The Cheese Daniel Boulud Always Keeps In The Fridge For His Daughter

Name a better feeling than opening the fridge and spotting your all-time favorite treat. We'll wait. When it comes to indulging in a midday or midnight snack, or simply preparing a wholesome meal, cheese has the undeniable power to hit the spot for many. Turophiles in particular have a habit of stocking up on fromages for moments when hunger strikes. Thankfully, cheese is among the most diverse foods there are, with more than 1,800 styles to satisfy any type of palate, according to Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

A number of pros and home cooks alike are avid cheese consumers, but the go-to's they choose to have in supply at all times can be affected by the presence and preferences of other cheese eaters. James Beard Award-winning chef Daniel Boulud, for one, keeps his daughter Alix in mind when he shops for cheese. Her top pick is a true Dutch classic — Gouda! However, not just any ol' Gouda will do. This variety is made from goat milk.

Along with roughly 70% of the world's population, Chef Boulud's daughter Alix is lactose intolerant, meaning she is unable to safely consume lactose, a sugar commonly present in dairy products made from cow milk. But, that doesn't mean she can't enjoy an assortment of delectable cheeses! To appease her diet, Chef Boulud told Food & Wine that an aged spring goat Gouda can always be found in his home fridge. Other Boulud household staples include Manchego, an aged cheese of Spanish origin, as well as French icons Comté and Mimolette.

Traditional gouda is well known for its nutty, smoky, butterscotch-esque taste and semi-firm, subtly crumbly quality, making it an ideal team player for cheese boards, sandwiches, soups, mac 'n cheese, and other dishes. Goat milk gouda, on the other hand, possesses notes of sweetness, a velvety yet pleasantly crunchy bite, and an ivory hue. The takeaway here: Parents, buy your kids the cheese they crave.