The holidays always see a flurry of cheese board tutorials, wine and cheese pairings, and cheesy desserts—all last-minute attempts to impress your extended family when they descend upon your house (there’s a cheese platter tip-sheet below to give you a head start!). Take a break from decorating and grab a cup of coffee while you catch up on the cheese news.

Here’s what you might have missed this week:

• In queso you missed the big announcement last week, Whole Food’s 12 Days of Cheese has begun. Stop by for a 50% discount on a different cheese every day.   
   
• Stew Leonard’s is gunning for the Guinness World Record for the largest cheese sculpture with their 4,000 pound cheddar block.   
   
• Following two years of negotiations, the EU and Japan signed an economic agreement that will generate a marketplace containing almost one-third of the global economy. Described as “Japanese cars for European cheese,” this is a deal we can get behind. 
   
• Already tired of Christmas cookies? Then whip up a batch of these sharp cheddar pimento crackers. 
   
• If you’re in Maine and you read this in time, the Midcoast Cheese Trail operates from 11-3 today. With holiday hikes, goat’s milk hot chocolate, and other fun events, there’s no better way to spend a Sunday.   
   
• More evidence suggests that eating cheese is linked to a longer life expectancy. We’re not turning our noses up at that! 
   
• Kale salad, green smoothies, fermented veggies…when you’re sick of healthy options, here’s the best comfort food spots in New York. 
   
• As promised, here’s a list of cheeses to include when building a perfect holiday cheese plate. 
   
• Austin-based Antonelli’s Cheese Shop broke many hearts after it announced a closure of one of its signature locations to refocus on their flagship store.    

Madeline Upson

A longtime lover of cheese and wine nights, Madeline finally got to use her love of cheese as former Editorial Assistant at Culture Magazine.