The Word of the Day is: Manchego

And why not?

Manchego, the creamy, nutty, Spanish sheep's milk cheese, is like my new favorite pair of jeans.. the ones I finally tracked down after months (or years) of questing like Don Quixote across the landscape. I maybe paid a little much for 'em, but they make me terribly happy, so I chart 'em in the "so very worth it" category.

And like my favorite denim, Manchego fits just right. It's versatile (terrific melted, a star in salads, and yummy straight up), it's got style, it dresses up easily, it ages beautifully and it makes you look good at parties. Just toss that baby down on a pretty plate with some strips of fruity quince paste. Talk about Don Quixote and your ever-impending trip to Spain for a while while you take down a rioja gran reserva.

What more could you ask from a humble country cheese?