| When shopping for cheese most people head to | | | | the store and its products? A honest retailer will |
| their local supermarkets or even worse to the | | | | admit to not knowing the answer to a question |
| nearest convenience store. The supermarkets will | | | | and will offer to research it for you. If the staff |
| have unattended cheese departments carrying all | | | | seem bored or annoyed by your questions this is |
| the obvious tried and true cheeses like plain Swiss, | | | | a bad sign and you may have a bad experience |
| Mozzarella, several Cheddars, tasteless and lifeless | | | | there. Also, when looking for cheese do not be |
| factory made Brie and a few goat cheeses. While | | | | afraid to ask for a small sample to taste. A verbal |
| a few super gourmet stores like Whole Foods | | | | description is always subjective and your purchase |
| may have large cheese departments with some | | | | may not turn out to be what you like or |
| interesting and unusual cheeses they usually only | | | | expected. Ideally, the salesperson should offer a |
| present precut cheese. While precut cheeses may | | | | sample before you ask for it, any good cheese |
| add to the ease of shopping who really knows | | | | shop will be happy to offer samples of their |
| how long ago they were cut. When buying any | | | | cheeses for you to taste. If these simple things |
| cheese you should always have it cut fresh for | | | | seem to be a problem or if the store has a no |
| you while you wait. | | | | sample policy find another store to shop in |
| So, where should I go to find gourmet cheese? | | | | because you will most likely be disappointed with |
| Well my answer is to invest a bit of time and | | | | your purchases. |
| locate your local cheese shops. Small shops often | | | | Shopping for gourmet cheese should not be a |
| offer gourmet products that are fresh and | | | | harrowing or daunting process. Ask questions, |
| exciting and can provide a personal level of | | | | seek information and help from your retailer. Over |
| service that supermarkets cannot or will not. Try | | | | time he or she will come to know your likes and |
| to find several shops if you can because each | | | | dislikes and will be able to introduce you new |
| owner or manager may specialize in the cheeses | | | | cheeses that will fall into your comfort zone. Who |
| from a particular country or countries or he (she) | | | | knows you may begin to live on the edge and |
| may concentrate on finding exciting artisanal and | | | | experiment with goat cheeses like goat Gouda |
| farmstead cheeses. The benefits of this well | | | | and goat Brie and sheep milk cheeses like Idiazabal |
| invested time will manifest in many wonderful | | | | and Ossay-Iraty. Planning a dinner party with a |
| ways and will most likely open up new avenues of | | | | cheese course or a wine and cheese tasting party |
| discovery for you. It will also be a way to interact | | | | will be less work intensive and more rewarding if |
| with a local merchant who will have a vested | | | | you build up a good relationship with your local |
| interest in helping you find what you are looking | | | | shop. |
| for. Shopping locally is also good for the | | | | I would like to mention a few things about buying |
| environment and your town's economy. | | | | cheese online. Obviously you will not be able to |
| Once you have located your local cheese shop | | | | sample or see the cheeses before you pay for |
| snoop around it and notice everything you can. | | | | them, so initially it will be trial and error. A good |
| The shop itself should be clean and well ordered. | | | | online retailer will give accurate information about |
| Does it also carry an assortment of condiments, | | | | his products and prices. Please remember price |
| crackers and other cheese related products? The | | | | does not always indicate quality. There should be |
| point here is that ideally you want to be able to | | | | a quick response to any questions regarding the |
| find what you need or want in one location. Does | | | | quality or appearance of the cheese that has |
| it smell like a cheese shop? This may sound like a | | | | been purchased. You, the customer are putting |
| silly question but there should be an earthy, | | | | your faith and trust in the online retailer and for |
| cheese aroma in the air to stimulate your taste | | | | that you should be treated with respect and |
| buds! Are the weighing scales easy to see and | | | | fairness. Any good business person should realize |
| are they clean, do the refrigerated cases look | | | | that an unsatisfied customer is a one time |
| clean and orderly, do the cheeses in the cases | | | | customer and will tell everyone about their bad |
| look fresh? If your local shop passes these quick | | | | online experience. There are many online cheese |
| looks you have possibly found a new treasure | | | | retailers that offer quality products and shopping |
| chest of flavor. If the shop owner or the sales | | | | online can be a rewarding and exciting adventure. |
| staff is not too busy engage them by asking a | | | | When you find an online or local retailer that you |
| few of the questions you may have. Do they | | | | like and trust stay with them and buy with |
| seem to be knowledgeable and enthusiastic about | | | | confidence. |