Our Mission

Reverie Creamery is a small scale cheesemaking company, cheese store, and cheese destination founded by Riko Chandra and Jim Howard in Chautauqua, New York.  Reverie produces its own seasonal cheeses and carries a variety of cheeses and goodies from around the world with a focus on small, American, artisanal companies.

Reverie is connected to our location through our dedication to using local ingredients and collaborating with a range of local artisans.  Our artisan products reflect a meaningful relationship to the land and Western New York’s agricultural heritage through which we connect, experience and savor the flavors of our place and region.

Reverie is a dynamic and constantly evolving entity.  Our selection of cheeses varies seasonally and there are always new things to try. We started as a cheese store, with our Artisan Cheese Market, but soon we began making our own fresh goat’s milk cheeses.  Next, we started some more aged goat’s and cow’s milk cheeses.  Now, we make harder, aged cheeses and some softer, washed-rind cheeses, mostly with cow’s milk.  At Reverie, we celebrate cheese and we want you to join in the fun!

Nelson began his career as a chef and a produce farmer. He worked at several different farms around Chautauqua County helping to grow grapes, peaches, plums, and apples on more than 200 acres of land. After several years, he sought to expand his connection with food production and took the course The Art and Science of Cheesemaking at Penn State College. From there, he began to explore different varieties of cheese in his role as a chef, and eventually got involved in production. When Nelson is not at work he enjoys volunteering at his local church and Boy Scout troop, where he is an Eagle Scout and a leader. Nelson enjoys everything that is high adventure and outdoors; he has taken a Boy Scout troop to Alaska, gone white water rafting, zip-lining, rock climbing, repelling, and done high rope obstacle courses.