The Sorry State of Cheese in the Philippines

Now I KNOW that selling America on putting cheese on every burger has contributed to the obesity epidemic and hasn't measurably improved the economy in Wisconsin, but good cheese is available most places in the U.S. and really GREAT cheese is sold at nearly every gas station and convenience store in Wisconsin.

And speaking of Convenience Stores, I have to personally endorse the Kwik Trip stores, because they are NOT your average convenience store.  I got to see them first hand when I visited my on line friend Kate last Christmas.  The store headquarters offices and warehouses are in LaCrosse.  The chain is family owned and run.  They have really high quality coffee, great tasting hot and cold locally made snack foods, and good cheese at all their little white stores.  I don't know if you have ever bought an apple at a convenience store and thought it tasted like a cross between cardboard and plastic, but that won't happen to you at Kwik Trip.  Their produce is like what you find in the high end, specialty market, and even in December and January was always fresh and delicious.  Get this!  They are working to INCREASE what they make and the services they use IN HOUSE.  They don't hire some trucking company or logistics firm to deliver.  They own the trucks and hire the drivers who make the deliveries.  AND guess what?  Are you listening Harvard Business School? They are increasing their profitability by hiring Americans from their local area to do the work, make the products they sell, and provide the services the company needs.

And now, back to cheese.

In Wisconsin, there are cheese outlet stores where you can get "cheese curds" which are part of the production process that didn't make it into the retail package, but are totally delicious.  The outlet store may have 100 different kinds of cheese, and all of it is great tasting, behaves the way it ought to when you cook with it, and above all, has great and memorable flavor!

I am so sad to report that Cheese Whiz is definitely the best cheese available in the Philippines.  The stuff they put on burgers is called "Cheddar," but it needs to have the buttons ripped from it's tunic and the epaulettes cut off and trodden under foot for conduct unbecoming cheese.  It is a pale, sickly yellow color, almost a disgusting white...not surprising considering the preoccupation with lightening beautiful brown skin...  All the cheese Grace has used in cooking is related to this travesty and makes Velveta look like a medal winning entry at the Wisconsin State Fair.  It has NO taste.  It turns to liquid, not tasty, gooey, goodness like real cheese should.  I think I need to hold a parade, a la Gordon Ramsey's "Bring Back Real Gravy" parade and proudly march to the Department of Agriculture with "Bring REAL Cheese to the Philippines" banners flying.  Of course they don't like public expressions of discontent here, so I guess I better just rant to you guys.  Maybe I can save up for a flight to New Zealand and get some REAL cheese before I die of disgustingly low cholesterol and pristine arteries.