It’s the holidays and since the economy is pretty hopeless at this point we’ve decided to create some holiday baskets to fit various budgets.  It’ll also make your holiday shopping absurdly easy.  We are offering three different baskets the $35, $50 and $75 varieties.  The $35 basket will get you a pair of lovely cheeses, some pesto, crackers and a candy, the $50 is the same plus two more cheeses and the $75 features all of the above plus some delicious chutney and more candy!  We’ll also include descriptions and the whole thing comes in a very travel friendly wicker basket.  Frankly, I am thinking of buying one for every member of my family.  It may be a recession but that doesn’t mean we should have to give up our dairy habits.

(can you smell it?)

There is a new book coming out by an old professor of  mine, Jay Parini, entitled Promised Land: 13 Books that Changed America.  It isn’t a book about the books of the highest literary merit but about the most influential books that have changed our society.  I’m intrigued by this idea because the short list isn’t entirely high-brow, Dr. Spock is on there, as is Jack Kerouac.  The Great Gatsby isn’t even in the honorable mentions, but Jane Fonda’s workout manual is.

What if we thought about the 13 most influential cheeses to the American palate.  Not the most outstanding or well made or even most interesting (though some may very well be all of these things) but the cheeses that have decided what Americans want on their cheese plates and their burgers.

1. Mozzarella
2. Kraft Singles
3. Cabot Cheddar
4. Parmeggiano Reggiano

…really 13?

1. Aged Gouda
2. Gorgonzola
3. Fresh Chevre (probably with something, like herbs or honey or nuts)
4. Eppoise
5. Ricotta
6. Poll-yo String Cheese
7. The Laughing Cow (wax covered round)
8. Stilton
9. Pecorino Romano

And here in that same order, briefly are the reasons why:

1.      Pizza.
2.      Convenience, grilled cheeses
3.      Actual flavor, sharp, simple, seems damn classy
4.      Over your spaghetti and meatballs.  Often comes in a cheap shaker, a true American        original copy
5.      A burst of flavor, no subtleties here
6. Gooey stinky an obvious introduction to blue
7. Goat cheese but G rated.
8. We’ve all read about it.  In GQ.  It must be good.  Righht?
9.  Sweet, a topping, almost like milk.
10. Lunchbox.
11. Ibid.
12. Guinness.  Port.  Booze.
13. Sheep can be milked?