L’Atelier Fromager is an urban creamery in Waco, Texas, producing French-style cheeses from locally sourced raw milk. Its mission is to connect urban residents with area farmers while building greater understanding of cheese, cheesemaking and local food systems. The creamery offers cheesemaking classes on site and plans tasting events, both at the creamery and with partners such as local wine bars.

Founder Kirsten was born and raised in France, where she trained and worked as a physician. After marrying an American math professor, she moved to the United States and left her medical career behind. Although excited to begin a new life, she soon missed many aspects of France—especially the cheeses she had loved and wanted to share with her American friends and family. When the pandemic made returning to France impossible, that longing inspired a new direction.

Kirsten discovered Central Texas farmers whose careful stewardship of their land and cattle produced exceptional milk with a character rooted in the region’s distinctive terroir. She began making French-style cheeses in her Texas kitchen, developing her skills and sharing her creations with friends and family. Their enthusiastic response and repeated requests for more led her to establish L’Atelier Fromager, French for “The Cheese Workshop.”

Kirsten now draws on her scientific background while cultivating and managing the microorganisms essential to cheesemaking. She continues to study the craft with a local cheesemaker and with cheese professionals from around the world.

L’Atelier Fromager started out selling at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market. Its cheeses are now sold online and at its shop at the creamery, where a window looks into the room where the cheese is made.