I’ve written three cheese books, and information in my books was used to develop some of the questions on the Certified Cheese Professional exam. I have also dropped more than $100 at a time when shopping for cheese, and whenever I travel, I visit creameries and cheese stores.
I mention these things to let you know how serious I am when it comes to cheese. And I seriously recommend shopping for cheese at ALDI.
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A discount store with more
Yes, ALDI is a discount grocery store, more known for its bags of cellulose-laden shreds and blocks of bland cheddar than artisan cheese.
Yes, you do have to bag your own groceries, and you’re not going to be talking to a cheesemonger who judges at the ACS at ALDI. And yes, you’ll find those aforementioned shredded cheese blends and the boring, mass-produced cheeses, just like you’ll find them on the shelves of most grocery stores.
But hear me out. ALDI has a lot more, and if you haven’t shopped there in years and you’re a caseophile like me, you might find some cheeses to fall in love with.
The last time I went to ALDI (which was two days ago), I counted more than 25 different specialty cheeses on its shelves. Bloomy rinds, cheddars and goudas, oh, my! Havarti, Oaxaca and chevre…the list goes on and on. I found aged, goat’s milk, blue, fresh and bloomy-rind cheeses on those refrigerated shelves.
I also found DOP-certified Manchego imported from Spain and AOP-certified Gruyère imported from Switzerland, as well as a smattering of Sid Cook’s artisan cheeses. And this time of year, I found three different vintages of imported Irish cheddars, too.
Just a month before Valentine’s Day, I stocked up on truffle-laced cheddars, 1,000-day-aged, imported Gouda, and a gin and rhubarb infused cheese that crumbled when I cut it. I’ve also seen hatch pepper-laced Havarti, habañero-infused jack and other spicy cheeses that can up your taco salad game several notches. But the best part: Not one of these cheeses will cost you more than $4.99.
ALDI has a better depth of selection than the most popular supermarket in my area. And from visiting ALDI stores and other grocery stores when I travel, your local ALDI likely has a better selection than the most popular grocery store in your area, too.
If you regularly shop at ALDI, I’m not telling you anything new, and if you’re a big ALDI fan, known as ALDI nerds on social media, you already have seen some of the spectacular cheese and charcuterie boards made with all ALDI products. (The most memorable one I’ve ever seen is, back in the days when we could actually entertain guests, a woman covered her entire kitchen island with cheese, and it was just glorious.)
Here are my favorite recommendations for some of the best cheeses you can find at this German-owned supermarket.
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1. Chevre
I regularly toss a few 6-oz. logs of chevre into my grocery cart to throw in pasta, top on pizza and spread on bagels. The Emporium Selection (ALDI’s specialty cheese house brand) isn’t that different from most of chevres you’ll find elsewhere.
Besides plain chevre, ALDI regularly stocks honey and herb-laced chevres, and seasonally, you can find blueberry and cranberry-studded logs. At $1.99 apiece, it’s also a bargain.
Image Credit: cheeseprofessor.com.
2. Manchego
I lived in Spain for six months, and this DOP-certified sheep’s milk cheese is as good as most Manchegos you can find at snobbier stores (some, nicknamed Whole Paycheck). Again, $4.99 for 7-ounces is a steal for making tapas. It’s also a cheese that many ALDI stores regularly stock: It’s not a special product, only stocked for a short while.
Image Credit: cheeseprofessor.com.
3. Borgonzola
This is ALDI’s answer to Cambozola, a triple crème bloomy rind and blue cheese hybrid. Though Cambozola is made in Germany, Borgonzola is made in Canada, and it’s equally fabulous. I’m particularly partial to baking it with berries and honey, and then smearing the melty mess onto crusty bread. At $3.49 for a 9-ounce-wheel, it’s also a steal.
Image Credit: cheeseprofessor.com.
4. Anything from Carr Valley Cheese
Sid Cook is one of the most decorated cheesemakers in the United States, and I’ve had the pleasure of visiting his creamery in La Valle, Wisconsin. His cheeses are incredible, and anytime I spot them on ALDI’s refrigerated shelves, I nab them.
I’ve snagged Cave-Aged Marisa, tri-milk Menage and creamy Fontina. They cost only about $3 for 5-ounce cuts, and they’re the exact same cheeses you’d find in specialty cheese shops across the country. But they’re not always stocked at ALDI. They’re one of the “here today, gone tomorrow” specials, so if they’re there, enjoy them, but if they’re not, you’re out of luck.
Image Credit: cheeseprofessor.com.
5. Vintage Irish Cheddar
This grass-fed Irish cheese is my favorite of the three (also, mild and mature) imported cheddars found at ALDI, basically now through St. Patrick’s Day, and then sporadically throughout the year. Sometimes, you’ll also find Irish butters, which I also adore.
A 7-oz. square of Irish deliciousness costs only $3.59. If they’re not stocked, though, chances are, you’ll find another aged and imported cheese to love, like the 1,000-day-aged gouda or truffled cheddars.
Image Credit: cheeseprofessor.com.
6. Ile de France Brie Bites
It only costs $1.49 for 4.4 ounces. or five Brie bites, and they’re a fantastic snack to have on hand. They’re also great as an appetizer base. Buy three packages, top with jam and nuts and bake in a cupcake container at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, and you’re good to go.
Image Credit: cheeseprofessor.com.
7. Canadian Camembert
Unlike the Brie bites, which are another one of the temporary surprises, you can find this 7-ounce. wheel, pretty much year-round. While it’s not my absolute favorite for Camembert (hello, Old Chatham Creamery in the Hudson Valley, New York), it stands up nicely on cheese and charcuterie boards, and it costs only $3.49.
Related:
This article originally appeared on CheeseProfessor.com and
was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Image Credit: cheeseprofessor.com.
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