If you are intimidated by the thought of walking into a cheese shop, you're not alone. Many cheese lovers are nervous to chat with their local cheesemonger, for fear of being judged or asking the wrong questions. Cheese counters can house tens, and sometimes hundreds of cheeses, many of which are not household names and may be unfamiliar to the average consumer!
But fear not - here at Formaticum, we believe that cheese is for everyone, and we are on a mission to make cheese more approachable for all. We want to help empower you to communicate more effectively with your monger and talk about your tastes and preferences. Remember - knowing all of the cheeses in the case is the monger's job, not the customer, and our main goal is to easily guide you through the options and help you select the perfect cheese for your needs.
It should also be noted that a good cheesemonger would never make a customer feel inferior or judged in their space and if you encounter a grumpy monger, we encourage you to shop somewhere else.
If you don't know where to start or how to open a conversation with your cheesemonger, here are 5 questions we recommend asking to break the ice:
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Which cheeses are in season right now?
Like produce, cheese is a seasonal product! Your cheesemonger will have their finger on the pulse of the industry and know what is in season and tasting particularly delicious that day. For example, goat cheese is "in season" in the spring, when the goats are grazing on a variety of fresh grasses, flowers, and herbs, which translate to their milk in an unmistakable complexity. It also aligns with "kidding season," when the baby goats are born, so the milk is exceptionally rich and perfect for cheesemaking. Alternatively, some cheeses like Vacherin Mont d'Or and Rush Creek Reserve, are made only with winter milk, which is higher in fat and produces and more luxurious cheese. -
How much cheese should I get?
Determining the right amount of cheese for any recipe or occasion can be complicated. Your monger will be able to tell you how much of each cheese would be appropriate for your cheese board based on the number of guests, number of cheeses, other dishes being served, and style of cheese! Plus, they're usually quick with weight conversations for grated, shredded, or melted cheeses. -
What does this cheese pair well with?
Part of a cheesemonger's job is to taste, taste, taste! Not only are we tasting the cheeses frequently, but we are always trying out new combination of flavors with the pairing options available in the shop. Your monger might have a suggestion for a truly unique and mind-blowing jam, fruit, or cracker pairing that you would never have considered. Hot tip: ask for a sample and they might oblige! -
What is your favorite cheese right now and why?
This is a cheesemonger's favorite question - it broadens your horizons and allows you to view the case through our eyes. A cheese that you may have not even noticed might become your new favorite! Cheesemongers work very closely with sometimes hundreds or thousands of cheeses over the course of their careers, so it only benefits you to use them as a resource. If you learn one thing from this blog post, let it be this - trust your monger! -
How should I store my cheese to make it last longer?
This is one of the most common questions that cheesemongers are asked, and rightfully so - a delicious piece of cheese should be stored properly so that it tastes good until the last bite. If you are at a cut to order shop, your monger will likely be wrapping your cheese in professional cheese paper, which you should keep it wrapped in when you put it in the refrigerator. If you are buying a precut piece of cheese, we recommend always having a Formaticum Cheese Storage Bag or Reusable Cheese Storage Sheet on hand, so that you can remove the plastic wrap when you get home and rewrap the cheese in a bag or sheet. Formaticum products are specifically designed to create a cave-like environment that preserves your cheese's flavor and texture for longer than plastic wrap or wax/butcher paper. Store your cheese like a cheesemonger - use professional quality products, and ensure that every bite tastes just like the cheesemaker intended.
Do you have unanswered cheese questions that you would like to ask the Formaticum team? Email us at hello@formaticum.com and we will answer any and all cheese-related questions!
