Cheese Profile: New Zealand Cheddar

-A charmer to be sure.-

Who wants to take home a B-List cheddar? When Fiscalini Bandage Cheddar or Reade's are so trendy no one wants to be seen with something from from nowhere, California; or worse, Kraft. (So D-List.)

It's obvious to see why the A-Listers in the cheddar world are such stars. Lincolnshire Poacher is meaty, it has cojones and can stand up to any food or drink you pair at it. Grafton, a popular Vermont cheddar, representin' the East Side of US cheddars, is smooth and a little bit sweet. Westcombe is tame and a tad bit floral, which makes it either the black sheep or white lamb of the cheddars (and either way you lean it's still tasty with a slice of apple).

Yet one has to give a little bit of attention to New Zealand cheddar. Flavorful and firm. A reliable cow's milk cheese. That's what this cheddar is: all-purpose cheddar.

Affordable, amenable, it's a good cheddar to take home to mom. Not so sharp that it'll scare her off like bringing home an ex-convict boyfriend named Tattoo, but not so mild that she'll politely excuse herself to commit suicide in the kitchen from boredom. New Zealand cheddar possesses a soft, but reserved, texture, and offers eyebrow-raising repartee at the dinner table.

And, oh my, it does love the table. Grilled cheese, gougères, fondu; it does it all and charms you with sultry looks and quick kisses when no one's looking.

It proves to you that it deserves equal treatment to the likes of A-List cheddars.

Move over Grafton, I'm taking New Zealand home with me.

-Tasty, delicious cheddar cheesy poofs.-