Hello, lover! I’m Madame Fromage, a.k.a Tenaya Darlington — educator, creator, and Cheese Director for Tria — a restaurant group in Philadelphia.

My cheese life started in 2009 when I vowed to eat all 350 cheeses in my local cheese shop ( Di Bruno Bros. ) and blog about it under the pseudonym Madame Fromage. What started as a project to self-educate myself about cheese & pairings became a whey of life. And my first cheese book in 2013: Di Bruno Bros. House of Cheese.

After that, I started writing about cheese for Culture, Fermentation, Cooking Light, Edible Philly, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. I also began co-hosting tours with Cheese Journeys, a cheese-centric travel company that offers back-door access to makers’ homes, creameries, and magnificent cheese caves around Europe.

I love teaching cheese workshops and helping people find the hunks of their dreams. Over the years, I’ve taught cheese classes in shops, spas, restaurants, cafés, parks, festivals, design firms, and even on a boat. I’ve also got a yen for cocktails (hence, 4 co-authored books on the subject), and I revel in introducing people to the magic of cheese happy hour — ever tried an Old Fashioned with an Alpine cheese?

By day, you can find me on the faculty at Saint Joseph’s University, where I teach writing. By night, you’ll find me online, sharing videos & tips on Instagram (@mmefromage). I do a few paid sponsorships, but mostly I just fawn over cheeses I love.

Looking for cheese adventure? Join me for classes and tours!