Cheese is a delicacy that has been aged and eaten for centuries in cultures across the globe; its rich and various roots have caused this single food to assume many subtle differences in color, texture, and taste. People fall in love with indigenous cheeses while traveling or, more frequently, sample them in gourmet shops or supermarkets at home. There has also recently been a revival of interest in both traditional methods of cheese-making and the nurturing of rare breeds of cattle, further increasing the number of cheeses to discover. Thus, selecting a single type of cheese is a formidable task. The Complete Illustrated Guide to Cheeses of the World will ease cheese lovers through this difficult process by providing all of the information that is necessary in making a wise choice. With this amazingly thorough volume readers will: -- learn how to select the perfect type of cheese for cooking and/or for eating as well as how to serve and store the cheese. -- discover how to create an exquisite cheese-board. -- receive expert advice on the specific wines that complement specific cheeses. -- view a comprehensive survey of the world's most important and delicious cheeses, including the French Abbaye de Belloc, the English Blue Vinny, the Italian Caciocavallo, the Welsh Caerphilly, the Swiss Emmental, and the Spanish Zamorano. -- learn extensive details about each cheese, including those describing its taste, appearance, and texture, whether or not the cheese is pasteurized, and if the cheese is vegetarian or non-vegetarian. -- discover how to serve each cheese to its best advantage: if a cheese should be baked or grilled; served with wine or on a salad; or grated ratherthan made into a sauce. -- contains over 250 full color photographs that adorn and complement the informative text. This beautiful volume will transform even the most inexperienced cheese lover into a true connoisseur.