Nathan Berg, the guy who owned the sadly defunct Native Bay restaurant in Chippewa Falls, is now the general manager of a fancy pants cheese shop on I-94 between Eau Claire and Osseo. According to a website actually called Cheese Underground, Berg says, “We're taking the highway cheese shop to a whole new level. It's going to be amazing.”

Bold words, Mr. Berg. Bold words.

Native Bay was considered by many to be the fancy place to eat around here. You didn’t need a suit coat and tie, but the food (besides, you know, tasting fantastic) was all about artful presentation. And Berg made heavy use of local ingredients, changing the menu with the seasons. And now he’s got himself a cheese shop.

Located at the Foster exit of I-94 by Osseo, Foster Cheese Haus is a partnership between many parties, including Wayne Kostka, co-owner of the nearby Castle Rock Organic Dairy. The shop has “cut-to-order Wisconsin artisan cheeses, an on-site artisan bakery and deli, and a ‘wine, cheese & microbeer cave.’” It’s located on the site of the old Foster Cheese Haus, which peddled cheese to I-94 motorists for around 20 years. But the building has been completely remade with lots of custom stone masonry.

In addition to all that dairy, they’ll be selling organic/grass-fed meats, beer and wine, fresh bread and crackers, and deli fare like sandwiches and soups. The shop features an eating area if you can’t wait to get your cheese home. Says Berg, "You could think of it as a renaissance of the highway cheese shop.”