One of Arizona’s biggest super fans, James!

Boy oh boy, is February over already? The old saying, time flies when you’re having fun, definitely applied to our stay here in sunny Arizona! I’m not sure if Arizona was just ecstatic to have the Loaf Love Tour in town or if Februarys are always this beautiful, but we couldn’t have asked for better weather. With only one exception:

Snow at the Grand Canyon!

The crew and I definitely didn’t expect the snowy weather when we finally visited the Grand Canyon, but it didn’t change the fact that it was hands down one of the most amazing experiences.  It almost felt like a shame to take pictures, because there was no way they could do the beautiful view justice.  If you haven’t been already, the Grand Canyon is definitely a trip you need to add to your bucket list!

One of my most unique and unexpected experiences in Arizona was the opportunity to meet tons of snowbirds (who, by the way, can’t get enough of their Tillamook Extra Sharp Cheddar). It was awesome to meet so many people from the North that love to travel and were kind enough to share their recommendations for things to see in the area. One thing the crew and I kept hearing over and over was this: Climb Camelback! Camelback, for those who don’t know, is a mountain that gets its name from its shape. It also provides what has to be one of the best views of Phoenix.

The hike definitely put our legs to the test, but we all made it!

Thanks to everyone who came out to see us at all of our different events. Those of you who rocked the awesome orange at the Phoenix Zoo and the great staff at our Taco Week restaurants: you were beyond amazing and made this first month of the Loaf Love Tour unforgettable! To anyone who stopped by the tent to share your favorite Tillamook story, try a few samples of cheese, ask us “What IS Tillamook?”, or give us recommendations of your favorite places – THANK YOU! You gave our next stop, Texas, a lot to live up to!

-Coy, Loaf Love Tour Brand Ambassador

Follow me on Twitter @CheddarCoy

By Coy

As a new Tillamook brand ambassador I have read and heard stories about the wonderful Day of Loaf. After a week and a of the tour we, experienced what this day means as we kicked off Phoenix Taco Week. Arizona’s Day of Loaf consisted of an entire day dedicated to driving our amazing little orange VW buses (the Yums) and eating specialty Tillamook tacos at four partner restaurants. The Yums always draw a crowd. Everywhere we went people asked questions and gave compliments: stop lights, gas stations, stores, and even while in motion down road. One lady jumped out of her car at a stop light to give us a business card. Two people pulled up next to us and waved out the window, showing their Tillamook coupon booklet they had received when they met us just days before! I definitely felt like a cheesy rock star! After all, what’s not to love about driving around in 75 degree weather in a bright orange Tillamook bus with the top down?

All this driving led us to some delicious tacos. The first stop was Carte Blanche Gourmet Tacos. We tried a grilled tilapia lime slaw taco with Tillamook Pepper Jack grated on top! Next we went to Fuego Tacos and ate another delicious taco! Our waitress was so fun. She even pinned a Tillamook button in the braid in her hair and Tillamook stickers on her face! (check her out in the pic below!) On our way to Vitamin T we crossed paths with a motorcycle parade (Lucky us! We felt like we were part of the festivities celebrating Arizona’s Centennial!).  Lastly, we made room for one more taco at Ticoz Resto-Bar on their soothing patio alongside an amazing fire pit! Delicious!

The Day of Loaf proved to be a very exciting and FULLfilling day. I don’t think I can count a favorite among my many tacos, but if you’re in Phoenix I hope you get out to try these amazing places! If you’re not here in Phoenix, what’s your favorite taco recipe using Tillamook products?

Hope to see you on the road!

Until next time,

~ Ashley, Loaf Love Tour Brand Ambassador. Follow me on Twitter @TillatasticAsh!

By Ashley

Tacos from Carte Blanche Gourmet Tacos

Do you think “Taco Tuesday” should be every day? Are you soaking up the rays in Phoenix, Arizona? Well, then this is for you!Beginning tomorrow, February 11, visit one of Tillamook’s Taco Week partner restaurants in the Phoenix area and snap a picture of yourself enjoying one of their specialty Tillamook tacos. Then, post your picture to Tillamook’s Facebook page or tweet @TillamookCheese with the hashtag #PhxTacoWeek. We’ll randomly select four pictures. If you shot one of them you’ll win a $25 gift card to one of the participating restaurants.

How to Enter:

1. Read the Taco Week Contest Terms and Conditions.

2. Visit one of the four participating Taco Week restaurants February 11-17^th :
Fuego Tacos
Carte Blanche Gourmet Tacos
Vitamin T
Ticoz Resto-Bar

3. Post a picture of yourself enjoying one of the featured Tillamook Taco Week specialty tacos to theTillamook Facebook page or tweet to @TillamookCheese with the hashtag #PhxTacoWeek by midnight PST on Friday, February 17, 2012.

4. Tillamook will randomly select the winners and award each of the four winners a $25 gift certificate (1 per winner) to one of the participating restaurants.

5. Winners will be announced on Monday, February 20.

So get your taco on…and show us how it looks!

By Tillamook

Some of our Phoenix Zoo fans saying "cheese!" with Loafy.

As a Tillamook Brand Ambassador, there isn’t a day I look forward to more than our kick-off events. Today was a special treat. Not only was it our kick off event for our stay in sunny Phoenix, it marked the beginning of Tillamook’s 2012 Loaf Love Tour!

Every time we enter a new area we enjoy finding a great place to visit with our current Tillamook fans, as well as introduce our cheesy goodness to Tillamook fans of the future. This year we were excited to motor the Baby Loaf Buses back to the Phoenix Zoo! We came bearing fun including happy sticks, buttons, coupons, Zoo bingo, and of course tons of our most popular award-winning cheese. Just in case all that wasn’t enough to have you racing down to see us (but did I really have to say any more than FREE Tillamook cheese?!) we threw in free admission to the first 100 people wearing their most vibrant Tillamook orange. Suffice it to say, it was an exciting day!

While I started off my busy morning waking up at an hour I was sure preceded even the most active zoo animals, I still couldn’t out do the dedication of some of our orange clad Tillamook fans. They arrived an hour and a half before the gates even opened! No matter where we go, people LOVE Tillamook. Just the day before, I met a Mom and her daughter at a Mesa WalMart store. When I arrived at the zoo the next day they greeted me first thing with a big “hello” in their bright orange shirts! All day long I heard fond memories of Cheese Factory visits, saw kids sharing hugs with Loafy, and I got to see the pure enjoyment someone has when trying our cheese for the very first time. Did you know Phoenix fans really prefer the World’s Best Medium Cheddar? We nearly ran out!

After today, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the 2012 Loaf Love Tour has in store for our team. You can click here to see where we’re headed. See you on the road!

Cheddar Coy
Follow me on Twitter: @cheddarcoy

By Coy

Griddled Fish Taco with Slaw, from Carte Blanche Gourmet Tacos, featuring Tillamook Pepper Jack Cheese

To celebrate one of the Southwest’s most beloved dishes — the taco — our Loaf Love Tour has partnered with four Phoenix restaurants for Taco Week. Each spot is offering a unique taco special featuring Tillamook Cheese.

‘Tillamook Taco Week’ runs from February 11th – 18th. Grab a map, smart phone or GPS, and start figuring out the quickest way to get you to all four of them!

Participating restaurants:

Fuego Tacos
2501 East Camelback Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Taco Week Special: From chef Holly Arguello comes “The Arizonan” – A homemade taco shell with local Chorizo, Green Onion Salsa, Natural braised chicken thigh meat and Tillamook Pepper Jack Cheese. Served with Arroz Gondules and Cuban Black Beans. ($10)
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Carte Blanche Gourmet Tacos
Taco Week Special: “Griddled Fish Taco with Slaw” – Created by Chef/Owner Shantal Chase, this taco is served with Tomato Arbol Chile Sauce and Tillamook Pepper Jack Cheese. Steak and chicken options will be available. (3 tacos for $8)
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Vitamin T
Taco Week Special: Local chef Aaron May will serve the “viTamin T quesoTilla Taco” –  Made with a blend of Tillamook Medium Cheddar and Tillamook Monterey Jack cheeses. ($2 per taco or 3 for $5)
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Ticoz Resto-Bar
Taco Week Special: Chef Gabriela Quevedo presents “Braised Beef Tillamook Tacos” – Two corn tortillas filled with braised beef, sautéed onions, red and green peppers and Tillamook Medium Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Tortillas are topped with melted Tillamook Cheese and served with rice and pinto beans. ($12.95)
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Click here for a complete schedule of the Loaf Love Tour in the Phoenix area.

By Tillamook

The Loaf Love Tour recently met an awesome older couple in Phoenix who are from the town of Tillamook. They knew my granddad and some of my extended family in Tillamook. They told us that the man pictured on our tent backdrop is Ezra Galloway – amazing! They also told us a story about how they were asked to bring a 40lb loaf of cheese for their grandson’s wedding as his grooms cake. They knew someone at the Tillamook feed store who helped them get a 40lb piece of vintage white cheddar. At airport security, the loaf was unwrapped and security said it was the biggest piece of cheese they had ever seen and nothing like it had ever come through the airport!

It was super cool to talk with people who know so much about Tillamook’s history!

-Noelle, Loaf Love Tour Brand Ambassador

By NoelleLLT

Look who we found monkey-ing around Phoenix last year!

It’s time for the amazing traveling band of cheese-a-holics known as the Tillamook Loaf Love Tour to head out to the Downtown Phoenix Public Market! If you missed the Westgate Farmers Market last month, you’ve got to come out either February 19th or February 26th to indulge your cheesy senses. Holy cheese wiz, you’re in for a treat befitting the Duke of Cheddar! Get your pallet ready to sample a couple of the best cheddars in the world – one is literally ”The World’s Best Medium Cheddar Cheese“ - be one of the first to sample the all new Tillamook Monterey Jack recipe, and learn more about our company and tasty cheese… all this in the name of Loaf Love!

Downtown Phoenix Public Market
14 East Pierce St.
Phoenix, AZ
February 19 & 26
8am – 1pm

By Matt

We have an amazing group of energetic, orange-wearing, Baby Loaf bus-driving, super cheese-loving people who are on the road with the the Loaf Love Tour this year (see if they’re headed your way). They’re currently in Phoenix, but they’ll be visiting other U.S. cities with the mission of delivering tasty Tillamook Cheese to the people! 

Now, without further ado, meet the 2011 Loaf Love Tour team!

Read More

By Loafy

Cheese ‘n Stuff is a family-owned and operated retro New York-style deli serving breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Their extensive menu offers a wide variety of meats, cheeses (including Tillamook Cheddar), veggies, spices, and condiments. Order from their classic sandwiches and subs menu, or their unique speciality sandwiches menu.

Sample Menu (just a small sample – their menu is huge!):

Breakfast -  Bagels, Breakfast Sandwiches with egg, cheese, and more
Deli Sandwiches and Subs – Ham & Swiss, Roast Beef, Italian Special
Specialty Sandwiches- Bacon Delight, New Yorker, the Turkonberry Sub
Snacks & Sides – Cole Slaw, Macaroni Salad, Pasta Salad, Hot German Potato Salad, Potato Chips
Desserts – New York Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Brownies, Chocolate Bars, Peanut Butter Cups
Beverages – Soda, Juice, Lemonade, Iced Tea
Imported Items – Chocolates, Cookies, Candy

Tip: Try the Doughboy – Turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, and avocado, with mayo on sourdough, served warmed.

Cheese ‘n Stuff Deli
5042 N Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
602.266.3636

M-F: 8am – 4pm
Sat: 9am – 4pm
Sun: Closed

Have a party or lunch meeting coming up? Cheese ‘n Stuff also caters.

Photo: Vintage Photo of Cheese ‘n Stuff
 

By Loafy

Guess what today is? Food Truck Friday!

If you’re in the Phoenix area today around lunchtime, stop by and see the Tillamook Loaf Love Tour! We’ll have free cheese samples, coupons, Loaf Love buttons, recipes, and more. Seriously, is there any better way to spend a lunch break?

Food Truck Friday
Downtown Phoenix Public Market (Central & Pierce)
Friday, February 11, 2011
11am – 1:30pm

Food Trucks at the Event:
Short Leash Hotdogs
Jam Burritos
Riteway Catering
Sunshine and Spice
Paradise Melts
Torched Goodness

Photo courtesy of TheCulinaryGeek

By Gillian