Laurier

Great cheese should be transporting—a nap in a forest; a skip through a field—and this one is. Developed exclusively for Artisanal this goat cheese is creamy, floral, bright and almost minty because of a single fresh bay leaf pressed on top.

Brand: Artisanal Cheese

Origin: United States

When chef Terrance Brennan introduced a game-changing cheese plate at Picholine, one of his New York eateries, little did he realize it would eventually give birth to the Artisanal Premium Cheese Center. The 10,000-square-foot space, located on the west side of Manhattan, is a temple to fromage, featuring a full retail operation where those trained in the ancient art of affinage nurture and age over 200 types of cheese selected from around the world. The Center also features the restaurant Artisanal Fromagerie, Bistro and Wine Bar, classes in mozzarella making and other cheesy subjects, and cheese-and-wine pairings.