NJ Cheesemaker Benita Kasbo Brings Traditional Syrian Jibneh to Montclair and Beyond

Let There Be Cheese - Wheelhouse Cheese & More

Wheelhouse Cheese & More in Maplewood, NJ is a vibey and fun cheeseshop in a neighborhood that has become a foodie destination. And they have DJs! I recorded this late in 2025, when this podcast was still just a twinkle in my eye, but I was also writing an article about the Wheelhouse for Montclair Local News. So give it a listen to get some background and be sure to follow them on social media to stay on top of all of the tasty fun that happens over there! Instagram: @wheelhousecheeseandmore [https://www.instagram.com/wheelhousecheeseandmore/] Website: www.maplewoodwheelhouse.com [https://www.maplewoodwheelhouse.com/] * Montclair Local News: Maplewood Wheelhouse Cheese & More is a Vibe [https://montclairlocal.news/2025/09/maplewoods-wheelhouse-cheese-more-is-a-vibe/] Do you have a cheese question? Please send an email to askacheesequestion@gmail.com [askacheesequestion@gmail.com] and I will respond and also include it in the next episode. Follow me on Instagram @MarieFromage [https://www.instagram.com/mariefromage/]  “Let There Be Cheese with Marie Fromage” is written, hosted, produced and edited by me, Mary Connolly.  Super Special thanks to Kathryn Counsel and Margo Bruton for their podcasting guidance.  The intro announcer is my dad, Dave Connolly. The theme song “Right Along the Way” was written by me and Jack Licitra for the album “Blue Desire”, and it is performed by me on vocals, Jack Licitra on keyboards, Mark McCarron on guitar, Paul Page on bass, Mike Feldman on drums and The Peux Boys on horns. It was co-produced by me and Karl Hereim and engineered by Jim Malone at Little Big Horn Studios in NYC (now called "Little Big North" in Catskill, NY).

NJ Cheesemaker Benita Kasbo Brings Traditional Syrian Jibneh to Montclair and Beyond

New Jersey Cheesemaker Benita Kasbo Brings Traditional Syrian Jibneh to Montclair and Beyond Host Marie Fromage interviews New Jersey cheesemaker Benita Kasbo to learn more about her tasty cheese called Jibneh, a traditional Syrian cheese that is similar in texture to feta and mozzarella and has the deliciously unique taste of Mahleb, a seasoning derived from cherry pits. Kasbo describes ways to eat Jibneh and where to buy it at local NJ retailers and in New York City.  Kasbo also explains her process and she shares how home cheesemaking led to her business through industry networking, pandemic-time scaling, and support from area shops and restaurants. Follow her in Instagram @kasbosmarket [https://www.instagram.com/kasbosmarket/]  Website: www.kasbosmarket.com [https://kasbosmarket.wordpress.com/ ] Do you have a cheese question? Please send an email to askacheesequestion@gmail.com [askacheesequestion@gmail.com] and I will respond and also include it in the next episode. Follow me on Instagram @MarieFromage [https://www.instagram.com/mariefromage/]  “Let There Be Cheese with Marie Fromage” is written, hosted, produced and edited by me, Mary Connolly.  Super Special thanks to Kathryn Counsel and Margo Bruton for their podcasting guidance.  The intro announcer is my dad, Dave Connolly. The theme song “Right Along the Way” was written by me and Jack Licitra for the album “Blue Desire”, and it is performed by me on vocals, Jack Licitra on keyboards, Mark McCarron on guitar, Paul Page on bass, Mike Feldman on drums and The Peux Boys on horns. It was co-produced by me and Karl Hereim and engineered by Jim Malone at Little Big Horn Studios in NYC (now called "Little Big North" in Catskill, NY).

How It Started

Let There Be Cheese with Marie Mage (Episode 1) — Welcome & Meet Your Host, Mary Connolly  In the first episode of Let There Be Cheese, host Mary Connolly (aka Marie Fromage) introduces a podcast about cheese from the perspective of someone who lives in Montclair, New Jersey - exploring where to find great cheese, what makes it great, and what to do with it at home, with excursions across New Jersey, into New York City, and on road trips and travel abroad.   Connolly shares her background: growing up in Montclair, working at the Cheese Shop of Upper Montclair where she fell in love with artisanal cheese, pursuing a singing career, earning a culinary degree from the French Culinary Institute and teaching and hosting cheese events in Montclair and New York City. Do you have a cheese question? Please send an email to askacheesequestion@gmail.com [askacheesequestion@gmail.com] and I will respond and also include it in the next episode. Follow me on Instagram @MarieFromage [https://www.instagram.com/mariefromage/]  “Let There Be Cheese with Marie Fromage” is written, hosted, produced and edited by me, Mary Connolly.  Super Special thanks to Kathryn Counsel and Margo Bruton for their podcasting guidance.  The intro announcer is my dad, Dave Connolly. The theme song “Right Along the Way” was written by me and Jack Licitra for the album “Blue Desire”, and it is performed by me on vocals, Jack Licitra on keyboards, Mark McCarron on guitar, Paul Page on bass, Mike Feldman on drums and The Peux Boys on horns. It was co-produced by me and Karl Hereim and engineered by Jim Malone at Little Big Horn Studios in NYC (now called "Little Big North" in Catskill, NY).