Gourmet in the dictionary is defined as being a specialist; therefore we can assume that the reference to gourmet cheese refers to a cheese which has been produced by a specialist cheese maker. The cheese making process is possibly more labor intensive than some of its cheaper substitutes which are likely to be produced by an automated process to allow for mass production. A real gourmet cheese is likely to be more expensive to produce, will cost considerably more to buy and the market will be much narrower than that of its counterparts.
The producers of gourmet cheeses are much more likely to be family run companies which have been in the cheese business for years and place a lot of store by their reputation as a cheese maker and accept a limited market as part of their ethos. Their processes are often carried out by manual labor and they place more emphasis on their reputation for quality and may restrict their advertising to a certain niche market. Whereas the cheaper substitutes which are much more likely to be produced by the large manufacturing companies who are more focused on automated production, costs and reaching the wider market with its products. They will spend serious money on advertising and promoting their products to the home and the international market.
The other main difference between the gourmet cheeses and the cheaper substitute cheeses is that the gourmet cheeses are unlikely to be used for everyday culinary purposes. The gourmet cheeses are produced purely for the taste and quality and are intended for eating in their raw state, or perhaps accompanied by wine. Whereas the many substitutes available are versatile and can have multiple uses apart from the pure enjoyment they can provide when eaten on their own.
Gourmet cheese selections are limited and unlikely to be available for purchasing in the supermarket along with the everyday shopping. You may have to visit a specialty shop to find what you are looking for and it's always a good place to try a sample to see if you like it, because many gourmet cheeses need an acquired taste. Gourmet cheeses are usually displayed as whole cheeses and are only cut to the customer’s requirements and can be very expensive. Demand for certain types of gourmet cheeses may be affected by the geographical location of the shop. Whereas, there is a very wide and growing variety of cheeses easily available in our local shops and supermarkets. These cheaper cheeses have become a common everyday ingredient and can be found in our fridges at home.
Some of the Cheaper Substitutes
Various hard cheeses, such as Cheddar, which is probably the most versatile of our cheaper substitute cheeses, are classified into several strengths ranging from mild to seriously strong mature and are often flavored with other ingredients such as herbs, vegetables and some types of fruits. These cheeses are usually mass produced and can be cut and pre-packaged into various weights and costs before reaching the supermarket shelf. Cheddar of any strength or flavor can be eaten on its own, in a sandwich, or baked potato and it can be used in many ways in our cooking and baking. There is usually a good long shelf life on cheddar cheeses and they are relatively cheap and can be stored safely in our fridges.
The latest type of pre-packed grated cheeses saves time and energy when preparing food. The packages can be easily opened and resealed once you have removed what you need. There is no need to grate you fingers while trying to grate the cheese and there is no mess to clean up.
Italian cheeses such as Parmagian are becoming cheaper and more available in our supermarkets. They can also come grated or cut and ready for use for sprinkling on pasta or other dishes. Or you can buy in blocks and wedges and cut to your requirements.
A variety of semi-hard cheeses can also be found in our local stores and supermarkets, pre-packaged and reasonably prices. Cheeses such as Gouda and Edam can be bought in slices or in wedges and make great sandwiches or if cubed can be added to salads. These are not as good ingredients for cooking with or baking, but are good for toasting.
Soft and cream cheeses come ready packed and reasonably priced. Again various other items such as herbs, vegetables and some fruits can be added to enhance the flavor. The creamy texture and choice of flavors make these types of cheese a real bonus when it comes to making sauces for pasta or other dishes.
As we are becoming every more conscious of our weight and the need to control our eating habits and diets, the cheese producers now give us a wide variety of low fat cheeses to choose from. But I don’t believe I have ever heard of a low fat gourmet cheese being available to buy either in the specialty cheese shops or the supermarkets.
These are only a few of the many cheaper substitutes which are much more readily available to buy and use on a daily basis. Many of us would not think twice about adding one of these varieties to our shopping basket, but we would think twice about the more expensive gourmet cheeses which often need an acquired taste and might only purchase them for the special occasion, if we use them at all.
There really is such a wide variety of different types of cheese available at reasonable prices and with much more flexibility that the gourmet cheeses, do we really want them?
-Written by Ruslan K
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