Classes, pop-ups, new products for The Cheese Table

Matthew Day

Staff

June 15, 2026

NEENAH – A number of new events and products have set The Cheese Table up for continued success. 

Cheesemonger Jonathan Jensen said “things are going well” at The Cheese Table since The Business News reported on the Neenah shop in its Nov. 3, 2025 issue. 

“We’ve done a series of cheese-tasting classes that have been well received,” he said. “We finally have wine on the wall for sale, we’ve hosted a couple different events and we’re starting up a couple things for the summertime.” 

The spring classes, Jensen said, were a first for the shop, and he took them very seriously. 

“We focus on a couple of our cheeses and then a couple of imports we have,” he said. “I walk [attendees] through the history of the cheesemaking itself. Then we do a guided tasting, and then we do pairing of other condiments and foods with the cheeses.” 

Jensen said the enthusiastic reception of the events has been rewarding and, for the self-described “nervous Nellie,” exhausting. 

“I work as a trained minister, so I’ve always been big on presenting, and I’ve done theater work and such, but we always have that nervous thing: ‘Will people care? Will it be good?’” he said. “But, yeah, it’s been really rewarding.” 

Having built up momentum for the concept, Jensen said those interested in more should follow The Cheese Table on social media for information on upcoming events in July, August and beyond. 

More creations 

When the shop found itself with extra wheels of cheese over the winter, Jensen said the team came up with the idea of launching pop-up grilled cheese sales. 

For the pop-ups, he said The Cheese Table uses raclette cheese – “a cheese that’s meant for melting” – and bread from nearby Great Harvest Bread Co. 

“It’s perfect for elevated grilled cheese,” he said. 

Jensen said by their nature, the pop-ups are announced with only a few days’ notice on social media. 

Also new at the shop, he said, are The Cheese Table’s charcuterie-to-go options. 

Two different sizes will be available, Jensen said, including the Neenah Picnic Box – featuring “a little more artisan-style cheeses and an import cheese” – and the Zittau Picnic Box, featuring “summer sausage and more domestic-type cheeses.” 

He said customers have been eager to try the new concept, and he looks forward to seeing how it plays out over time. 

“We started this whole thing planning on growing organically, just naturally,” he said. “We’re not thrusting into anything we can’t handle right away – we’re just getting our toe into the water.” 

Another new product recently announced on The Cheese Table’s social media is customized cheese wedding cakes. 

Amid these advents, Jensen said the shop continues to create new varieties of cheese. 

“We’ve introduced the Triple Cream Camembert,” he said. “And we’ve also introduced the Estoir, which is inspired by the French Époisses, so it’s washed in brandy, and it has a nice little fruity front end, but as it ages, it gets funkier and funkier.” 

A warm reception 

Since its opening at 125 W. Wisconsin Ave. last year, Jensen said The Cheese Table has been continually appreciated throughout the community.  

“Future Neenah has been excellent to us, all the downtown businesses have been very supportive and, of course, the aldermen and business leaders have been wonderful,” he said. “But the customers are great. Everyone’s very excited to know they have a closer place to go to than driving on to the country every day for whatever they need. We’ve had a wonderful response, and we’re exceptionally grateful for this warm welcome we’ve received.” 

As reported in the previous, aforementioned article by The Business News, The Cheese Table is the third venture of Owner/Master Cheesemaker Jon Metzig – alongside the Union Star Cheese factory in Zittau and the Willow Creek Cheese factory in Berlin. 

The top-selling product across “the Union Star family,” Jensen said, has been its fresh cheese curds.

“Jalapeño Muenster has always been a close No. 2,” he said. “But here in Neenah, the big seller is the Tomato Basil Cheddar. Not sure why, but that’s what people like.” 

For notifications on when fresh curds are for sale, as well as information on upcoming events, follow The Cheese Table on social media.