This $3.85 Aldi Find Is My Secret Weapon For Entertaining

Before we get any further, I need to admit that I’m a bit of an Aldi evangelist. I was born and raised in the South, so I have a special place in my heart for Publix and will make an occasional mid-week stop there to pick up a few BOGO items. But I do the bulk of my shopping at Aldi. One thing I never leave without adding to my cart is a block of their Emporium Selection Cheddar Parmesan Cheese. This magical product has saved my ever-offering-to-host but hardly-ever-prepared self on more than one occasion. It’s also been a favorite late-night indulgence of mine more times than I care to count. It’s the perfect bite for when you’ve already eaten dessert and are left feeling like you need just a bite of something salty to balance the sweet. Just me?

Why Is It So Great?

I’ve been a nearly-weekly Aldi shopper for the better part of the past decade, which means I’ve tried a lot of their cheeses. I’ve use impromptu girlfriend gatherings as an excuse to try some of their more offbeat offerings (those kooky seasonal flavors that are there one week and gone the next), and I’ve also made my own personal ALDI cheese bucket list. I’ve had short love affairs with their Happy Farms Jalapeno Havarti and Emporium Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese, but the one block I come back to time and time again is my ever-faithful Emporium Selection Cheddar Parmesan.

It combines two of my favorite cheeses of all time. I’m sucker for an extra-sharp cheddar and this has all the complex tanginess of a sharp cheddar with the bonus of Parmesan’s nutty and fruity notes. Marketed as “Not Your Average Cheddar,” I’d have to agree that this combo packs a far more flavorful punch than either already delicious cheese could bring on their own. I’m a fan, and you probably should be too. At under $4 a block, it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving.

 How I Use It

As mentioned, I’m not above cutting this cheese straight of the block to enjoy any time of day, but here are some other great ways to use it:

• Make it the star of a charcuterie or cheese board. It’s always the first to go when I put together snacks for friends, and it’s especially yummy paired with a hearty wheat cracker and crisp apple or pear slices.
• Use it on a sandwich. My latest obsession is slicing off generous slabs for a classic turkey club. It’s also superb on a piece of good bread with tomato, salt, pepper, and absolutely nothing else.
• Grate it into your grits for a rich, creamy, and satisfyingly cheesy bowl of comfort.