew Leonard’s in New Jersey…with cheese and Sarah Kaufmann is a natural fit,” the supermarket chain said in a news release. “Cheese and farm fresh dairy have always been synonymous with Stew Leonard’s."

Kaufmann has also appeared at several other Stew Leonard’s locations in the past, demonstrating her cheese-centric talent for the public, the chain said. In 2018, she set the world record for largest cheddar cheese sculpture for a 3,462 pound carving she did at a Stew Leonard's store on Long Island.

For more than 20 years, the Wisconsin native has been creating works of art in cheese and primarily carves cheddar because it is consistent, holds up well and comes in big sizes.

Her recent creations include Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy and Jimmy Fallon. Other works include a 2,500 pound cow, a 1,900 pound astronaut and a 12,500 pound cheddar wheel with a dragon encircling it.

The family-owned grocery chain,known for its farm fresh food and interactive animatronic characters opened its first-ever store in New Jersey on Sept. 18.

Its opening drew thousands of shoppers eager to check out what has been dubbed as "the Disneyland of Dairy Stores" by the New York Times. The $400 million store took the place of Paramus Park's anchor spot previously held by Sears.

Stew Leonard's is located at 700 Paramus Park, Paramus. It is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.