There are various ways to categorize cheese - by age, texture or firmness, milk used and so forth. But what the connoisseur cares about most is the experience.
continue reading "The Spectrum of Cheeses"

Charles de Gaulle is reported to have once said ‘How can you govern a country that has 246 kinds of cheese?’ But whatever may have been the administrative skills of that old French soldier, he was right about one thing.
continue reading "The Thousand and One Cheeses"

Like fine wine, the making of a quality cheese requires a foundation of knowledge, years of practice and a certain amount of art. But one doesn’t need to be an affineur or cheesemaker to grasp the elementary steps of this delectable product.
continue reading "The Basics Of Cheesemaking"

We may never know with certainty how cheese was first invented. Sometime at least 5,000 years ago some ancient affineur in Mesopotamia was either lucky or very innovative.
continue reading "The History of Cheesemaking"

Americans are catching on to one of the best of Europe’s traditions: serving a cheese course after a meal. Providing a variety of tasty cheeses tops off a great roast beef or halibut, or nearly any main course.
continue reading "How To Serve a Cheese Course"

No one needs to tell you how to eat. You learned that long ago. But to enjoy to the maximum a gourmet cheese, there are some small bits of wisdom that can prove useful.
continue reading "How to Eat a Fine Cheese"

Taste is unquestionably an individual affair. Some will rave over the flavor of a Limburger, while others won’t touch Brie. But no matter your preference in type of cheese, there are certain factors that always should be taken into account.
continue reading "How To Judge A Fine Cheese"

Cheese makes for a wonderful addition to many recipes. In some cases, such as Welsh rarebit, it is an essential ingredient. But whether it’s the centerpiece or just a tasty topping, cooking with cheese can be tricky.
continue reading "Cooking With Cheese"

Because of its relatively high fat content, cheese has gotten a bad reputation in certain circles. But cheese, in fact, is one of the healthiest foods available.
continue reading "Cheese and Nutrition"

One of the most important steps in the making of cheese is the aging process. It can be nearly absent, in which case so-called fresh cheese is produced. That’s consumed right away and there are many fine cheeses of this type. But the majority experience aging of various lengths.
continue reading "Aging Cheese to Perfection"