Cheese!

[Ippsy Pippsy 31]

In my visits to the Netherlands I've found that the hard cheeses they make from goat and sheep are really tasty. Have people had problems bringing cheese in through customs? Is there a place to get it in the USA and not pay $25/pound?

[Darnell 8,478]

Yup, can find local , but must look for it.

Is wide variance based on location as well [uSA is big place] and kosher vs non-kosher.

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[Ippsy Pippsy 31]

Yup, can find local , but must look for it.

Is wide variance based on location as well [uSA is big place] and kosher vs non-kosher.

I was sort of hoping for actual recommendations and store locations or websites. My $25/pound is from a high-end boutique that is local to San Francisco in the Ferry Building. And thinking of the Whole Foods prices (they don't have the right cheese, I'm not the Dutch one, so I'm not sure what it is called, but they don't have it!). Yes, the USA is big, but it isn't *that* big. I travel often for work, and have friends in various places, so there's always a good chance that something will be in my trajectory. Mail order is mail order, location won't exactly matter unless it goes through customs.

*** merged duplicate topic ***

?

Merged to what? I don't see any responses.

[Darnell 8,478]

store location? tell me where you are, or a zip code.

location does matter, alas - if yer chasing after 'local' - goatsmilk cheese in texas isn't the same as it is in Idaho. too much variance on the local growers..

Sorry, I initially thought you were looking for a cheese maker, someone that grew these critters, made the cheese from them. I sense yer looking for a retail store, yes?

Edited June 30, 2011 by Darnell

[Ippsy Pippsy 31]

store location? tell me where you are, or a zip code.

location does matter, alas - if yer chasing after 'local' - goatsmilk cheese in texas isn't the same as it is in Idaho. too much variance on the local growers..

Sorry, I initially thought you were looking for a cheese maker, someone that grew these critters, made the cheese from them. I sense yer looking for a retail store, yes?

Well, cheese makers sell it direct sometimes. Otherwise they sell it to stores. Am looking for cheese, will travel. (Or tell someone to bring it when they visit!) I do not know how much it gets marked up when it gets sold to stores. At $15-25/pound, I would suspect "a lot". I have not studied the cheese wholesale and retail market though. I am looking for a method to get my cheese and not have my Dutch fiance die of "sticker shock" when he sees the price.

Assume for areas the Greater San Francisco Bay area (yes, there are cheeseries(??) north in Sonoma and Marin, which are good?) or San Antonio or Chicago or Iowa if that makes you happier. Really if you know of a good place, I am sure that there are other people who live near there would might also be interested in the answer.

Since this /is/ the European forum, and I'm pretending to be Dutch (well, I *am* marrying into them...), I'm going to specify hard goat or sheep cheeses[*], probably gouda-esque. Again, I am not Dutch, I have not taken advanced cheese identification 101 yet. Ok, so I fail at pretending to be Dutch, and I don't know what I'm talking about, but something Dutch-esque. Manchego is tasty, but let's have this just be a Dutch-only cheese thread. So I am looking for a particular type of cheese, and where I can procure it. The stuff I'm thinking of is white cream colored maybe, and not extremely aged.

Surely there are other Dutch people out there who have run into the problem of where to get their cheese? Or have they condemned their children to American-height and plastic cheese?

[Ippsy Pippsy 31]

I thought I'd mentioned it, but it doesn't look like it posted:

I'm looking for two things:

a) where and how to get reasonably priced dutch cheese (hard goat or hard sheep for me, hard or soft cow for him)

This is non-trivial! At supermarkets, they just don't carry it (the goat/sheep type, they have the cow). Even at upscale ones, they don't have it. and upscale ones are $$$.

b) Importing cheese & customs.

Is the only way to get cheap edible cheese to bring it myself? What are people's experiences with bringing cheese in through customs? Is it spoiled if it goes in the hold of an airplane?

Edited June 30, 2011 by Ippsy Pippsy

[Krikit 1,164]

I bring cheese back all the time. If I'm flying I will wrap it in newspaper to help insulate it. It stays cold in the hold because they don't heat the luggage area. It's taken me years to find shops, here, where they sell good cheese. Luckily, we've now moved to an area where they have them. If you're ever in Canada you will find good cheeses there also.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Do you have Sam's Club in your area? They have a yummy selection of European cheeses- quite surprising really, as they aren't exactly known for gourmet food. Otherwise, Farmer's Markets are your best bet.

[EasternDE 35]

In my visits to the Netherlands I've found that the hard cheeses they make from goat and sheep are really tasty. Have people had problems bringing cheese in through customs? Is there a place to get it in the USA and not pay $25/pound?

Cheese is expensive, even in Europe, so if it's imported, with the exchange right now, it is going to 25$/lb...

- Trader Joe's, Wegman's or Whole Foods have a decent selection. I buy mine at Trader Joe's.

- Farmer's market, Amish cheeses as said...

- Some supermarkets carry nice american brands, like cheese from Vermont or Visconsin. I've had some nice suprise.

Other than that you can bring cheese through customs, just put it in your main suitcase.

And don't mention it :X

One of the most expensive cheese from the Netherlands:

http://www.wijngaardkaas.nl/shop/products/1/20

[Ippsy Pippsy 31]

What? Is there a problem with taking it carry-on? I'd be wary of putting expensive cheese in checked luggage...

[Krikit 1,164]

There's not a problem with it going in the carry-on. I'd be more concerned with it in the passenger area than the hold, though. Unless you're concerned it will freeze?

Edited July 10, 2011 by Krikit

[beachgod 0]

Have it airtight sealed, that's what i did.