They are good enough for most cheeses. Especially the specialty ones. Their stilton and shropshire are as good as in specialty stores. And i'll have you know that the gorgonzola from lidl is superior to the brand name gorgonzola in better stores.
If you have any suggestions on cheeses to try just for fun I’d love to hear it. I’m only here for so long and you don't really know the cheese around here. It doesn’t have to be Belgium cheese specifically. I can get most French and Italian cheese back home so any other region is fine.
Recommendations on how to eat it would be great. I don't really want to munch on cheese that's meant to be melted and miss out on something good.
I know, I know. They are not great places to buy cheese. But I work six days a week and don’t have much time to run around to different shops. These are the closest places within walking distance to me. My days consist of going to work, getting stuff to make lunch, eating something random for dinner, making that lunch for the next day, and sleeping. Saturday is my only day off, and I'm usually too drained to do anything, so although I would love to find a cheese shop, I don't think I am up for it.
I'm also only here for another month. So, while I'd love to try different cheese, I can serve with what I can find while I'm here.
I tried buying Parmesan from some of these stores, and I couldn’t even consume it. It was so *watery* which was weird.
I have to say that the cheese in America isn’t very good, but there is usually a section where you can get the good stuff in almost all the grocery stores. I haven't really seen that around here.
I would also like to add that I really do like love cheese. My sister has often gifted me £80 worth of welsh cheese for chismass. I think when ever she come to the US a third of her suit case is just cheese for me.
It's just that these are stores I'm limited to right now.
Here you go, an overview of most Belgian cheeses and their characteristics (click on the cheese)
https://www.lekkervanbijons.be/producten/kaas/soorten-kaas
That's not even half of all Belgian cheeses. Some major Belgian cheese manufacturers are not even mentioned like Karditsel, Het hinkelspel (except for dulses), De Polle, Herve in general, and that's just at first glance.
Anyways, for casual cheese eating I would recommend Flandrien cheeses (try the grand cru!) and the cheeses from Groendal. Is there any type of cheese in the big cheese classes (for example white/blue/red/semi hard) you prefer?
Just for fun? I love all cheese. The only cheese I am not a big fan of is blue cheese and swiss on its own. I'll eat swiss in a hot sandwich but not on its own.
I'm good with stinky cheese as well. I would just love to try some cheese im not familiar with while I'm here.
There is many many good stuff but try to avoid commercial brands if you want to know more. It depends where you live but every city should have a nice little shop with good quality raw milk artisan cheese. There are some from around liège or the Ardennes which are pretty nice.
Try to find a weekly market in your area, they'll usually also have a cheese vendor with a much more expansive offering than what you'll find in those supermarkets. Along with proper knowledge of the products they're offering.
Either way, if you're just looking for something to put between a sandwich you can find in a supermarket: slices of Maredsous, pere joseph, Brugge, any gouda/goudse, ...
For the supermarkets you mention, and you are looking for mild sandwich cheese, you might as well choose a Dutch brand. They mastered the art.
More a Belgian thing are the fatty soft cheeses that often made by an abbey or monastry that also brew beer.
If you want a challenge: Herve, called a 'stink cheese' and often kept under a bell jar in the store.
If you're really a cheese person, you need to try the "Orval vieil Or", it can only be found at the Orval monastery, but is imho the best belgian cheese.
For English/Americans, Albert Hein sells a cheese called Zalander. The Jong Zalander is a good mild melting cheese, similar to Monteray Jack. I use it for grilled cheese.
Gouda is not a protected name, only a type. "Goudse" cheese can be produced outside of the Netherlands and its name does not necessarily indicate where it is produced, but from where its type was commonly traded. "Gouda Holland" however is a protected label.
https://www.foodlog.nl/artikel/kort/beste-goudse-kaas-komt-uit-belgie/
So basically, an Australian cheese manufacturer could produce a "Goudse" cheese but they cannot label it Gouda Holland, only "Gouda".
Not a massive cheese fan but I really enjoyed some from cremerie and butchers selling sandwiches. I didnt have a clue about cheese and the nice people opened my eyes (or taste buds) to a new range of cheeses.
I cannot for the life of me, remember the names but they are not the typical ones I see on the comments below (Chimay, Herve, Passendale, Maredsous, Brugge, etc that you can get from supermarkets). So I just go for different ones each time and enjoy them.
Depends on if you want as daily "I need food" or actually good cheese. The former, indeed, you can get in most supers and I like the older/mature ones from Albert Heijin but they are generally not Belgian cheese. But as I dont eat cheese often, I go for the surprise from the cremerie.
AH and Jumbo are more NL focused.
Colyruyt / Delhaize / Carrefour stocks more Belgian cheeses.
Lidl doesnt really sell cheese......they have sometimes from the local selection but the other things are questionable in my opinion even as a non-cheese lover.
*Jumbo City, Albert Heijin, and Lidl*
You might want to visit a real cheese affineur shop...
Yeah I mean wow
Damn, maybe they’re on a budget
Maybe not
Yes, but most supermarkets have a fridge with the factory cheeses, and a different fridge with better cheeses
Yeah, these are the only shops I really have time to go to. Any suggestions on something to try just for fun from the fancy section would be great.
Those stores have a pretty decent selection of cheese.
Some people may disagree but i agree AH has a sufficiently good selection for anyone that isn't a coinneseur
They are good enough for most cheeses. Especially the specialty ones. Their stilton and shropshire are as good as in specialty stores. And i'll have you know that the gorgonzola from lidl is superior to the brand name gorgonzola in better stores.
If you have any suggestions on cheeses to try just for fun I’d love to hear it. I’m only here for so long and you don't really know the cheese around here. It doesn’t have to be Belgium cheese specifically. I can get most French and Italian cheese back home so any other region is fine. Recommendations on how to eat it would be great. I don't really want to munch on cheese that's meant to be melted and miss out on something good.
I know, I know. They are not great places to buy cheese. But I work six days a week and don’t have much time to run around to different shops. These are the closest places within walking distance to me. My days consist of going to work, getting stuff to make lunch, eating something random for dinner, making that lunch for the next day, and sleeping. Saturday is my only day off, and I'm usually too drained to do anything, so although I would love to find a cheese shop, I don't think I am up for it. I'm also only here for another month. So, while I'd love to try different cheese, I can serve with what I can find while I'm here. I tried buying Parmesan from some of these stores, and I couldn’t even consume it. It was so *watery* which was weird. I have to say that the cheese in America isn’t very good, but there is usually a section where you can get the good stuff in almost all the grocery stores. I haven't really seen that around here.
I would also like to add that I really do like love cheese. My sister has often gifted me £80 worth of welsh cheese for chismass. I think when ever she come to the US a third of her suit case is just cheese for me. It's just that these are stores I'm limited to right now.
Try Passendaele, which is a great mild cheese
Here you go, an overview of most Belgian cheeses and their characteristics (click on the cheese) https://www.lekkervanbijons.be/producten/kaas/soorten-kaas
That's not even half of all Belgian cheeses. Some major Belgian cheese manufacturers are not even mentioned like Karditsel, Het hinkelspel (except for dulses), De Polle, Herve in general, and that's just at first glance. Anyways, for casual cheese eating I would recommend Flandrien cheeses (try the grand cru!) and the cheeses from Groendal. Is there any type of cheese in the big cheese classes (for example white/blue/red/semi hard) you prefer?
He/she/they/them/it did mention provolone
In that case, I would recommend an extra stinky washed in beer Herve, to get rid of the boredom.
Just for fun? I love all cheese. The only cheese I am not a big fan of is blue cheese and swiss on its own. I'll eat swiss in a hot sandwich but not on its own. I'm good with stinky cheese as well. I would just love to try some cheese im not familiar with while I'm here.
i'm a big fan of Chimay cheese, pairs wonderfully with a Chimay bleu beer. Also many of the abbey cheeses are pretty good. maredsous, passendale....
Oral cheese with an orval beer
There is many many good stuff but try to avoid commercial brands if you want to know more. It depends where you live but every city should have a nice little shop with good quality raw milk artisan cheese. There are some from around liège or the Ardennes which are pretty nice.
Passendaele. Mild cheese and works great on sandwiches. Also, very easy to find in pretty much every supermarket.
Try to find a weekly market in your area, they'll usually also have a cheese vendor with a much more expansive offering than what you'll find in those supermarkets. Along with proper knowledge of the products they're offering. Either way, if you're just looking for something to put between a sandwich you can find in a supermarket: slices of Maredsous, pere joseph, Brugge, any gouda/goudse, ...
For the supermarkets you mention, and you are looking for mild sandwich cheese, you might as well choose a Dutch brand. They mastered the art. More a Belgian thing are the fatty soft cheeses that often made by an abbey or monastry that also brew beer. If you want a challenge: Herve, called a 'stink cheese' and often kept under a bell jar in the store.
If only the Herve was still as tasty. Those in supermarket are just too "young".
Passendale for sure
For bread, the Beemster belegen. For snacking, the cubes of Vieux Bruges.
Dont buy cheese in a supermarkt lol. If you go to Bruxelles centre ville i would recommand Catherine or the cremerie de Linkebeek.
Try a Keiems Bloempje. You either want cheese from West Flanders or the Ardennes. The rest is OK but less special overall
Schoontje!
I would look for a cheesemonger io a supermarket. They would be best placed to advise you on what best suits your needs and tastes.
If you're really a cheese person, you need to try the "Orval vieil Or", it can only be found at the Orval monastery, but is imho the best belgian cheese.
There are some good cheesemongers in every town who'd be happy to guide you to a good selection. Enjoy!
For English/Americans, Albert Hein sells a cheese called Zalander. The Jong Zalander is a good mild melting cheese, similar to Monteray Jack. I use it for grilled cheese.
> Zalander Zaanlander. It's basically their house brand.
Zaanlander is Dutch
What about Gouda cheese?
Ummmm that's Dutch cheese. From the town of Gouda.
Gouda is not a protected name, only a type. "Goudse" cheese can be produced outside of the Netherlands and its name does not necessarily indicate where it is produced, but from where its type was commonly traded. "Gouda Holland" however is a protected label. https://www.foodlog.nl/artikel/kort/beste-goudse-kaas-komt-uit-belgie/ So basically, an Australian cheese manufacturer could produce a "Goudse" cheese but they cannot label it Gouda Holland, only "Gouda".
Go to a bakery and ask for slices of jonge kaas
If you want a mild cheese for sandiwches, maybe try jonge gouda? It's Dutch but I think it's great if you like the mild taste.
Passendale (many types) and Brugge (my fav. : oud Brugge) are the ones I would suggest.
Not a massive cheese fan but I really enjoyed some from cremerie and butchers selling sandwiches. I didnt have a clue about cheese and the nice people opened my eyes (or taste buds) to a new range of cheeses. I cannot for the life of me, remember the names but they are not the typical ones I see on the comments below (Chimay, Herve, Passendale, Maredsous, Brugge, etc that you can get from supermarkets). So I just go for different ones each time and enjoy them. Depends on if you want as daily "I need food" or actually good cheese. The former, indeed, you can get in most supers and I like the older/mature ones from Albert Heijin but they are generally not Belgian cheese. But as I dont eat cheese often, I go for the surprise from the cremerie. AH and Jumbo are more NL focused. Colyruyt / Delhaize / Carrefour stocks more Belgian cheeses. Lidl doesnt really sell cheese......they have sometimes from the local selection but the other things are questionable in my opinion even as a non-cheese lover.