“You have to be a romantic to invest yourself, your money, and your time in cheese.”
- Anthony Bourdain
Cheesy as it might sound (yep, we went there), Saltless Sea Creamery is a love story. Led by a husband-and-wife team of Michiganders, our creamery is fueled by a love of place, tradition, and each other. As coworkers at Zingerman’s Delicatessen, we fell for one another while learning about the traditions of artisan food producers. Dave’s cheese obsession took hold, leading to a career as a cheesemonger for specialty retailers including Whole Foods and Plum Market. For six years, he immersed himself in the world of cheese; studying, tasting, and traveling to Italy to learn as much as possible.
In 2018, we took a leap of faith and moved to Traverse City to pursue Dave’s dream of making artisan cheese in Michigan. A conversation at the farmers market led to an offer of apprenticeship at Boss Mouse Cheese, giving Dave the opportunity to hone his cheesemaking and develop the recipes that would become our signature cheeses. In early 2019 we established Saltless Sea Creamery with the ambitious goal of coming to market that summer.
Since then, Saltless Sea Creamery has found a loyal following of customers, restaurateurs, and retailers seeking locally-made cheese with a true sense of place. Sourcing grass-fed Jersey cow’s milk from a local dairy, we specialize in Mediterranean-style cheese crafted from Michigan ingredients. Strong believers that you have to know the rules before you break them, we use traditional techniques to create artisan cheese that is uniquely Midwestern: down to earth and surprisingly complex.
Dave and Joy
About Us
Dave Omar, Founder & Cheesemaker
Dave grew up in a small town outside of Lansing, Michigan. He established a cross-country career in specialty outdoor sales before his cheese obsession transformed him into a passionate cheesemonger and cheesemaker. A musician and nature-lover, he enjoys songwriting, mountain biking, and hiking with his wife, sons, and dog.
Joy Martin Omar, Founder & CEO
Joy was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with frequent visits to her grandparents’ home “Up North.” Her love of food can be traced back to those times: tending the garden, picking wild berries, and enjoying simple meals made from local ingredients. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a way with words, Joy is also a writer, editor, and recipe developer.
Sam & Milo Omar, Chief Executive Samplers
Our favorite cheese lovers and the reasons we work so darn hard.
Press
Northern Michigan is Ready for the Summer Spotlight, Vogue Magazine, May 2023
DBIA Awards $2.5million to 31 Dairy Businesses, AgriNews, January 2023
How to Build a Perfect Cheeseboard, Traverse Magazine, December 2022
Saltless Sea Documentary Short at Fresh Coast Film Festival, October 2022
Traverse City Creamery Looks to Purchase Repurposed Shipping Container-Turned-Micro Dairy, Second Wave Media, April 2022
Saltless Sea Creamery Looks to Drop Anchor, Traverse City Record Eagle, February 2022
Tastemakers of the Year, Traverse Magazine, March 2021
Say Cheese, Michigan Blue Magazine, Summer 2020
Lessons of a Traverse City Cheesemaker, Traverse Magazine, March 2020
Say Cheese, Northern Express, November 2019
The Best Northern Michigan Cheese, 9 & 10 News, October 2019
Local Cheesemakers Boast Wide Variety, Traverse City Record Eagle, June 2019