Breast Milk Cheese: The Latest In Fine Dining?

By drodriguez Mar 29, 2010

Even some who would consider themselves adventurous diners may be turned off by an item that one of New York City’s top chefs has added to the menu. After the birth of his recent child, Chef Daniel Angerer, has concocted a cheese made from the breast milk of his wife. Daniel Angerer’s restaurant, Klee Brasserie, is a popular New York City eatery featuring this item on the menu. Angerer may be best known for beating Bobby Flay in the Food Network’s "Iron Chef" competition. He is now serving the breast milk cheese with figs and Hungarian cheese.

Angerer’s cheese dish was recently featured on the Today show where a guest chef on the show, Billy Dec, was given a taste of the cheese without knowing exactly what it was. After chewing and swallowing, he was told it was "mother’s milk" and was shocked, but then continued eating the appetizer off camera. Though some show disgust for the dish, others wonder what the big deal is. After all, we drink milk from cows and goats, so why not our own kind?

Lori Mason, Angerer’s wife, tries to explain why she thinks some have a problem with the idea of consuming human breast milk. Mason says, "I think a lot of the criticism has to do with the combination of sex and cheese. But the breast is there to make food." Since her husband’s creation of breast milk cheese Mason has been urging him to try making a gelato before she finishes breast feeding their infant.

Chef Daniel Angerer decided to turn his wife’s milk into cheese when they had too much of it in the freezer. After realizing the cheese actually tasted good, Angerer posted the recipe he calls, "My Spouse’s Mommy’s Milk Cheese" to his blog. The response surprised the chef as customers of his restaurant begged him to add the appetizer to his menu (though he admits some of his customers are grossed out by the addition.)

Though there are currently no laws against serving human breast milk at restaurants, Chef Angerer has received warnings from the New York City Health Department. A Health Department spokeswoman recently told the New York Post, "The restaurant knows that cheese made from breast milk is not for public consumption, whether it is sold or given away."

What do you think of Chef Angerer’s breast milk cheese dish?

Is this something you would ever consider ordering at a restaurant? If not, why do you think it is so different from drinking cow’s or goat’s milk?

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Comments

by girl17 | EAGAN, MN

Mar 30, 2010

I think the biggest issue for me is eww, gross followed up by is it safe? I know it's natural and everything but still a little weird for me.

by veggiebear | COLCHESTER, VT

Mar 30, 2010

While I probably wouldn't eat breast-milk cheese, I don't really think there is anything wrong with making it/consuming it. Like devon206 said: "I had a freezer full of milk. It got to the point where I had to start throwing it out..." It seems like a shame to waste perfectly good breast milk. I don't think we are in danger of women being hooked up to milking machines. LOL. Unlike a cow, we can object in a very vocal and/or forceful manner. I can't imagine the demand for this cheese would be so high that any woman would be subjected to "overmilking" (if you will.) Our country's perception of brest-milk isn't all that favorable unless it is nourishing an infant, and even then, they don't want to see you doing it in public. Its interesting to note that apparently in Russia, men pay A LOT of money to get a specialty coffee w/ breast milk as a cream substitue. Kinda creepy...

by devon206 | Jasper, GA

Mar 30, 2010

Oh and just another thought......with my second child I was pumping 36 ounces A DAY as well as breast feeding him. My son never went without and I still had a freezer full of milk. It got to the point that I had to start throwing it out. Now what a shame to waste all of that when there are people who are starving and wouldn't care that it was breast milk. Let people make their own choices. It may not be for you but some things that you may like other people would think is gross. To each their own.

by devon206 | Jasper, GA

Mar 30, 2010

Breast milk is sterile and loaded with nutrients. I think it doesn't matter if he wants to serve it at his restaurant. He has it clearly labeled so people can make their own decision whether or not to try it. It would be different if he was feeding it to people without their knowledge. I breast feed my six month old daughter and she has no complaints to the taste. Also, I am sure if his wife had objections to him using her milk she wouldn't let him use it. Just my opinion.

by MadHatter | Whitestone , NY

Mar 30, 2010

too bad I am allergic to Milk...its pretty interesting...

by rauslander | Maplewood, NJ

Mar 30, 2010

Disgusting! I'm sure it doesn't taste bad, but that's not the point.

by ifarrell | SPRINGFIELD, NJ

Mar 29, 2010

wretched*

by ifarrell | SPRINGFIELD, NJ

Mar 29, 2010

That sounds so retched

by lbowlus | Flower Mound, TX

Mar 29, 2010

Breast milk is for infants. it is disgusting to treat his wife as though she were a common farm animal to produce milk for his menu. Shame on him. Gross. Also not very acceptable in modern culture as acceptable behavior. Much as hooking her up to a pump and displaying her in the restaurant window as she milks to produce there cheese would be unacceptable and would cause public outcry. Who does this jerk think he is and why does he think so little of his bride.

by meggerhun | E WENATCHEE, WA

Mar 29, 2010

Milkismilkismilk. Animal milk (cow, goat, sheep) comes from SOMETHINGS breast, no matter what. Eating ANY dairy related cheese is eating SOMETHINGS breast milk.