Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:
The last time I reviewed Trader Joe's products ("This Week's Trader Joe's Winners and Losers - Appetizers Edition"), I didn't have any clear winners. I love Trader Joe's, so it makes me sad when I don't have a product to shout from the rooftops about - so sad! Mrs. KRG and I headed down to Naples, Florida to the only Trader Joe's currently in Florida on a mission to find a product that we could be extremely excited about ... and our mission was a SUCCESS! (Side Note: Sarasota news is reporting that the 2nd Trader Joe's store in Florida - in Sarasota - will open September 7, 2012. Hooray!)
In the Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer, there was an ad for Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese. Now sometimes unexpected can be a good thing (winning the lottery!) and sometimes it can be a bad thing (your in-laws are moving in for six months!) However "unexpected" in a cheese context ... is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Trader Joe's calls its cheddar cheese "Unexpected" because at first it tastes like aged cheddar but then it also reportedly tastes like parmesan. Hmmm, as someone who grew up in Minnesota, had a sophomore college roommate who grew up on a dairy farm and went to school at University of Wisconsin-Madison (Go Badgers!), I am spiritually obligated to have an allegiance to dairy products. Needless to say, I had to try this cheese - expected or unexpected.
While Trader Joe's bills their cheese as cheddar with hints of parmesan, I would actually say that the Unexpected Cheddar Cheese at first tastes like a smooth aged white cheddar and then ends on your taste buds like a cross between an aged parmesan mixed with a five year aged gouda. It is both sharp and smooth ... and wow it tastes great paired with everything - a quality cracker, fruit or just on its own. Unexpectedly awesome.
If you're a quality cheese lover, you need to check out this week's New Product Wednesday item: Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese.
I was watching Oprah Winfrey's interview with Mr. Curtis Jackson (a.k.a. 50 Cent) on her show "Oprah's Next Chapter" on OWN - the Oprah Winfrey Network. Curtis Jackson's Grandmother said some of his favorites are cheese and crackers and cranberry juice. I would love to sit down with Curtis Jackson and discuss his marketing strategies and business acumen - talk about the best MBA style education outside of a classroom! Real success not hypothetical macro and micro economics here! So 50 Cent, Mr. Curtis Jackson, I will happily provide the cheese and crackers if you ever want to take me up on my invitation to talk about business and philanthropy (Street King mission to feed one billion children.) And I'll let you bring the Glaceau Vitamin Water. ;-)
If you do try Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese, I welcome your review of it in the comments section below. This blog post is an uncompensated, unsolicited review of this product. I receive no money or products in exchange for this blog post from Trader Joe's, but hey if Trader Joe's wants to send me some free Unexpected Cheddar Cheese I would not say "no"- guess my blog ethics get blurry when it comes to dairy products!
Google Affiliate Ad:
The following is an ad, but it is for one of my favorite cheeses- Kerrygold Dubliner. I just bought two small bricks to use in a savory bubble bread (a.k.a. Monkey Bread) recipe. I'd also recommend trying this cheese as well and this price for a larger brick is very economical. Check it out!
The last time I reviewed Trader Joe's products ("This Week's Trader Joe's Winners and Losers - Appetizers Edition"), I didn't have any clear winners. I love Trader Joe's, so it makes me sad when I don't have a product to shout from the rooftops about - so sad! Mrs. KRG and I headed down to Naples, Florida to the only Trader Joe's currently in Florida on a mission to find a product that we could be extremely excited about ... and our mission was a SUCCESS! (Side Note: Sarasota news is reporting that the 2nd Trader Joe's store in Florida - in Sarasota - will open September 7, 2012. Hooray!)
In the Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer, there was an ad for Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese. Now sometimes unexpected can be a good thing (winning the lottery!) and sometimes it can be a bad thing (your in-laws are moving in for six months!) However "unexpected" in a cheese context ... is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Trader Joe's calls its cheddar cheese "Unexpected" because at first it tastes like aged cheddar but then it also reportedly tastes like parmesan. Hmmm, as someone who grew up in Minnesota, had a sophomore college roommate who grew up on a dairy farm and went to school at University of Wisconsin-Madison (Go Badgers!), I am spiritually obligated to have an allegiance to dairy products. Needless to say, I had to try this cheese - expected or unexpected.
While Trader Joe's bills their cheese as cheddar with hints of parmesan, I would actually say that the Unexpected Cheddar Cheese at first tastes like a smooth aged white cheddar and then ends on your taste buds like a cross between an aged parmesan mixed with a five year aged gouda. It is both sharp and smooth ... and wow it tastes great paired with everything - a quality cracker, fruit or just on its own. Unexpectedly awesome.
If you're a quality cheese lover, you need to check out this week's New Product Wednesday item: Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese.
I was watching Oprah Winfrey's interview with Mr. Curtis Jackson (a.k.a. 50 Cent) on her show "Oprah's Next Chapter" on OWN - the Oprah Winfrey Network. Curtis Jackson's Grandmother said some of his favorites are cheese and crackers and cranberry juice. I would love to sit down with Curtis Jackson and discuss his marketing strategies and business acumen - talk about the best MBA style education outside of a classroom! Real success not hypothetical macro and micro economics here! So 50 Cent, Mr. Curtis Jackson, I will happily provide the cheese and crackers if you ever want to take me up on my invitation to talk about business and philanthropy (Street King mission to feed one billion children.) And I'll let you bring the Glaceau Vitamin Water. ;-)
If you do try Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese, I welcome your review of it in the comments section below. This blog post is an uncompensated, unsolicited review of this product. I receive no money or products in exchange for this blog post from Trader Joe's, but hey if Trader Joe's wants to send me some free Unexpected Cheddar Cheese I would not say "no"- guess my blog ethics get blurry when it comes to dairy products!
Google Affiliate Ad:
The following is an ad, but it is for one of my favorite cheeses- Kerrygold Dubliner. I just bought two small bricks to use in a savory bubble bread (a.k.a. Monkey Bread) recipe. I'd also recommend trying this cheese as well and this price for a larger brick is very economical. Check it out!
Sounds amazing! Can't wait to try it. I wonder if Trader Joe's will ship? If not I guess I'll have to make a trek down to Sarasota this fall. What I wouldn't do for a good cheese. I tried the dubliner, went well with Guinness. I wonder what would pair well with the unexpected? Maybe an IPA? For some reason I always think beer, not wine, when I think of cheddar.
ReplyDeleteAn IPA would be good, but I think the Parmesan/aged Gouda notes in this cheese may also work with something heartier like a Chimay Red as well. I don't think TJ's ships, but September 7th for the Sarasota opening.
ReplyDeleteIf I could only have one cheese the rest of my life, Unexpected Cheddar would be it! You will not beat this cheese at anywhere near the $9.12/per lb. price TJ's sells it at.
ReplyDeleteI agree - if I had to have one cheese the rest of my life (ohhh the horror!), it would be Unexpected Cheddar for me too!!!
ReplyDeletei LOVE unexpected Cheddar! It seemed to be seasonal for awhile so i buy several at a time! (i think it is a "regular" now). My idea of heaven is a good bottle of Red, unexpected cheddar and original savory thin rice crackers!
ReplyDelete