Where can I find a good cheese selection?

Back in the day, I remember The Cheese Stands Alone. I was shocked to find it's been 14 years since that closed. It feels like yesterday I've been there. Time waits for no one.

Anyhow, I don't need recommendations of a dedicated cheesemonger -- I'm just interested in finding places that have a reasonable spread of cheeses to choose from. Can I find, for example, Shropshire blue around here? Stinking Bishop? I'm in the mood to just try a bunch of different cheeses and expand my palate beyond my usual St. Agur, Stilton, Maytag, 5-year-old goudas, etc. I've basically worked my way through the cheese counter at Mariano's and want to branch out.

I haven't been in a while but I really liked Beautiful Rind on my couple/few visits.

I thought the staff was friendly, knowledgable and helpful and the selection was good.

Beautiful Rind
2211 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
https://www.beautifulrind.com

And Whole Foods used to have a decent and varied cheese selection. Dunno if that's changed since their Amazon-ization.

Luckyguy wrote:And Whole Foods used to have a decent and varied cheese selection. Dunno if that's changed since their Amazon-ization.

That's also what I was thinking. It's been several years since I hit up a Whole Foods, but I do recall a decent cheese selection. I might have to pop into the one on Roosevelt/Canal.

I've heard good things about All Together Now but haven't been. In Edgewater, Uvae Wine Bar has added a fromagerie and wine shop. Both Provisions locations (Uptown and Rogers Park) carry a variety of cheeses.

All Together Now
2119 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Uvae
5553 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640

Provisions Uptown
4812 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640 USA

Binko wrote:Back in the day, I remember The Cheese Stands Alone. I was shocked to find it's been 14 years since that closed. It feels like yesterday I've been there. Time waits for no one.

Yes, Cheese Stands Alone was a terrific cheese shop, Matt a terrific fellow. When CSA closed Matt went to Whole Foods, Peterson. For a while that was the best cheese counter in the area, till Matt left.

Marion Street Cheese Market and Pastoral were very nice, though long closed as well. Seems cheese shops have it rough these days.

FWIW, Fresh Farms, both Touhy and Golf have good cheese selections.

I buy a lot of cheese. My go to places are whole foods (Deerfield has a very knowledgeable cheese guy) and Heinens.

-Will

I miss Pastoral so much....

Whole Foods I just don't like for Cheese. Everything there lacks flavor (compared to Pastoral, for example) I'm not ever sure that is has been aged and stored correctly.

Whole Foods is generally very good. I also recommend PQM and Local Foods for smaller, curated selections.

Already mentioned, but Beautiful Rind and All Together Now are awesome. I'll add that we did the "all the cheeses and meats" as takeout from Beautiful Rind recently and it is lots of fun. You get about 15 cheeses, each in what I would say is a small retail piece - 2-3 ounces? - and 5 or so meats of about the same size. Each comes with a special accompaniment - pickled vegetables, various jams, mustards, etc. plus bread. I'd say it would feed 8 people or so. Super cool.

chicagojim wrote:I miss Pastoral so much....

Whole Foods I just don't like for Cheese. Everything there lacks flavor (compared to Pastoral, for example) I'm not ever sure that is has been aged and stored correctly.

Can't agree with a wholesale dismissal of Whole Foods. I shop at the one at the Peterson exit as well as Touhy/Park Ridge store. Not what they used to be but still stock good products. Picked up a Jasper Hill Harbison, Cabot Clothbound cheddar and a few others a few weeks ago. All delicious and flavorful.

Of the places I've been, I think Eataly has the best selection in Chicago and that there's not a close second. Haven't been everywhere on this list but I find it hard to believe that any of them match the depth, breadth and (important because of inevitable dips in quality when cut cheese gets stored without utmost care) turnover at Eataly.

MarlaCollins'Husband wrote:Of the places I've been, I think Eataly has the best selection in Chicago and that there's not a close second. Haven't been everywhere on this list but I find it hard to believe that any of them match the depth, breadth and (important because of inevitable dips in quality when cut cheese gets stored without utmost care) turnover at Eataly.

I was at Eataly in late December and they had a ton of cheeses and the cheese monger was very knowledgeable. Does anyone know what happened to Matt after he left Whole Foods?

Oh, gosh, how did I forget about Eataly? Good call! Thanks.

I haven't been there in a couple of years, but while Eataly did have an amazing selection, the prices seemed crazy, at least 25% more than even whole foods.

-Will

Hi,

How does Mariano's and Trader Joe's stack up on their cheese offerings?

What about the Mars Cheese Castle? I pass so often and just about never visit.

Regards,
Cathy2

I think Mariano's and Trader Joe's have the best cheese sections of the conventional grocery stores near me (not counting in that comparison the Whole Foods in Deerfield, since I haven't been there in a long time). If I go out looking for good cheese near me, I go to Mariano's or Trader Joe's.

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

How does Mariano's and Trader Joe's stack up on their cheese offerings?

What about the Mars Cheese Castle? I pass so often and just about never visit.

Regards,
Cathy2

Your mileage will vary by each Mariano's.
The Glenview West store used to have a separate room, now it's about 1/4 the size near their food court (the old room is still vacant). Arlington Heights is better. Sadly they no longer make their own fresh mozz.

The Mariano's in Bannockburn has improved their cheese selection a bit recently. Now has the Murray's sign up. Better selection of harder cheeses than soft cheeses.

-Will

Just saw this in the NWI Times (https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/roaming-wedge-mobile-cheese-shop-brings-artisan-cheeses-to-the-region/article_e9158728-77d2-57d8-8817-962292f48256.html and thought it sounded interesting. The cheesemonger at the Whole Foods in Schereville started a “Cheese” Truck that goes to the Cedar Lake and Dyer markets, events, and local breweries. Looks like he’s selling some of the big IN/WI products (Tulip Tree, Uplands) and offers a nice selection. Certainly a nice development out here in da Region

https://www.facebook.com/TheRoamingWedge