Cheddar was one of the US's first favorite cheeses, and it only continues to grow in popularity. Today, we have a wide variety of cheddar at our fingertips, and each one is as unique as the landscapes on which the animals are grazing. While cheddar originated in Somerset, England (yes, in the village of Cheddar!), the cheesemaking style has since spread all over the world and is beloved by many. 

So if it isn't the place of origin, then what makes cheddar, cheddar? The answer is partly in the process - appropriately called "cheddaring". During cheddaring, the curds are cut into slabs and continuously stacked on top of each other on the sides of the vat. This encourages whey expulsion (moisture loss), which also results in the signature texture of many cheddars - crumbly, slightly granular, with visible curds. 

With the number of different cheddars on the market these days, choosing the right one for your needs can be overwhelming! Block or clothbound, American or English style, lemony or nutty or horseradishy…the options are seemingly endless, and that doesn't even include the "cheddar-adjacent" cheeses like Lancashire or Red Leicester.  

Enter the cheesemonger. Cheesemongers are your tour guide to the wonderful world of cheese, and the key to unlocking your own personal flavor preferences and tastes. 

As the flavor profiles of cheddar are as vast as the number of cows milked to make them, you can start by talking to your cheesemonger about what kind of flavor you are hoping for, and how you will be using the cheese. Don't be afraid to offer up more general flavor notes like "nutty" or "creamy" - it's the cheesemonger's job to know the cheeses in their case, and to be able to help you narrow down the options. 

It's also important to note that the nature of real cheese is that it will change seasonally and batch to batch, so make sure you are tasting each cheese with your monger to see how it changes and if it still suits your needs. In the process, you will start to identify more specific flavor profiles that you enjoy, and develop your palate, as well as a deeper appreciation for the cheeses. Your cheesemonger is your friend! 

If you've taken the time to meticulously curate the cheese selection for your next platter, make sure you bring the same energy to serving the cheese as well! Offering your guests the opportunity to enjoy a cheese platter in a stress-free and attractive way will have them asking you where you learned your cheese cutting skills. Impress your family and friends with these fool-proof tips for cutting and serving cheese:

1. Always serve cheese at room temperature. Take your cheese out of the fridge 30-45 minutes before serving to allow the cheese the warm up, so that your guests can experience the full spectrum of flavor and texture, as the cheesemaker intended. 

2. Account for 1oz of cheese per person, per cheese. This can be adjusted based on your preferences and how much other food is being served alongside the cheese platter. 

3. Choose the right tool. The Formaticum Mini Knife Set offers a variety of different knife styles to tackle every style of cheese easily, right from your own kitchen. Here's how to use each knife:

• A general cheese knife will easily cut firm or hard cheeses, like Manchego or Gruyere. You can cut these cheeses into even triangles or batons, and you can use the tip of the blade to create rough chunks of more granular cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano, aged Gouda, or cheddar. 
• A soft cheese knife is best for cheeses like Brie, Epoisses, Camembert, Taleggio, or Robiola. The hollow blade helps prevent the paste from sticking, so you get a smooth cut, every time. Soft cheeses can be placed on a platter whole, with the appropriate knife alongside it, so that guests can serve themselves the amount they want. 
• A blue cheese knife will easily cut delicate blue cheeses without making a mess, due to the very thin, offset blade. You can either serve a piece of blue cheese whole, or you can create small crumbles. 
• A cheese spreader knife is perfect for serving gooey cheeses like Vacherin Mont d'Or, Harbison, or Serra d'Estrella. These cheeses can be served with the top rind removed so that guests can scoop out the paste to spread on bread or crackers. 

4. Take care of your cheese tools as well as you take care of your cheese! Our Mini Cheese Knives are made of stainless steel and Italian walnut, so please don't put them in the dishwasher! They should be gently hand washed with soap and water, and allowed to air dry. When the knife is completely dry, you should occasionally oil the wooden handles using a food-safe oil to keep them smooth and shiny. Use a small drop of oil, rub it generously over the handle, and wipe off any excess. Allow the handle to dry again before using. 

The colder weather means one thing for cheese lovers: Raclette season. If you haven't tried this iconic melty, funky, dish, now is the perfect time! Originating in Switzerland around the 13th century, the name “raclette” comes from the French word “racler,” which means “to scrape," referring to how the cheese is traditionally melted and scraped onto a plate of potatoes, roasted vegetables, and various meats. Raclette was originally created by Alpine shepherds as a way to preserve surplus spring and summer milk so that it could be enjoyed and utilized during the harsh winters when milk was scarce. Today, Raclette is made and enjoyed all over the world, most notably in the Alpine regions of France and Switzerland.  This washed-rind cow's milk cheese is the perfect balance of nutty and funky, and when melted, becomes a silky, luxurious treat. 

So, how do you decide which Raclette(s) to try when there are so many different and delicious options? Well, here at Formaticum, we've done the hard work of trying many different Raclettes so that we can help you make this very tough decision. Here are the most popular types of Raclette you will find at the cheese counter or section of your grocery store:

- Swiss Raclette 
- French Raclette
- Domestic Raclette (look for Reading Raclette from VT or Alpinage Raclette from WI)
- Flavor-added Raclette (popular flavors include truffle, peppercorn, chili, and herb)

If you're hosting a Raclette party, we recommend serving a minimum of 2 different varieties to keep things interesting. Our favorite combination is 2 classic Raclettes from the above categories, and at least 1 flavored Raclette. 

Once you've chosen your Raclette varieties, how do you know how much to serve? We recommend accounting for 1/2lb per adult as a main course, or 1/4lb per adult as an appetizer. If you are using a personal Raclette grill, you can ask your cheesemonger to slice it for you, or you can use the Formaticum Soft Cheese Knife to help you get the perfect thin slices that will melt evenly and slide off the grill like silk. 

Don't forget to wrap any leftover Raclette in Formaticum cheese paper to keep that beautiful flavor fresh, ensuring that you experience the full flavor of those lush Alpine pastures, as the cheesemakers intended. 

There is no better way to maximize your experience at a cheese counter than by interacting with your cheesemonger and utilizing their knowledge and passion to create the perfect holiday cheese platter. Cheesemongers are a treasure trove of information with an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the products in their case. They are a huge resource to customers who want to try something new, expand their palate, or are in search of something specific. They know which cheeses are in peak condition and are always excited to tell you about their current favorites.

If you didn't know, cheeses are a seasonal product, and winter is one of the best times to try a special cheese for the holidays. From the thick and luscious, woodsy and bacony paste of spruce-wrapped Rush Creek Reserve to the slightly smoky, caramelized onion flavors of a Gruyere Alpage, to creamy, buttery truffle-infused Brie, your local cheesemonger is ready and willing to cut you a piece.  

Next time you're at a cheese counter, strike up a conversation with your cheesemonger and ask for a sample of your next favorite cheese. By doing so, you can expand your cheese knowledge, and create a perfect holiday cheese platter that will impress your guests and satisfy everyone's taste buds. And don't forget to grab a carton of Cheese Storage Bags to keep your leftover cheese fresh until it's time to make the next platter!