Di Bruno Bros. house of cheese: a guide to wedges, recipes, and pairings

Darlington (madamefromageblog.com) here draws on the offerings at long-established Philadelphia cheese monger Di Bruno Bros. and the expertise of its staff to highlight a range of cheeses according to such personalities as "mountain men," "vixens," "quiet types," and "pierced punks." While this conceit is sometimes strained, it proves to be a smart way to hook readers who may not immediately grasp other descriptors such as "grassy" or "goaty" or understand differences among types of rinds, milks, or degrees of firmness. The description of each cheese briefly captures its history and its flavor, complemented with suggestions for beverage pairings and accompaniments. The author takes care not to overwhelm readers with too much detail about the science behind cheese making. Darlington also provides guidance for building appealing cheese plates and includes a small selection of enticing recipes. The result is a delightfully approachable book that can be read cover to cover or by section according to which cheese personalities are most likely to appeal to the reader. VERDICT This terrific guide to cheeses is cleverly designed for a broad audience. Highly recommended for public library collections.-Peter Hepburn, Coll. of the Canyons Lib., Santa Clarita, CA (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Americans have finally taken cheese to heart. It used to be difficult to find much beyond industrially produced cheddar, and Roquefort was known only in salad dressing. Now Brie is available in almost every supermarket. American cheese makers have begun producing great goat cheeses to rival the majestic ones of Europe. Philadelphians have come to rely on Di Bruno Bros.' knowledgeable cheesemongers for decades. Darlington, a regular customer, publishes a blog as Madame Fromage, wherein she shares all sorts of information about and evaluations of cheeses. This volume sums up Darlington's encyclopedic knowledge and experience, and her perceptively apt descriptions profit anyone, sophisticate or novice. For each cheese she catalogs, she lists other foods whose flavors act in harmony with that cheese. She also puts forward specific wines and beers to complement the cheese. A couple dozen recipes, some unexpectedly innovative, show how cheese functions in cooking. A highly useful addition to any food reference collection. Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.

Darlington (madamefromageblog.com) here draws on the offerings at long-established Philadelphia cheese monger Di Bruno Bros. and the expertise of its staff to highlight a range of cheeses according to such personalities as "mountain men," "vixens," "quiet types," and "pierced punks." While this conceit is sometimes strained, it proves to be a smart way to hook readers who may not immediately grasp other descriptors such as "grassy" or "goaty" or understand differences among types of rinds, milks, or degrees of firmness. The description of each cheese briefly captures its history and its flavor, complemented with suggestions for beverage pairings and accompaniments. The author takes care not to overwhelm readers with too much detail about the science behind cheese making. Darlington also provides guidance for building appealing cheese plates and includes a small selection of enticing recipes. The result is a delightfully approachable book that can be read cover to cover or by section according to which cheese personalities are most likely to appeal to the reader. VERDICT This terrific guide to cheeses is cleverly designed for a broad audience. Highly recommended for public library collections.—Peter Hepburn, Coll. of the Canyons Lib., Santa Clarita, CA