Chowhound Gift Guide 2019: Best Gifts for Your Cheesy Friend

We all have that friendthe turophile who raves about the nutty, creamy nuances of the latest Manchego or Bucheron. Maybe its you. Or it could be your work-wife. Your boss. Your bestie from college. Your brother. Whoever it is, that person is crazy about cheese, which we consider a sane passion. Be a good buddy and fulfill their cheesy dreams.

Make their holidays by satisfying theirwait for it, wait for itgrate passion for Parmesan. Brie their best friend ever. (OK, were done.) Just check out our favorite cheese items.

Artisanal Cheeses

First, the cheese.

Murrays Holiday Feast, $100 at Murrays Cheese

Cheese is made gift-able with this package, great for entertaining over the holidays or for the lucky recipient to keep in the family. Three delicious cheeses are chosen by Murrays expert cheesemongers, paired with cranberry orange jam, prosciutto, and crackers. The items come in a Murrays signature gift crate and include: heavenly cave-aged selles-sur-cher, nutty cave-aged gruyere, stilton, spicy cranberry-orange jam, silky prosciutto di parma, and crispy sea salt olive oil crackers. The gift is 1.25 pounds of cheese and 3 ounces of meat, estimated to serve 6 to 8 festive folks.Buy Now

Award-Winning Cheeses Collection, $69.99 at Harry and David

The five gourmet cheeses in this gift set have all won awards from the American Cheese Society and the World Cheese Awards, and span a range of styles from creamy Oregonzola (Rougue Creamery) to seductively crumbly Satori BellaVitano Merlot cheese.Buy Now

Wisconsin Cheddar Ascent Gift Crate, $36 at Wisconsin Cheese Mart

Your cheese enthusiast can take her/his time climbing up the ladder of agedWisconsincheddar, tasting the increasingly pungent flavor as the cheese matures. This gift set starts with a mild and creamy cheddar andWisconsins original Colby cheddar. The flavors start emboldening, growing sharper and tangier as the taster progresses up the line. This gift crate is 2.5 pounds and includes five American-made cheeses: WisconsinColby, mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, white 1-year cheddar, 2-year cheddar, and aWisconsin-made branded wooden crate.Buy Now

Plymouth Artisan Cheese Bundle, 3 for $39.96 at Williams-Sonoma

Plymouth Artisan Cheese is known for its deliciously old-fashioned cheddar, and this gift contains a half pound (each!) of three varieties: their sharp original heritage cheddar, sage and herb flavored cheddar, and garlic peppercorn cheddar.Buy Now

Cheesy Holiday Box, $71.50 on Mouth.com

But the cheese doesnt have to stand alone; this curated collection of Plymouth Hunter Cheddar Cheese and St. Stephen Triple Cream Cheese from Four Fat Fowl come along with cassava crackers, rosemary and lemon crackers, spiced candied walnuts, and quince paste. Check out the other options on Mouth too, including a gift set that comes with a cheese board, and a black tie box with truffle cheese.Buy Now

Juniors Traditional Collection Cheesecake Gift Certificate, $55.95 at Juniors

Cheese can also be for dessertthe savory stuff can stand in for sweets, or you can go for an actual cheesy baked good. New York-style cheesecake fans will be blown over when they find a Juniors gift certificate that lets them choose their own favorite cheesecake, which will be delivered to their home anywhere in the United States. Juniors cakes are made with cream cheese, heavy cream, eggs, and a touch of vanilla. With no water and no fillers, all cheesecakes are hand-blended in small batches and mixed for over 40 minutes. They use fresh fruit, homemade purees, imported chocolates, and fresh spices. Nothing canned. Ever. The cake is shipped frozen, chilled with gel packs.Buy Now

Cheese Utensils

Cut that stinky cheese the right way, nice and smoothly, with these tools. Cheese is important enough to require its own knife. Yet there are many cheese knives, each shaped according to the needs of different types of cheese: hard, semi-soft, soft, crumbly, and so forth. Some people like graters, or those wire knives. Spreaders are good for chevrs. So a set of different cheese utensils is your best bet for the cheese lover in your life.

Vin Kesso Cheese Knife Set, 5 for $16.99 on Amazon

The set contains a spreading knife, soft-cheese knife, hard-cheese knife, crumbly-cheese knife, and a serving fork. Each knife is about 5.5-inches long. Theyre stainless steel in a satin finish and come in a handsome case.Buy Now

Wsthof Gourmet Wine and Cheese Set, $99.95 at Sur La Table (originally $149)

Made in Germany for the last 200 years, knives with the Wsthof name demand respect. Now they offer a oenophile cheese gift set, with a cheese plane, cheese knife, corkscrew, and 8-inch-by-12-inch bamboo board. Wsthof cuts its knives with lasers, using a single piece of high-carbon stainless steel. Theres a lifetime warranty, but you still should hand-wash their knives.Buy Now

Personalized Engraved Cheese Knife, $17.32 on Etsy

This vintage, silver-plated cheese knife has a mother-of-pearl handle. Stamped with To brie or not to brie, an endearingly cheesy phrase, were won over before we even take a taste. But you can get another message stamped on there if you want.Buy Now

Cuisinart Electric Fondue Maker, $37.99 on Amazon (originally $110)

We consider this a utensil because, well, there are fondue forks in the set, and the maker helps you eat cheese in liquid form, which we like. You could also use the pot for chocolate (yasss), broth, or oil. The set includes the base, bowl, temperature probe, eight fondue forks, and a fork rack ring. The stainless-steel, 3-quart bowl has a nonstick interior. Theres a removable temperature control too, making this device adjustable for a range of recipes.Buy Now

Creative Co-Op Stoneware Brie Bakers, 2 for $39.99 on Amazon

These adorable little stoneware crocks are designed for making baked briethe perfect warm, gooey appetizer for any holiday party (or random Saturday night), but as with mini cast iron skillets, there are doubtless several other uses you could put them to when youre taking a break from cheese. They also made the list of Oprahs favorite things on Amazon for 2019.Buy Now

Cheese Boards

When a regular board doesnt cut it anymore for your cheese needs, you need to get a special surface. Most cheese boards are meant for not only slicing, but presenting your cheese to guests. Frame it right.

Cheese Board Starter Kit, $54 at Brooklyn Slate

For the blossoming cheese devotee, a starter kit is in order. This kit from Brooklyn Slate features the companys signature slate cheese board, a hand-carved wooden cheese knife, a pack of soapstone pencils for writing the names of cheeses on the board, and a bottle of food-grade mineral oil for maintaining the boards good looks. Slate cheese boards are all the rage because theyre easy to clean, dont retain odors, are hardy, and rustic-chic. For an additional fee, you can also have this monogrammed!Buy Now

Creative Home Natural Marble Cheese Board, $36.57 on Amazon

This 12-inch-diameter, round board is good for cutting, and its eye-catching for serving your cheeses as well. Hand wash it.Buy Now

Rustic Live Edge Black Walnut Cheese Board, $65+ on Etsy

Take rustic to another level with this live-edge, handmade walnut wood board thats great for cutting and serving cheese. Unlike slate, its a little harder to clean, but its so beautiful you might not care.Buy Now

Personalized Cheese Board with Built-In Drawer and 4-Piece Utensil Set, $46+ on Etsy

Or get personal with this 10-inch round wooden board that can be engraved with a monogram, logo, or motto of your choice. Even better: It includes a built-in drawer with 4 cheese utensils, making it perfect for picnics and parties for years to come.Buy Now

Cheese Reads

Cheese-focused cookbooks, magazines, coffee table beauties, and almost academic texts can take the cheese enthusiast to the next level. Salivate over the photos and learn trivia to toss out at the next party over some Gouda.

Cheese Boards to Share: How to Create a Stunning Board for Any Occasion by Thalassa Skinner, $19.95 on Amazon

Cheese enthusiast does not necessarily equal cheese expert, so this professional cheese board primer is a great gift to anyone who loves cheese boards, and is full of inspiring tips and recipes for making the most of cheese. See some tips and a candied almond recipe from the book in our How to Build the Perfect Cheese Board guide.Buy Now

The Oxford Companion to Cheese edited by Catherine Donnelly, $38.28 on Amazon

For the hard-core cheese nerds, theres this encyclopedic tome by the esteemed publisher that brought us their trusted dictionary. Called the first major reference work dedicated solely to cheese, this companion contains 855 entries on cheese science, culture, history, and production.Buy Now

Culture Magazine, 6 issues for $30

Give a subscription to the ultimate bimonthly periodical on cheese, with stories on the worlds cheese, cheesemakers, mongers, regions, recipes, and how-to help.Buy Now

Artisan Cheese Making at Home by Mary Karlin, $20.54 on Amazon

Heres a comprehensive guide to cheese making at home, with step-by-step instructions for creating your dreamiest cheeses and other dairy items, like yogurt.Buy Now

Grilled Cheese Kitchen: Bread + Cheese + Everything in Between by Heidi Gibson with Nate Pollak, $13.30 on Amazon

This mouthwatering book features 39 grilled cheese recipes created by Heidi Gibson, winner of seven grilled cheese championships and the co-owner of the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen in San Francisco. There are 40 other recipes too, for accompaniments and side dishes, such as hearty soups, mac and cheeses, spicy pickles, and tangy spreads. And then you get tips and techniques, from buying the right stuff to grilling it to oozy, drippy perfection.Buy Now

Artisan Vegan Cheese by Miyoko Schinner, $9.69 on Amazon

Maybe you have a former cheese hound friend whos had to give up dairy? Help them out by gifting them this textbook on homemade vegan cheese written by the queen of vegan cheese herself, Miyoko Schinner. Just because conventional milk is no longer in ones future, doesnt mean ones days of reveling in a range of gorgeous cheese are done for too. Its surprisingly easy to make vegan cheese in several styles at home, from firm snacking cheese to melty vegan queso.Buy Now

Cheese Accessories

There is just so much. If youre a fan of cheese, like a big one, then you have so many options to show your allegiance. Whether its with practical or pretty accompaniments or funky socks with mac-and-cheese splashed all over (its a thing), you are in luck.

Standing Stone Farms Beginner Cheese Making Kit, $24.99 on Amazon

This kit has all the accessories you need to make your very own mozzarella, burrata, chevre, ricotta, mascarpone, queso fresco, and butter. Basically, all your giftee will need to add is dairy (cow, goat, or sheep milk). Naturally, the kit includes a recipe booklet with detailed instructions on how to use everything else in it (from citric acid to calcium chloride) to churn out delicious homemade cheese.Buy Now

Cheese Survival Kit Tote Bag, $15 at Brooklyn Slate

Create your very own cheese survival kit inside this well-made, sturdy and bright tote bag. Hand-pulled in Brooklyn on 100-percent cotton, the tote features an original illustration of the essentials to plate, pair, store, and savor cheese.Buy Now

Hand Made Porcelain Cheese Markers, 4 for $15 at Sur La Table

This set of four cheese markers allows you to label your selections so you dont have to continually identify them for your guests. Plus, they look pretty. You can use the included pen to label each marker and then wipe them clean when the partys over. Some customers like the short stems for more delicate cuts of cheese.Buy Now

For a Gouda Time T-Shirt, $25 at Murrays Cheese

Hey, what can we say? Cheese sells. Not everyone has to agree with it. But its been going on for thousands of years. To honor this institution, get your funny friend this T-shirt and call it a dayagouda day.Buy Now

Brie Happy Enamel Pin, $8+ on Etsy

If your cheese lover also loves cheesy puns, this adorable enamel pin is perfect for slipping in their stocking.Buy Now

Sweet Dreams Are Made of Cheese Art Print, $8.99+ on Etsy

They are indeed. Choose your standard size, buy a nice frame, and give someone this cool burlap print, which is a play on the beginning of that 1983 Eurythmics song. And as that blue dot says, you can even buy prints for two friends and keep one yourself, for free.Buy Now

For more great gift ideas, see our Gourmet Food and Drink Gift Guide, and our Best Kitchen Gadgets, Tools, and Appliances Gift Guide.

And see our sister sites tech gift guides, gaming gift guides, fashion and beauty gift guides, and TV gift guides.

Related Video: How to Make Vegan Cheese

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