Are you a Cheese Wiz?
Posted by Merritt Steidl, deli category analyst
Friday, January 13, 2012
I’ll admit, I’ve slowly evolved into somewhat of a cheese wiz since I began working for Lunds and Byerly’s. But honestly, what’s not to love about cheese? It’s delicious and pairs amazingly with practically anything – bread, olives, chocolate, nuts, fruit, salumi, wine, beer – the list goes on and on.
Plus, it’s an easy appetizer to prepare. Pick up a wedge of cheese along with any sides mentioned above and you’re done! You’ll have a classy appetizer in less than five minutes.
I’ve also realized there’s always more to learn, as every cheese has its own unique story and history. Some cheeses have been made in a similar manner for hundreds of years, while others are brand new American originals.
I like to compare cheese to wine because so much of the flavor depends on the agriculture of the ingredients, production and aging (fermentation) process. A young Gouda made in Wisconsin will taste different than an aged Gouda produced in Amsterdam, just like a Chardonnay from California is different from a French Chardonnay.
It’s these small intricacies that make each cheese one of a kind and the varieties endless! At Lunds and Byerly’s, we have more than 1,000 cheeses from at least 20 different countries.
To help you keep track of your favorites, we introduced a “Cheese Wiz” program. We have “Cheese Wiz” note cards placed in little red boxes at every store. Next time you stop in, take a note card and record your own notes as you sample our cheeses. We’ll keep your card until the next time you want to refer back to it.
Are you a Cheese Wiz? If you answer “yes” to the majority of these questions, you probably are!
- Family members and friends always put you in charge of making the cheese tray for important events.
- People call you for advice on what cheeses to serve at their next party.
- You have watched TV specials or read books on cheese making.
- Friends usually tell you when they try an awesome cheese, because, of course, you’ll be interested.
- You know the cheese specialist at your local store personally and can spend upwards of 15 minutes chatting with them about new products.