You may think you love Cheese Curds, but there's probably no one more dedicated to the cheesy goodness than Tara Rushmer, whose love of this Wisconsin staple earned her the nickname Curd Queen. We talked with Tara about the beginnings of her Curd love, an item on her bucket list, and more. 

How did your deep love of Cheese Curds begin? What about them do you love the most?

I’m a born and “breaded” Wisconsinite so loving Curds is in my DNA! When I was little and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say a Cheese Curd maker so I’ve always been a Curd lover my entire life! As time went on and my love of Curds grew, my friends started calling me the Curd Queen and the name stuck! I love how every Cheese Curd can be just a little bit different (breading, source of Cheese Curd, dipping sauce, etc.) yet the best parts remain - cheesy, delicious goodness! They are the ultimate comfort food! Also, no other food makes a squeak when you eat it and no other food is as fun to eat!

What's your favorite A&W menu item (besides Cheese Curds, of course)?

A Root Beer Float

What’s one item on your bucket list?

To learn how to make my own deep-fried Cheese Curds and to tour a cheese factory to see how fresh Cheese Curds are made.

If you could share a Root Beer Float with anyone, who would you choose and why?

I have to go with my girl Taylor Swift. I've been a huge fan for a long time. I've actually talked to her about Cheese Curds (she "stalked" me on social media for 6 months and invited me to her house — that's another story). I think both Taylor and I can agree that Cheese Curds and Floats "never go out of style."

The age-old Float question: spoon or straw?

Both. I like to use the spoon to mix in the ice cream so I get a rich root beer-ice cream mix. Then after it's mixed, I like to drink it with a straw. It's a delicate process.

You can follow Tara on social via the links below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wisconsincurdqueen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curdqueen

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJP3XQxC/