Cheese

The Dutch produce almost 900 Million kg of cheese annually, most of which is exported.  Bonaire is a cheese loving island.

Our recent exposure to the cheese craze, was with a wheel of Parmesan. They add pasta, brandy and truffles to a big wheel of parmesan and swish it around.  The result is a wonderful cheesy pasta dish that is made at your table.

Many menus feature a cheese board as a dessert or an appetizer. Pasta Alfredo is also common in the restaurants.

Every grocery store has multiple refrigeration cases of cheese. They slice it, shred it and sell it in blocks.  I often stand with my phone in hand in front of the cheese section, translating cheese names to figure out what they are.  Apparently, cheese, like wines, are named for the  towns or region in which they are produced.

Gouda, now often used as a worldwide generic term for Dutch-style cheese, is everywhere.  You can buy it in wheels, big hunks, sliced and grated. It is difficult to find cheddar cheese.  Apparently, there are better cheeses to be had and that is why the Dutch don't produce cheddar or stock it in the stores...I am guessing?

Other names for Gouda: jonge, jong belegen, oude kaas, overjarig, oplegkaas. You can understand my confusion.