Swiss cheeses available in the US

Food & Drink, Events and Entertainment
1
After two years in Switzerland I return to the US soon, with a newly refined taste for cheese. Are Swiss cheeses generally available in supermarkets? Or might they be in specialty stores only? For sure the usual yellow cheddar will take the back seat.

2
Good proper cheddar cheese can compete with any hard cheese, including Sbrinz. Some processed "cheese" isn't made from milk!

But I imagine you would have to find a specialist cheese shop, to buy Swiss cheeses outside of Europe.

3
There's a supermarket in Portland, Oregon that sells European cheeses. They're not cheap though.

Anyway, if I found one quite easily, I'm sure there are other places in major cities.

4
Depends on where you're going to be living. If you're going to a big city you can probably find the most commonly known Swiss cheeses. Hint: "Swiss cheese" in the U.S. doesn't mean it comes from Switzerland. It's what the Americans call their tasteless version of Emmenthal.

If you're going more rural, you can build a relationship with your local store and they might start ordering.

The tiny grocery store in my hometown carries the AOC Gruyere. They started ordering it for my mom. Other customers tried it and loved it, so they keep selling it!

Otherwise, Whole Foods usually carries Appenezller, Gruyere, Emmenthal and Raclette. For a price.

5
Even Costco carries Gruyere these days.

6
Yes you can But not my favorite "Gerber " soft chees with ham .Please bring my some "Glarner Schabzigger" is also available found some in Texas and BC * Canada . BC = British Colombia not Before Christ ;-)

7
And Emmenthal, and a slew of European cheeses (Swiss, French, Italian and more).

8
See here

http://www.alpinevillagecenter.com/g...ket/#cafe-deli

http://germangirlinamerica.com/germa...akeries-delis/

9
When I want to send family stateside a bit o' Swissness, I usually order from either

Pastoral in Chicago

http://www.pastoralartisan.com

or

Zingerman's in Ann Arbor MI

https://www.zingermans.com

THey both carry a small selection of (real) Swiss cheeses, as well as other interesting European cheese. Both ship throughout the US.

Whole Foods will also sometimes have a gem or two, and believe it or not, the Trader Joe's in the 'burbs near my mom carries a good Gruyère.

The local grocer (Marianno's) has a case featuring cheeses from around the world that would put a good many markets here to shame.

(Heck, I can find Etivaz easier in the States than I can 'round my neck of the woods here...)

Contrary to the myth, there is a thriving artisanal (I hate that word, but can't think of a better description) cheese scene in the US, always has been. We actually make some great cheeses, and appreciate the great cheeses produced elsewhere in the world. It's not all orange plastic and whatever powdered stuff is in the green can. But you may have to look a bit.

10
Also look for French Comté cheese, which is very similar to Gruyères- a friend of mine in NY (Long Island) says he gets excellent Comté there.

11
Thanks meloncollie! Zingerman's usually have really decent, nicely aged Gruyère, but it's about as expensive as American Black Angus beef in Switzerland.

As for artisanal cheeseries, we have the Leelanau Cheese Company in our little village of Suttons Bay, MI, at spitting distance from our home. Anne and John Hoyt produce Swiss Style Raclette cheese that outdid Swiss Raclette cheese at several cheese-making world championships. Bought locally, it's fairly affordable, but of course shipping adds quite a bit. Still worth it, though.

A funny detail: If you have a look at their home page, please wait until the masthead slide show displays the photo of their sign on the curb of M-22 (Michigan Scenic Highway 22, slogan: "It's not a highway, it's a life style"), the picturesque road along the entire shoreline of the Leelanau Peninsula on Lake Michigan. Please note the odd little cross on the stone plinth of the sign. The place where Anne and John now make their cheeses (T-shirt slogan: "In queso emergency I pray to Cheesus") formerly was the Suttons Bay Bible Church, and for many years the very same sign looked like this:

I always wondered if The Lord would have ever have time to join them on a Sunday morning.....

12
I found Appenzeller and Schabziger in my sister's local grocery store in the middle of Vermont.

Raclette costs $25/lb though.

Tom

13
Thanks for the tips, everyone. Great resources, I'll check them out. I am going back to the Chicago area, where there are plenty of uninspiring stores. Good to know that Costco and Trader Joes may sell standard Swiss fare now.

Very true. My wife likes an English mature cheddar found in the local Coop. It's so different than what I grew up on. But let's not discuss Kraft singles or Valveeta...

14
It's so sad that Cheddar never got its AOC - cheddar around the world goes from the totally sublime to the absolute ridiculous. A great Cheddar is wonderful.

15
Whole Foods in Canada carry a variety of cheeses from Europe (labeled with the country of origin), and I would be surprised if they didn't in the US as well. Maybe even Trader Joe's or other big grocery stores.

16
If you're a big cheesehead, visit Madison, Wisconsin - home of the World Championship of Cheese . While you're there, head to Brennan's Market to sample and purchase the top cheeses that were entered in the competition. My fave cheddar is Hook's 3-year cheddar. Just the right sharpness. mmmm

17
Whatever you do in the USA, never buy so called 'Swiss' ...

18
Even genuine Swiss Emmenthaler is called "Swiss" in the US.

Tom

19
You actually groaned for that- fgs!

When you go to Cafés and restaurants and they ask 'do you want Swiss with that?' - I can assure you that cheese has never seen a blade of Swiss grass, thats for sure.

20
a) You clearly go to the wrong cafes and restaurants.

b) There are actually sume very good 'Swiss' cheeses available in the US, and not just genuine Swiss ones.

c) When I lived in France 40 years ago, they called Emmenthaler 'Gruyere'.

Tom