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No, but we drove thru Wisconsin this summer, and stopped and had some delicious cheese. Cheddar, and we also got some freshly made beef stick, which may sound gross, but it was fresh, and delicious...
I am one of those people who really enjoys cheese, and I am always trying out new varieties. Some of my favorites include sharp and tangy blue-veined cheeses, buttery Muenster, butterscotch and caramel flavored old aged Gouda, nutty Emmantaler and other "Swiss" cheeses, sharp cheddar, Gruyere, fresh milky mozzarella, and so on.
The problem with the finer cheeses - the best tasting ones in my opinion - is that they can be quite pricey. I cannot afford to buy a $28.99 a pound cheese, even if I get only a half a pound or even a third.
There are some really interesting ones at local stores like Trader Joe's and I am also a member of BJ's Club. St Trader Joe's I discovered something called Toscano, a "creamy parmesan" with flakes of black pepper on the rind. It has a nutty and briny (somewhat salty) taste but rather good. Not expensive, like $9.99 a pound. At BJ's I found something called Cave Aged Comte, which is an imported French Gruyere type cheese ... even better.
What are some of your favorites? Made any great cheese discoveries?
Inquiring minds want to know!
I have yet to taste a cheese I didn't like!
Swiss cheese would be my least favorite.
Then there is Sweet Grass Dairy's Green Hill cheese (http://www.sweetgrassdairy.com/cheeses/cow-cheeses/green-hill/ - broken link). It got the seal of approval from my foodie son and his Parisian girlfriend. I love Green Hill, I think it even won an award, but it is Sweet Grass' fresh chevre that I like the best of all.
Like the other cheeseheads here I love fresh mozzarella (bufala if I can afford it) especially with homegrown tomatoes/basil and a drizzle of high quality olive oil.
I think there are plenty of good American cheeses. I usually buy American, not only because of the price, but I think the quality of many are very good. It's just really about the taste. I love most any kind of cheddar. About the only kind I don't really care for is the sliced "American" cheese. I will eat it on a burger or a grilled cheese, but I would definitely prefer cheddar, gouda, or really anything else.
Speaking of grilled cheese sandwiches, there is a great little restaurant near my son's university that is strictly a grilled cheese place. They get so creative with their sandwiches, using all kinds of cheeses. I love that place.
America really does produce some very fine cheeses, but these are usually not the ones available at the refrigerated section of your local supermarket, more than likely in the place where they have the "gourmet" cheeses.
I good friend of mine is an attorney in Rockford, IL. I visited him about 2 years ago and we got up early one morning and drove to Wisc. In Janesville we went to a kind of supermarket that had an astonishing array of different cheeses ... two aisles of nothing but cheeses, more than 10 X the amount my local supermarket would carry. The highlight of my day was spent in Madison, where we toured the University of Wisconsin. There was the School of Agriculture, which had it's own dairy store, where I bought several varieties of cheese. They were great!
Trader Joe's is a great place for cheese, sadly the closest one to me is 6 hours away. They have a Morbier that is nice, Goat Brie is yummy, Manchango is great too, pick up some of their sea salt and rosemary marcona almonds to pair with it. Cow Girl Creamery makes some amazing cheeses and I love Rogue River Smokey Blue if you can find it.
cheese and bread are my main reasons for going to TG, but i haven't seen the smokey blue before. it sounds delicious.
i like to get brie and gorgonzola there. when at the regular grocery stores i settle for cabot extra-sharp white cheddar
America really does produce some very fine cheeses, but these are usually not the ones available at the refrigerated section of your local supermarket, more than likely in the place where they have the "gourmet" cheeses.
I good friend of mine is an attorney in Rockford, IL. I visited him about 2 years ago and we got up early one morning and drove to Wisc. In Janesville we went to a kind of supermarket that had an astonishing array of different cheeses ... two aisles of nothing but cheeses, more than 10 X the amount my local supermarket would carry. The highlight of my day was spent in Madison, where we toured the University of Wisconsin. There was the School of Agriculture, which had it's own dairy store, where I bought several varieties of cheese. They were great!
Thanks for you kind words about our cheeses. I was puzzled by the person who wanted to know if there any famous cheeses made in America. Really??? There are cheesemakers in Green County WI that have won many international awards. Maybe I just take good cheese for granted from living in Wisconsin all my life, (B.S. in Dairy Science from UW-Madison) maybe I shouldn't be surprised not everybody knows about our cheese.
Clark...what you REALLY missed at Babcock Dairy Hall at the UW was the ice cream. Now THAT has GOT to be World Famous!!
Thanks for you kind words about our cheeses. I was puzzled by the person who wanted to know if there any famous cheeses made in America. Really???
No need to be puzzled. I am not a native and most well known cheeses come from Europe. I don't remember seeing any American Cheese over there, so I was curious and asked.
With all respect American cheese is processed cheese, and I don't think that anyone would appreciate it over there.
"American cheese" is a different animal (not sure WHAT it is) than "Cheese made in America".
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My trip to Wisconsin
Really??? There are cheesemakers in Green County WI that have won many international awards. Maybe I just take good cheese for granted from living in Wisconsin all my life, (B.S. in Dairy Science from UW-Madison) maybe I shouldn't be surprised not everybody knows about our cheese. 
