Today, Haley, Curt, & LaTonya recap episode 12 of Top Chef Portland, The Cheesier the Better, where the chefs competed in a challenge paying homage to the Oregon Trail. The contestants had to produce modern dishes using only ingredients the settlers would have had on their journey through the Oregon Trail, including flour, lard, coffee, molasses, dried fruits, meats, and herbs. Then the chefs visited the Tillamook Creamery, where they learned about the cheese-making process and sampled several varieties of Tillamook cheddar. Then, after taking inspiration from Massimo Bottura's famous Parmigiano-Reggiano dish, each chef was responsible for creating a dish utilizing cheddar in five different ways.

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