Cheese is awesome. But where you get your cheese from has a significant impact on the quality of your cheese experience. Read on for my 7 reasons why you should buy cheese from a monger.
SEE ALSO: Jonah’s 10 Commandments of cheese for the righteous turophile →
The Role of a cheesemonger
Cheesemongers are much more than just vendors of cheese; they are custodians of a rich heritage. They source, curate, age, and sell a wide variety of cheeses, ranging from the familiar to the rare and exotic.
You can read more about the history of this noble profession in my dedicated post on cheesemongers here.
Why you should buy cheese from a cheesemonger
1. Don’t be overwhelmed by choice
Have you ever looked at a cheese display in either a high end grocer or a cheese shop and been completely overwhelmed with the range on offer? I bet you have!
That’s where the cheese monger comes in. Whether you are a newbie to the artisanal cheese world or a seasoned professional, have a chat with your local monger so that they can get to know you and your taste.
Once you’ve gone past that first step, they will be able to make a recommendation for you based on what you like and what is in season.
2. Support local cheesemakers
Now, this can not be overstated. Buying local is great for so many reasons. Those range from supporting a small local business to minimising the carbon footprint of the cheese as it travels from the cheesemaker to you via a retailer.
Ask your monger for a local artisanal cheese. It might just end up being your new favourite.
3. Shop small
Let’s talk a bit more about supporting small business. From the artisanal cheesemaker to the specialty cheese shop, these are all small, often family-run businesses who employ local people and serve the community.
Would you rather buy from a supermarket chain and fill the coffers of a massive multinational corporation? I didn’t think so.
4. Buy freshly cut cheese
There are few pleasures in a turophile’s world that can compete with eating a piece of cheese that has been freshly cut from a wheel.
It is fresh and has not been tarnished by packaging or compromised by storing conditions. When you buy cheese that has been pre-cut and wrapped in plastic, it will often have suffered from light oxidation and its taste will very quickly become “plasticky”.
All you have to do is ask your monger and, most of the time, they will happily cut a fresh piece off the wheel for you. Actually, even if you buy a piece of pre-packaged cheese from a specialty cheese shop, it will most likely have been packaged on the day itself.
Whereas in a supermarket, who knows?
5. Buy the right cheese at the right time
Timing is everything! Especially when it comes to soft cheeses. Need to buy cheese for a gathering you’re holding over the weekend? Your monger will be able to recommend seasonal cheeses that are ripe and ready to eat.
There are few things more disappointing than buying a beautiful Camembert and cutting it open before it has reached its prime. You will end up with a cheese that is too firm and is lacking in complexity of aroma and flavour.
6. Taste the cheese before you buy it
This has got to be one of my favourite things about buying cheese from a monger. Due to the wide range that specialty cheese shops stock, chances are that there will be some cheeses that you have not tried before.
Furthermore, artisanal cheese is seasonal. The same cheese will change in flavour and texture based on the season and year in which it was made.
As such, being able to sample a cheese will greatly assist with your decision making process. Most of the time, the monger will offer you a sample to taste. If they don’t, just ask politely and, more often than not, they will be very happy to oblige.
7. Minimise waste
Ok, we’ve talked about buying the right cheese at the right time. But what about how much cheese to buy?
Different types of cheese have different textures and aromas. Whilst you might comfortably be able to consume 100g of Comté in one sitting, you might struggle to down 100g of Roquefort. (Or maybe not!)
If you are buying cheese for an event, it is very important to buy the correct amount. Whilst some cheeses will last longer than others, they are definitely all best consumed within a few days to a week of being brought home with you.
Avoid waste by discussing your cheese needs for your next platter with your monger. They will be able to advise you on how much of each cheese you should be serving.
Find a cheese monger near you
Now you know the reasons why you should buy cheese from a monger.
The next step is to find a specialty cheese shop near you. If there aren’t any in your location, larger supermarkets and grocers still sometimes employ very capable cheese mongers to look after their deli section.
Don’t be shy. Have a chat with your local monger.
Jonah is a a hipster, eco-warrior and slow food afficionado. Coming from a scientific background, Jonah has a particular interest in cheese science. And yes, he loves a good cheese pun!
