Poll: Favorite Cheese?

[valeriek]

There is no such thing as a bad cheese! The ones I buy most often are feta, extra-sharp cheddar, smoked Gouda, ricotta, and (of course) parmesean. I always cheat in recipes and add more cheese. I just can't get enough of it!

[Susan]

Ahhh...cheese...

My absolute favorite cheese is extra sharp New York or Vermont cheddar. A favorite brand is Cabot. My hubby and I have toured their factory in Vermont and were delighted by the amazing quantity and variety of free samples. My favorite Cabot is their Vintage Choice Cheddar ( http://shop.cabotcheese.com/RetItem.tmpl?cart=973274305102776&catid=waxed&id=wvintage ) - too die for!!! You can even order it online if it's not in your area's grocery stores: http://www.cabotcheese.com/

~~Susan~~

[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 11-03-2000).]

[Susan]

Oops, double posted.



[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 11-03-2000).]

[Wienie]

I absolutely love stinky cheeses. The stinkier the better. My favorite is aged brick, but my husband won't stay in the house when I open the package.
My other favorites to eat out of hand:
Fontina, Muenster, extra sharp Cheddar, Gouda. I love all types of Bleu Cheese, especially in an omelete with mushrooms, onions and green peppers.
Nothing like the flavored cream cheeses to top a bagle.
SandyM, I totally agree on the Parmesano Reggiano, once tried you'll never go back to regular.
Boy, I could go on and on. Just had lunch, but I'm craving cheese.
Until later,
Wienie http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[venus]

Ahhh, cheese. I am a freak for the stuff--the richer and stinkier the better. My fridge is empty if there isn't a big chunk of 100% sheep's milk feta in it and some grated parmigiano reggiano or locatelli romano. Cheddar is my favorite to cook with but it has to be black wax or sharp NY state cheddar--the organic, slightly crumbly kind is delectable. For special treats on my "free" days, I like fresh mozzarella, herb crusted goat cheese, brie in all forms, and sinful chunks of Stilton with apples and crackers.

I feel like making a Homer Simpson face--this topicis making me drool. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[Ohioan]

Provolone (the aged, sharp variety), hands down! Maybe Manchego in second place, followed (or tied?) by a good sharp Gorgonzola.

Yum,
Phoebe

[erinyyc]

Hi, my name is Erin, and I'm a cheeseaholic!!! Seriously, if I was told tomorrow that I could never eat dairy again I would have to be committed!!! I don't eat meat, high-fat or fast food(actually the only time I've been to a drive through window is if my hubby picks something up, they call him "burger man" at work, LOL), sweets turn me off, and I exercise. So, when it comes to cheese, I tend to go all out, and the sharper the cheese the better! My hubby played hockey in Holland 10 years ago so we lived there for a few months. Oh how I miss the outdoor markets, a new wonderful cheese to bring home every day, and it was sooooo good. The quality in the supermarkets here doesn't even compare. If I had money to burn I'd spend everyday at the specialty stores!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
erin

[AndreaU]

Like many of you, I don't have a single favorite cheese. For plain ol' snacking, I like Monterey Jack and Havarti on crackers. In recipes, I love Feta and fresh Parmesan (I can't believe I ever used to buy the stuff in the container!).

[Jeanne G]

OH FETA & GOAT CHEESE HOW I LOVE THEE!

[Connie]

Add my name to the long list of feta lovers. Goat cheese and a good cheddar are also favorites. ...and then there is brie. Yum! Sorry no new cheeses to add. Trying new cheeses is something I keep meaning to do, but I keep forgetting.

[emilycat]

The foot-tall mound of parmesan atop a plate of spaghetti in the Cheese print ads is a little excessive, but cheese does make everything better, and I was just curious as to which cheeses everyone loves the best, also in the hopes that perhaps some of your answers could inspire me to start using some new kinds...I love really good, well made cheeses, and I love to try new ones.
My absolute favorite, though, is feta...it's one of those ingredients that bring SO much flavor and character to a dish, yet it's lower in fats and calories than other cheeses. Yum. My runner up is Gruyere, but my sister gets a gross look on her face whenever I cook with it, because she loathes the smell.

[mightyh]

My favorite food... I pretty much like all cheeses. Especially the soft ones... I gave them up during pregnancy and that was really hard for me--much harder than giving up caffeine. I love feta, goat cheese, and gorgonzola.

For sandwiches I love farmers cheese (pretty good for you) and co-jack.

And swiss and cheddar are my mainstays.

[greta]

i must admit that i can't say i have a favorite...i think i like most cheeses equally. but one, that came to my head immediately is goat cheese. there is a sandwich place in ny called cosi that has awesome goat cheese and cucumber sandwiches!
yum--i'm getting hungry.

[emilycat]

Mightyh,
Just curious, but do many people give cheese up during pregnancy, or was it just a personal preference? I'm very far from having children, so I'm pretty naive about the subject http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif.

[sneezles]

I'd have to say that Gruyere is my favorite to cook with, it's the smell and the taste!
I truly love a good Stilton as a last course!

[Laura]

Your kidding, right? Limit my self to just one? I think I am with you emilycat, feta is probably my favorite, followed in a tie for second with brie and tillamook extra sharp special reserve cheddar. I love the italian cheeses, blue cheeses, gouda. There are some cheeses I don't really like, mild cheddar, monterey jack (I cook with it but never just eat it plain) american (does that even count as a real cheese except on In-N-Out double doubles (see previous post http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif)
I love, love, love cheese, and none of the lowfat stuff. Okay I guess I need to change my post on things I can't live without. I love cheese. I just don't have to have a particular type.

[mightyh]

No, I don't think most people give up the soft cheeses during pregnancy... I had just read a few times that certain soft cheeses (I couldn't keep the parameters straight so I just ruled them all out), such as blue and feta, grow bacteria easily that might be harmful to a fetus (though not an adult). It's the same with hummus that you buy at the grocery (the homemade kind is fine!). And alfalfa sprouts.

When I was pregnant I was of the mindset that I didn't want to do anything that--if something unfortunate happened to my baby in utero or after born--I might look back on and blame myself for (even though you couldn't prove it). So I was just a super-conscious pregnant woman. Not that that helped my demeanor near the end... For my first meal after I had my son, my husband brought in a salad loaded with blue cheese. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by mightyh (edited 11-03-2000).]

[Wendy w]

Goat cheese! Feta! fresh mozzarella! Trader Joe's yogurt cheese! Gouda! I love them all! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

Wendy

[SandyM]

I love any and all cheeses, but my newest find is my current favorite - parmesano reggiano. Toss the chunk o cheese you bought in the grocery store and find a big old expensive brick of this stuff, and you'll never go back!!!

[emilycat]

mightyh,
I had no idea about any of those things...it will probably be some time before I put any of it to use, but it's an interesting thing to know. I imagine I'll be very conscious of what I put into my body when I'm pregnant, as well. That's very impressive that you gave up something you like so much for 9 months...of course, I'm sure your love for blue cheese doesn't compare to the way you felt about your baby... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 11-03-2000).]

[MrsReber]

Hey, wow, nobody told me cheese could be harmful to a fetus. I'll have to check that out with my doctor. Okay, I have given up cheese since becoming pregnant, but not for health reasons. I simply can't stand the thought of it! Ahhhhh!!! I am slowly working mozzerella cheese back in. Swiss is still good.

The ones I really like? Brie, smoked gouda, fresh mozzerella, pepper jack, ricotta (right out of the container! especially good with canned pineapple), and locatelli romano. I'm sure there's a bunch of others that I love that I am forgetting. The only one I despise is cottage cheese (how can anyone call that cheese???) Well, 7 more months until my body is mine again. Baby is very picky about what it likes to eat.

[jjf]

i love cambazola (sp?) - it is a soft cheese, a mixture of brie and blue cheese - it is heavenly when you bake it just until it starts to melt. mmmmmm

jen

[Susann]

This is a very informative thread for me. After eating only low fat air, I mean cheese, for a long time, something made me begin to experiment with different cheeses several months ago. Now every time I go to my farmer's market I try to get a new cheese. I cannot get enough!!! I am going to print this post and take it with me so I can enjoy some new varieties. Thanks everyone!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lindrusso]

I used to be a lot more into cheeses. I don't know if it's the fat that scares me off these days or if my preferences have changed. I eat a fair amount of cheese, but moderately in recipes, not for snacking.

I love Cracker Barrel's extra sharp cheddar, Parmesan, mozzarella, Asiago, Fontina, goat cheese, smoked Gouda, and feta, among others. I'm not very adventurous and don't touch many mentioned here like Brie, camembert (once I saw someone on another board spell this one "camonbear" - made me chuckle!), or any of the "stinky" cheeses like gorgonzola or blue cheese (though I tolerate these better now than I used to).

Before I met my husband I even considered Parmesan a stinky, untouchable cheese. But I soon came to realize that most of my exposure to this cheese had been at pizza places where they use the fake stuff - no wonder I hated it!!!!

[lindrusso]

I forgot my absolute favorite - Boursin!! Now that's a cheese that I could eat for a snack or a meal anytime - on crusty french bread - yum. Also great in omelets. Fortunately for my waistline, the high price keeps me from buying it very often!

[AndreaU]

Maybe you can help... I'm trying to recall a particular cheese I had several years ago. I don't remember much about the taste other than it had a layer of a bleu-cheese like substance through the middle. Glouster comes to mind- could it be?

[jjf]

andreau - the one i mentioned above called cambazola has blue cheese through the middle - ask someone in the cheese shop at your grocery store if you can taste it before you buy it. i do that sometimes if i am not sure about a new cheese i am trying - they are always accomodating.

jen

[Angela]

Yuuummmm...cheese!! I love most cheeses, but my favorites are feta and smoked gouda. Both of these are excellent in salads.

[venus]

AndreaU
I've seen the cheese you are talking about many times at the gourmet store near me. It is a brand of English cheddar with english blue (can't remember the name) in layers in it. There is also a variety with english sage cheddar in it. If you look in the cheddar section, you should be able to find what you're looking for. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif