Everything You Should Know About Brie de Meaux
A short trip from Paris lands you in the realm of France’s King of Cheeses. When you ask folks to rattle off the types of cheeses they know, brie is usually top of the list. It’s perceived as an upgrade that feels indulgent without trying too hard. Its luxe-yet-approachable flavor profile makes it an easy […]
In the World’s Beer Capital, Marinated Cheese Steals the Show
Discover why this oil-marinated Czech cheese has become the country’s ultimate beer snack. Czechs drink more beer per person than any other country, and surveys say Czechia has held this distinction for decades. In fact, pilsner beer was first brewed in Plzeň, a city about 50 miles from Prague, in 1842. And the bar snack […]
Your Guide to Eating Cheese in Providence, Rhode Island
The Ocean State’s capital is the perfect summer getaway for cheese lovers. In the immortal words of Alicia Carmody from The Real Housewives of Rhode Island: “You want some cheese?” If your answer’s yes, look no further than her hometown of Providence, Rhode Island. New England’s love affair with cheese is well-documented, but Providence in […]
Mexico’s Most Popular Cheese You’ve Likely Never Heard Of
Meet queso Menonita: A superb melting cheese made by Mennonites in Mexico.
Oakfield Artisanal Is Bringing Authentic Mexican Cheese to New York
Backed by 12 generations of dairy farming, the Lamb and Veazey families of Oakfield Artisanal blend deep roots with a forward-thinking vision to craft culturally inspired, premium cheeses. Photos provided by Oakfield Artisanal If you’re lucky, the cheese aisle at your local supermarket offers some variety—American, cheddar, Swiss at least. A bag of store-brand shredded […]
This German Cheese Dish Comes With an Unusual Side
What exactly does “handkäse mit musik” mean? Handkäse mit musik is a traditional Hessian dish. Photo by silberkorn73/AdobeStock. Crusty bread, sticky fig jam, golden drizzles of honey—all are popular cheese accompaniments. But how about cheese with a side of music? Handkäse mit musik—literally “hand cheese with music”—is a traditional dish from Hesse: a German state […]
How to Age Cheese: Inside the World of Affineurs
On a cool fall morning in the Alps, an aromatic bouquet of fresh milk and damp stone drifts across the mountains. Deep inside a vaulted cellar, wheels of cheese—each weighing close to 80 pounds—are stacked like golden tomes on wide wooden planks. A man in a white coat pulls a wheel from the shelf and runs his hand along the rind, gently tapping the surface with a small hammer and listening for the soft thud that signals the right moisture within. Around him, thousands of cheeses rest quietly in low light, slowly transforming into something complex, elegant, and alive.
Is This Cheese Cave the Best in France?
My first visit to Bordeaux, France, was nearly a decade ago, and I remember it very well. It was my first encounter with Baud et Millet, an unassuming little restaurant tucked away on Rue Huguerie. It was almost kitschy in a knowing way. I prefer it like that—a discovery you should make on your own cheese-loving time.
Where to Find Some of the Most Unique Cheese in Appalachia
The winding roads of Appalachia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are characterized by jutting pine trees, sprouting wildflowers, and a hazy blue blanket of mist. The serenity and mystique surrounding these mountains have long drawn artisans, makers, and storytellers to take root in the foothills. That same allure brought cheesemaker and glassblower Victor Chiarizia to Fairview, North Carolina in 2005. A self-starter by nature, Chiarizia fell in love with the traditional methods of crafting cave-aged cheeses. In 2010, he took a backhoe to the side of the mountain on his property and carved his own cheese cave, launching Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery. Little did Chiarizia know, this cave—a testament to his creativity and grit—would soon withstand one of the most devastating natural disasters to ever hit North Carolina.
Savoring Gouda in the Land of Wind and Water
Kinderdijk, Netherlands, is a stunning landscape of dikes, canals, and windmills that create polders, or land reclaimed from the sea, to help manage floods. The iconic Dutch town, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, is home to the highest number of windmills in the country. There’s a good chance that if you close your eyes and picture the Netherlands, Kinderdijk is likely what you imagine.
