Discovering New Cheeses
The average American limits his or her cheese purchases to the dairy aisle of the supermarket, choosing between popular varieties like cheddar, mozzarella and Monterey jack. But most communities have specialty cheese shops stocking a wide variety of gourmet cheeses from around the world, and discovering these exotic delicacies can lead to a whole new appreciation of cheese.
After a long career as a rock & roll tour manager, Chris Pollan discovered that food, wine and retail are his real passions in life. He now runs the Cheese Store of Silver Lake in Los Angeles, and offers the following advice for exploring the world of gourmet cheese: - A good shop.
Pollan recommends starting at a reputable cheese shop that has a friendly and knowledgeable staff. Explain the kinds of things you're interested in trying, and staff members should be able to make suggestions.
- Taste and texture.
There are a great variety of flavors in cheeses, from mild sharp, sweet to salty. There are also many different textures to explore.
- Sight and smell.
The look and smell of cheeses are also very important to the whole experience, so choose varieties that are appetizing to the eye and nose.
- The palate.
In between cheeses, cleanse your plate with a little swish of wine.
- Specialize.
It's fun to start out by exploring the cheese of a specific country, such as France. A further specialization that Pollan would recommend is limiting your choices to either French goat's milk cheeses or French cow's milk cheeses.
- Books.
There are many great reference books on the market that offer cheese information from the general to the specific.
- The rind.
And lastly, give some consideration to a cheese's rind. Some rinds are natural, and others aren't, and you should use your common sense when it comes to eating or discarding the rind. If the rind is wax, of course, you shouldn't eat it.
For more information about cheese, check out the following organizations or websites:
Cheese.com
www.cheese.com
I Love Cheese
www.ilovecheese.com
| 
){kind=logo}
)
