Search Results for: swiss
Our favorite Shisler’s Cheese House reviews
We absolutely love our customers at Shisler’s Cheese House. We hope that you love our products and that you enjoy coming to see us in store or shopping online. Did you know that our Facebook page is full of Shisler’s Cheese House reviews?
Today we have put together some of our favorite reviews for you to read. If you haven’t already, head on over and like us on Facebook! You’ll get up to date on our latest news and see all of our blog posts over there. You can also leave us a review; we’d love to hear what you think about us.
One of the best cheese mongers in northern Ohio! Rita knows what she’s doing. If you have a weekend out or a couple of days to explore this beautiful part of Ohio you must visit this shop. – Christy
Love this store. They say good things come in small packages. Well, this is one of the best. So much goodness in that little store and they carry my two favorite foods… cheese and chocolate! Rita and her staff go above and beyond to be sure each customer leaves happy and satisfied. – Cheryl
Great selection of quality food and chocolates!!!! I’ve never been to the store, as we live out of state, but have always been extremely pleased with the quality products and shipping that allows items to stay cold, even to Florida. Will continue to order our holiday treats from here. – Jennifer
We live in Maryland and we are originally from Massillon but every year we order Ohio Swiss Cheese from Shisler’s Cheese House, so we always have a little Ohio on our table. – Mary
At Shisler’s, our employees are trained to provide nothing less than outstanding service. Whether you choose to do business at our brick and mortar or online store, your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Beyond insisting that our employees provide outstanding service, we do our best to provide a pleasant work environment for them, in which those service habits develop naturally. If you ever receive anything less than outstanding service, please let a member of our senior staff know and give us the opportunity to correct the situation.
Let us know what you think of our products and service in the comments below or over on Facebook!
Cheese Glossary: The Letter E
It’s time for the letter E in our cheese glossary!
Earthy
A description of flavor – hearty, rustic taste and aroma. Many sheep’s and goat’s milk cheeses will taste earthy.
Edam
Edam cheese was first produced in the Netherlands after the town in which is made. It has a pale yellow interior and is usually encased within a crust of red paraffin wax. Its flavor is mild, salty and nutty at the early stage. It becomes sharper with aging. It is comparatively low in fat content when compared with other cheeses.
Emmental
A yellow, medium-hard Swiss cheese that originated in the area around Emmental in Switzerland. It has a mild, slightly fruity taste. It has large holes produced by the fermentation process which introduces air bubbles into the cheese.
Emulsifier
A substance or mixture used to create a smooth body and texture, particularly in processed cheeses.
Enzymes
Protein or protein-like compounds that act as catalysts in the breakdown of many substances. They act on the proteins such as casein in cheese to separate them from the whey. The ones used in cheesemaking include rennet and pepsin.
Esters
Fatty acid compounds responsible for flavor in cheese.
Epoisses de Bourgogne
This is a soft cow’s milk cheese produced in the village Époisses, France. It has a creamy, chewy and firm texture and a very pungent smell. It is categorized as a smear-ripened cheese washed in marc de Bourgogne and takes on a red-orange color as it takes 6 weeks to mature fully. Its flavor is spicy, sweet and salty.
Eyes
A hole within cheese caused by the formation of trapped gas as a result of fermentation
during the curing process. Eyes are typically found in Swiss-type cheeses. The natural bacteria consumes the lactic acid in the cheese. This releases carbon dioxide gas, which forms bubbles that become the holes in the cheese. Our Amish swiss cheese, made in Northeastern Ohio, is especially flavorful because of the longer aging process that it undergoes, at a higher temperature than younger cheeses. This produces larger eyes, which is sometimes seen as an indicator for better flavor.
Extra aged
A cheese that has been aged for between 2 and 7 years. It does not have to have a specified year. You will find that extra aged cheeses are highly flavored with deep, savory notes. They can sometimes become slightly crumbly as they age.
Are you enjoying the cheese glossary? What has been your favorite thing to learn about so far? Let us know in the comments below!
It’s National Red Wine Day tomorrow!
Tomorrow, August 28th, is National Red Wine Day!
According to the National Today Red Wine Day Survey, 15% of Americans love to enjoy wine with cheese. Judging by our customers, we’d say it was a lot more than that! If you’re one of those people, why not try our Red Wine Collection?
We’ve chosen a great selection of cheeses, perfect for pairing with red wines. This collection will serve up to 20 guests, so it’s perfect for those celebratory moments. Read on to find out which cheeses are included and our recommended wines for enjoying with them.
Asiago
Asiago is an Italian sister of Parmesan cheese. It is aged anywhere from three months up to a year and will vary from semi-firm to firm. It is delicious eaten with crackers and fruits, such as figs, pears, and plums. We recommend drinking a Cabernet Sauvignon with this cheese. The tanginess and salty, buttery qualities of the cheese will cut through the dark fruit, tannins, and spice of the wine.
Danish Blue Cheese
Blue cheeses are made with Penicillium cultures which create the blue veins this cheese is known for. They are aged in a temperature and moisture controlled environment to replicate a cave. Danish Blue is moderate in sharpness with a creamy finish. Try it with a sweet wine like Port to cut through the richness, or open a robust wine such as Shiraz if you are serving up a dish with blue cheese.
Gruyere
Gruyere is a sweet and nutty cheese, which develops a salty earthiness as it ages. Grenache or Syrah works well with Gruyere as they are not too rich and will allow the cheese to be the star of the show.
Romano Pecorino
Another Italian imported cheese, Romano Pecorino boasts a firm texture with a fantastic saltiness. Made from sheep’s milk, it has a very distinctive flavor that is an asset to any cheeseboard. For a full Italian experience, pair this cheese with a Chianti. This is a dry red wine with high acidity and plenty of fresh berries perfect for the salty flavor of this cheese.
If you are looking to add some extra cheeses to your red wine pairing board then Brick, Parmesan, Cheddar, Havarti,and Ohio Premium Swiss are all good options.
Ideas for celebrating National Red Wine Day
- Have a wine tasting. Ask your friends to each bring along a bottle of red wine and a cheese of their choice. Explore which go best together and enjoy pairing the flavors.
- Cook with red wine. It is a great addition to pies, stews, and even pasta dishes. Find a new recipe to have a go at or enjoy making an old favorite. We love to make a rich tomato sauce laced with red wine and slow cooked for maximum flavor.
- Have a glass of wine and a nap! Red wine contains melatonin which causes us to feel sleepy. If you don’t feel like socializing then this might be the quietest way to celebrate with a moment for yourself.
How will you be celebrating National Red Wine Day? Let us know in the comments below!
Cheese Glossary: The Letter B
We continue our Cheese Glossary with the letter B!
A close relation of Swiss cheese, but Baby Swiss is made by substituting water for the milk’s whey in the cheesemaking process. This slows the bacterial action and produces smaller holes and milder flavor than Swiss cheese.
This cheese isn’t actually made from beer! It is a semi-soft combination of Limburger Cheese and Brick Cheese that has a very strong smell and taste. Best enjoyed with rye bread, sliced onion, and a glass of beer.
Brick
A medium-soft cheese made in the form of a large rectangular or brick shape, although it may also be named “brick” because the cheese curds are pressed with clay-fired bricks. It has a sweet, mild flavor when young but matures into a strong ripe cheese.
Bloomy rind
A light white powdery rind that develops on cheeses such as Brie and Camembert. It develops when the surface of the cheese is coated in a Penicillium spore.
Blue cheese
Any cheese that has had a culture of Penicillium added to it. This produces blue veins or spots through the cheese. They are often aged in a temperature- and moisture-controlled environment, such as a cave.
Brined
A cheese that has been brined has matured in saltwater. These include Feta, Halloumi, Gouda, and Gruyere. The salt is used to prevent the growth of bacteria, even in hot conditions. Most brined cheeses will taste clean, salty and acidic. Some brined cheeses are also known as washed rind.
Brushed
Sometimes cheeses are brushed, either by hand or by a machine, to help them stay moist as they ripen.
Burrata
A fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream. It has an outer shell of mozzarella, filled with stracciatella and cream. Stracciatella is a cheese made from Italian buffalo milk and is made up of small, creamy shreds.
Butterfat
Which terms would you like to see added to the cheese glossary? Let us know in the comments below!
Health Benefits of Cheese
Did you know that there are many health benefits to eating cheese? Of course, we need to consume everything in moderation but we’re excited to share with you some of the great healthy elements of our favorite food.
Calcium
Cheese is an excellent source of calcium. This is important for promoting healthy bones and teeth, especially in our younger years. Even more essentially, calcium helps our muscles to contract and our heart to beat. It is quite vital for our health!
Fat
Some fat in our diet is very important and cheese can provide this whilst also offering many other health benefits. If you need to gain weight for health reasons, then cheese can be an excellent addition to your balanced diet. The healthy fat known as CLA supports our immune systems, regulates blood sugar levels and can even reduce your risk of heart disease. CLA is found in a variety of cheeses, but especially those made with milk from grass-fed cows.
Protein
This is responsible for repairing and protecting our body and also promotes a good immune system. As our bodies do not store protein, we need to make sure that we eat adequate amounts of it each day. Hard cheeses such as Parmesan have the highest protein content; wet, fresh cheeses will have much less.
Vitamin B12
This is the largest and most complex vitamin that we have knowledge of. It helps the production of red blood cells, protein and DNA. Without it, we can experience lethargy and muscle weakness. Cleverly, our body can store away any excess of B12 that we don’t need at the time for up to a year. We can find the highest B12 content in delicious Swiss cheese. That’s an excuse to eat some if ever we heard it!
Vitamin K2
This vitamin can help to prevent some of the most common diseases facing us. It works with calcium and vitamin D to help your bone, skin and dental health. This is another vitamin found most often in hard cheeses, especially Gouda and brie.
Glutathione
You might not have heard of this antioxidant, but a study found that it is found in dairy products. It is great for our brain health and preventing age-related degeneration.
So, there you have it, cheese isn’t simply bad for you. In fact, in most cases, it is the things that we eat cheese on that are unhealthy: pizza bases, nachos, and so on. As part of a balanced diet, cheese provides many of the health benefits that are essential to us. Consider eating cheese with salads, fruits or in dishes with vegetables to keep getting those health benefits without the less healthy foods.
It has been shown that cheeses made with milk from grass-fed animals are the best in terms of nutrients, so you’ll be pleased to know that many of our local cheeses are made from the highest quality milk, with no artificial hormones added.
How do you like to stay healthy? Let us know in the comments below!
How to Pair Cheese and Fruit
You might know that cheese and fruit pair very well together. But how do you choose what to combine? We’ve put together lots of ideas to help you explore your palate.
Why do cheese and fruit go so well together?
Put simply, it’s because whenever we combine foods we are looking for contrast. In the case of cheese and fruit, we get soft and juicy flavors against hard, salty cheeses. It might be crunchy, tangy fruit with soft and creamy cheese. The combination of flavors and textures create a sensation that most people enjoy. So, how to eat it?
General rules
As a general rule, try to combine fresh fruits with fresh, soft cheeses. Don’t try to combine fruit with a very dry cheese, as this won’t have a desirable texture. For cheeses with mold, such as blue cheese or chevre, go for sweeter fruits. Avoid any fruits that you might find bitter, as these usually won’t go well with cheeses.
Cheese and fruit on a cheeseboard
This is probably where you might have tried the combination before. Place cheeses on your board along with sliced fruits and bread. You can then experiment with different flavors and textures. Try to slice your fruit just before eating so that it is as fresh as possible. Some of our favorites to include on a cheeseboard are apples, pears, figs, and grapes.
Cheese and fruit in a toastie
We absolutely love to add fruit to a toastie. It’s like a dessert sandwich! Try blueberries with mascarpone, peaches with gouda, apple butter with pepper jack, or strawberries with mozzarella. An easy way to add cheese to your toastie is to use jam. Try it with ricotta or cheddar for a good contrast.
Cheese and fruit in a salad
If you want to serve a full meal, then you can’t go wrong with a fabulous salad. Feta cheese, from Greece, is an excellent choice as it is salty and creamy. Try it with watermelon or oranges for a fantastic tangy contrast. We also love mozzarella with fruit; it’s particularly good with grilled peaches and arugula in a salad. Try adding a quick balsamic glaze for the final touch!
Cheese and fruit kabobs
This is a fun recipe to make with the kids and will encourage them to eat plenty of fruit! Add cubes of cheese (try something like Cheddar or Monterey Jack), strawberries, and grapes to wooden skewers. You could serve this with a yogurt dip for extra interest.
The most important thing when trying out new flavors is to have fun with it! We know that you are all super creative and will come up with amazing ways to enjoy fruit and cheese together.
Do you like to combine cheeses and fruits? What are your favorite combinations? Let us know your most unusual ones in the comments below!
June 16th is Father’s Day!
Father’s Day is coming up on June 16th, so we wanted to get you all ready with some suggestions for brilliant gifts.
We know that you will all want to show your Dads how much they mean to you. It’s certainly a special day to show them your appreciation for all that they do for you and our range of gifts is the perfect thing for the man who has everything. You’re sure to find something that will appeal to every taste, so read on to find out more about our fantastic range of gifts.
Our Gift Box for Dad contains Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring, Ohio Swiss Cheese, Pepper Jack Cheese, Shisler’s Private Label Mustard, Shisler’s Private Label Hot Pepper Relish, and Carr’s Crackers. It’s everything that your Dad could need for a perfect Father’s Day. If you’re lucky he might even let you share some of his delicious treats!
Pepper Jack is a cow’s milk cheese that has been given a spicy intensity through the use of jalapeno, serrano, and habanero peppers. Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring is a chunky, all-beef bologna with a smoky taste, created by the fourth generation of the Troyer family. Don’t be fooled by imitators.
You could add a bottle of wine, beer, or scotch if you want to impress Dad even more.
If our Gift Box for Dad doesn’t sound quite right, have no fear, we have a huge range of gift baskets that are perfect for showing him how much you care.
Our cheese lover’s box is extra cheesy! You’ll receive a 3/4Lb. wheel each of Cheddar, Cojack (Marble), Farmer’s Cheese and Pepper Jack. Just like our other boxes, you’ll find some assorted chocolates as well.
For a showstopping gift, our Baby Swiss Cheese Gift Box is certain to create a stir. It contains a whole 4Lb. Baby Swiss Cheese Wheel. Our Baby Swiss is made in Charm Ohio, by the original producer Guggisberg Cheese. It is a young, semi-soft whole milk cheese with small holes and a mild flavor. It also comes with chocolates for those with a sweet tooth!
We also offer a Scotch Collection and Beer Collection for those Dads who like to pair cheese with their favorite drinks. Make sure you include a bottle so that they can enjoy their gift right away! If your Dad has more of a sweet tooth, then check out our chocolate section.
We can’t wait to get your Father’s Day gifts to you all and make it a great day for everyone. Please remember to check our shipping policy if you are ordering online to make sure that your gifts will arrive on time.
If you need some help to pick out a great gift, why not get in touch or pop into the store to see how we can help?
How will you be celebrating this Father’s Day? Let us know in the comments below!
Bermuda Onion Cheese: Everything You Need to Know
We love stocking unusual cheeses for you to indulge in here at Shisler’s Cheese House! Today we are going to tell you everything that you need to know about one of our more unusual offerings: Bermuda Onion Cheese.
What is Bermuda Onion Cheese?
A delicious cheese with savory onion tones from the sweet Bermuda Onion. These onions do not have the harsh, pungent flavor of other onions and are instead sweet and delicious. Here they are incorporated into a classic Cheddar-style cheese that is slightly firm and creamy.
Our is an Amish Bermuda Onion Cheese, made with the highest quality farm fresh milk that is not subjected to artificial hormones. We’re passionate about stocking only the best quality here.
How should I eat it?
This cheese is great with pickles or chutney. Try it in a sandwich or add it to your cheeseboard for an interesting flavor combination. It has a fantastic color from the annatto seed, so it’s excellent for adding variety to a cheeseboard. After all, we eat with the eyes as well as the mouth so it is worth thinking about your presentation! A variety of colors will also help your guests to distinguish between the different cheeses on your plate and go back for more of their favorites.
Bermuda Onion Cheese could also be an excellent addition to a fondue if you want to make it extra flavorful. Try combining it with Swiss cheese or Gruyere and dipping in crudites, crusty bread or smoked meats.
Try it melted onto toast with a bowl of soup or in a grilled cheese. This is another great place to combine it with other cheeses that offer amazing melted textures. Why not try it with mozzarella? We also love it grated over dishes such as pasta or potatoes. A little goes a long way here to combine flavors naturally.
For the summer season, this works well on burgers or even grated into salads. This cheese really is very diverse and will keep your guests intrigued as to how you manage to pack such great taste into your cooking.
What should I drink with it?
If you like red wine, then a Beaujolais or Pinot Noir would be a good choice with the sweetness of the onions. For white wine lovers, we recommend trying a Viognier or Gewürztraminer for the same effect. This would even go nicely with a good beer.
This is certainly a uniquely flavored cheese. If you want to try it for yourself, why not pop into the store soon? We would be happy to help you sample it along with any of our other excellent flavored cheeses. If you like onion cheese, then you might also like our Garlic Cheddar or Green Onion Cheese. These also offer great flavor for salads as we head into summer. Check out our post on Flavored Cheeses for more ideas.
Have you tried Amish Bermuda Onion Cheese? How do you like to eat it? Let us know in the comments below!
Sharp Cheeses: Everything You Need to Know
We love teaching you about cheese at Shisler’s Cheese House, so today we are here to tell you all about sharp cheeses.
The term “Sharp” denotes a stronger flavor as a result of a longer aging process. Many cheese connoisseurs prefer sharper, more mature cheeses. Some of our more mature cheeses include Asiago, Canadian Cheddar, Manchego, Parmesan, Romano, Sharp American and Sharp Swiss. Our Orange and White cheddars are both medium sharp cheeses.
Sharp American Cheese
Our Sharp American Cheese is produced in Wisconsin along with our Muenster, Brick, Limburger, and Beer Cheeses. American Cheese is orange, yellow, or white in color and mild in flavor, with a medium-firm consistency, and melts easily. It has traditionally been made from a blend of cheeses, most often Colby and Cheddar. This is particularly great on cheeseburgers, in grilled cheese sandwiches, and in macaroni and cheese.
It originated when British colonists began making cheddar after they arrived in America. By 1790, American cheddars were being exported back to England and the British referred to them as “American cheese” or “Yankee cheese”. Post-Revolution Americans promoted this usage to distinguish the exports of their proud new nation from European cheese.
Sharp Swiss Cheese
Sharp Swiss cheese is a more mature version of our locally made Swiss cheese that has been aged for approximately 12. The time honored process for making swiss cheese was brought over from Switzerland by the local population of Amish and Mennonite people. We have selected what we believe to be the best locally made swiss cheese. Our Amish swiss cheese is made locally in Pearl Valley, Ohio.
Canadian Aged Cheddar
Our Canadian Fine Aged Cheddar is aged for four years. This gives it a sharp, pungent flavor, that is often slightly earthy. Its texture is firm whilst being slightly crumbly. This works well in sandwiches or grated over dishes as it melts well and will impart lots of flavor to your meal.
Sharp Cheese Wine Pairings
The best red wines to pair with sharp cheeses are intensely fruity in flavor so that they stand up to the tangy cheese. We recommend a Cabernet Sauvignon. Choose a bottle from two or three years ago to avoid an overly tannin-heavy wine.
Even better than a red wine is a glass of vintage port. This will have both fruitiness and sweetness to pair with your cheese. You could even try a hard cider or a strong ale as these are robust enough too.
These cheeses are all great choices if you are looking for punchy flavors, rather than simply a texture from your cheese. It’s a great idea to include one of these cheeses on any cheeseboard that you serve up as they are sure to satisfy true cheese lovers. They pair particularly well with pickles and chutneys as the taste won’t be overpowered.
If you’re not sure about strong cheeses, why not pop into store to try them soon?
Do you like sharp cheese? Let us know how you like to eat it in the comments!
Amish Butter Cheese: Everything You Need to Know
Today we continue our exploration of cheeses with a cheese that is very local to us and close to our hearts: Amish Butter Cheese.
What is Amish Butter Cheese?
Amish Butter Cheese is one of our premium local cheeses.
This unique cheese has a full buttery flavor and is traditionally made by the Amish, this cheese has a wide variety of uses. It is derived from butterkase, its closest ancestor. Butterkase is a buttery and creamy cheese that originates from Austria and Germany. Unlike its predecessor, it does not have a rind. It is a cow’s milk cheese with a pale yellow color. Good quality butter cheese is made from milk collected from cows that are not on artificial hormones. The Amish process of cheese-making does not include any artificial flavors, ingredients or preservatives, which gives the cheese real quality.
If you are fond of only the best quality cheese, it is important to choose authentic Amish butter. Remember that while most of the products labeled Amish butter cheese are genuine, some of them may just refer to Amish as a method of cheese making. These do not come with the Amish guarantee.
How should I eat it?
This cheese is ideal for melting and is featured in many fondue recipes. Try it with crudites and fresh bread for an incredibly fun dinner. Fondue is great if you are having guests over because everyone can select their own options.
It is also a good snack cheese as it is semi-soft and very easy to slice or cube. Many restaurants located near Amish counties feature butter cheese on their sandwiches and burgers. Try melting it in a grilled cheese or adding it to your favorite pasta dishes.
Are there any similar cheeses?
Yes, we also offer a cheese called Havarti, which is imported from Denmark. We stock the plain cheese as well as options infused with dill or caraway. Havarti Cheese has a buttery aroma and can be somewhat sharp in the stronger varieties, much like Swiss cheese. The taste is buttery, with both sweet and acidic undertones.
What should I drink with it?
This butter cheese pairs well with Chardonnay as the buttery flavors blend well together. For beer lovers, we would recommend trying this cheese with any lager or pilsner. It even pairs well with brandy!
Have you tried Amish Butter Cheese? How do you like to eat it? Let us know in the comments!
