6.22.2014

CHEESE TALK...

I love cheese.  Heck-- I am a Wisconsinite.

While I am not necessarily a connoisseur, I do have a few cheeses that I heartily recommend that you give a taste. To me, these cheeses have superb flavor, and appeal to the broadest possible group. I would not hesitate to snap them up when you are at the store.

While some cheeses can be remarkably tasty, they sometimes have very limited appeal due to a variety of factors; scents, flavors, bacteriological effects, etc.  (think: Bries, Camemberts, Limburgers, Fontinas, Stiltons and Bleus). The short, unscientific list that I have here represent (IMO) populist "good cheese."


1. SARTORI, BELLA VITANO MERLOT
one of my friends joked that this cheese was "life changing."
It turns out that is not just hyperbole. A damn fine cheese with Merlot flavor.


2. KERRYGOLD IRISH "DUBLINER"
A firm, nutty, delicious cheese (very faintly parmesan-esque with a cheddar back note). This is also one of the cheapest on the list, and an all-purpose crowd-pleaser.
3. PRIMADONNA MATURA AGED GOUDASmooth, tasty aged gouda. 



4. COLLIER'S POWERFUL WELSH CHEDDAR
A great cheddar cheese (and despite the name not overpoweringly sharp IMO). Not incredibly pricey either for an imported cheddar.


5. WHITE CHEDDAR (SPECIALLY SELECTED AGED RESERVE)
I put a curveball on this list, but it definitely belongs here based on its taste and value. Believe it or not, this is an ALDI only cheese (ALDI/TRADER JOE'S) and is the absolute cheapest on the list, yet beats some far more expensive cheeses.