The Pinedas’ explore the diverse processes, stories and cheese varieties found in Texas, with a focus on local producers and their different methods of cheesemaking—whether it be cheese made from cows, goats, sheep or water buffalo.
The backstory
Otto’s Cheese Shop, located at 344 Landa St., New Braunfels, opened in May 2021.
The shop offers cut-to-order cheese, charcuterie, beer and wine, and other specialty items, catering to customers seeking a variety of cheeses paired with wines and pantry staples.
“[Shopping at Otto’s] is more of a food experience. ... You come to us because we're passionate about the cheeses,” Bob Pineda said. “We like to know about the makers and the stories that go into making the cheeses.”
A long time coming
Rachel Pineda said the book on Texas cheese has been a passion project for them.
She said there was a lack of resources available on Texas cheese, so they wanted to create a book that told the stories of local cheesemakers.
The book introduces readers to 11 cheesemakers in Texas, offering insights into their processes and the challenges of farmstead cheese production.
“One of the big takeaways we got from our travels was how much work goes into making cheese, especially for farmstead operations,” Bob Pineda said. "[The cheesemakers] have a lot of passion in what they do, and it's commendable."
The Pinedas hope the book provides a resource for finding Texas cheeses and offers understanding of the people who make them.
They hope the book will inspire future cheesemakers in Texas and also want to encourage more people to seek out and consume local Texas cheese.
A closer look
The book features 11 cheesemakers—one being from New Braunfels.
Goatilicious, located at 2850 Bunker St., New Braunfels, is a local cheesemaker that specializes in goat cheese.
The cheesemaker started making goat cheese because his son couldn't drink cow's milk, Rachel Pineda said.
"He needed goat's milk for his son,” she said. “His son couldn't drink the cow's milk, so then he had basically an excess of milk and started making cheese out of it.”
What’s next
Alongside the book, the owners are working on a documentary to visually document the cheesemakers’ work.
At the shop, the owners continue to focus on connecting customers with local cheeses and are preparing for the transition to a larger space to expand their offerings and activities.
The new location, which will be at 2345 Loop 337 in New Braunfels, will allow the shop to offer more than just its retail cheese selection, Rachel Pineda said.
"We are moving to a bigger space so that we can have some sit down events, pairings, all the fun stuff," Rachel Pineda said.
The Texas Cheese Trail is available at the Otto’s Cheese Shop and its website.
