European cheeses are known throughout the world for their unforgettable tastes and textures.

America produces some great cheese, and wherever you find dairy cows, from New York to Wisconsin to California, you'll find delicious varieties of cheese to snack on. But if you're a true gourmet looking to sample some of the best cheeses available anywhere, you'll eventually have to turn your attention to the old world, where the art of cheese making began.

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 recommendations for European cheeses:

• Italian cheeses:
  The cheeses that Pollan recommends from Italy include Buffalo Mozzarella, an aged and smooth Pecorino Toscano, or a Taleggio. These cheeses are delicious when paired with grapes or other fruits.

• Spanish cheeses:
  One of Pollan's favorite Spanish cheeses is Blue Cabrales, a famous creamy Spanish blue cheese that has three kinds of milk in it. A Manchego, which is all sheep's milk, is also a great choice, as is a Roncal or a Mahon, which are made from cow's milk. Because of their salt content, these cheeses should be paired with something sweet.

• French cheeses:
  Cheeses from France that Pollan recommends include Crottin de Chavignol, which is probably the second most popular cheese in France (behind Roquefort) and is a goat's milk cheese of the Loire Valley.

• Sheep vs. goat:
  Pollan considers cheeses made from sheep's milk to be some of the mildest out there, and also very tasty. Goat's milk, on the other hand, has no correct ripeness to it, so different people have different opinions as to when goat's milk cheeses taste best.

• Find what you like:
  The best way to find the imported cheeses that taste great to your palate is to head to a cheese specialty store and start sampling. European cheeses come in such a wide variety of textures and flavors that you're bound to find one, or even many, that you love.

For more information about cheese, check out the following organizations or websites:

The Cheese Store of Silver Lake
www.cheesestoresl.com

Cheese.com
www.cheese.com/

I Love Cheese
www.ilovecheese.com/

Cheesenet
cheesenet.wgx.com/

Fromages.com
www.fromages.com/