Well, hello there. The past few weeks for the Western PA half of the WGaTJ's team have been, in a word or two, a little nutso. Start with my old laptop dying literally as I pounded out the final words of my last review a few weeks ago. Add in putting on the final touches of getting our house ready to be put on the market (which it finally is!) and driving a little over 2,000 mostly soggy miles in about 8 days for a little vacation up to Vermont and back. Then it was enduring a couple atypically crazy weeks at work and needing some funds to procure a new laptop and....well, yeah it's been a while since posting. Sorry for the lull, but I've found some great little TJ's goodies in the past few weeks, so I'll be making up for that. Thanks, Nathan, for holding down the fort. It's good to be back.
One of those goodies I came across, courtesy of my baby sister (a recent TJ's convert), was Trader Joe's Sliced Halloumi Cheese. My goodness. "A grilling cheese." I've never heard of such a thing. There's grilled cheese, of course. I'm almost 31 years old, and that's still almost a weekly staple. And then there's one of my favorite things, which is melted then crispied cheese, like the slighty burned edges of homemade mac 'n cheese. But a grilling cheese? Can't say I've heard of it.
But maaaaaaaaaan is it good. As you can see, the halloumi in fact grills up and gets a little browned and charred with minimal (if any) melting. By what power of Zeus is such a thing even possible? The Cyprus folks who invented this are pure men/women of genius. It's a very mild tasting cheese, fairly similar to mozzarella, but certainly isn't as soft. It's tougher, heavier and meatier, with a touch of crumbliness to it. Alongside our burgers, cold beers and grilled peppers, onions and eggplant, the halloumi was a perfect part of a terrific dinner we had on an overnight pit stop at my parents' house as we trekked back to Pittsburgh. My sister, who is pastry extraordinaire by day and an excellent all-around chef, says she picks this up quite often for either grilling big hunks of it (like ho we enjoyed it) or frying some up to put in some salad or pasta. I'm thinking that it would be a great match for a dish with sundried tomatoes and fresh herbs. Sis, if you're reading this, leave a comment or two with some of your recommendations.
There's only one sad thing I can say about the halloumi: like too many other good products that most of the TJ's-lovin' world gets to regularly enjoy (ahem, especially those alcohol related ones), it's not freakin' available at the East End Pittsburgh shop I frequent. Believe me, I scoured the otherwise rather expansive cheese selection for it, high and low, and didn't see it. Being a guy, I was too prideful to ask, but this really needs to be available locally, because I'm craving it again. Until then, I must dream sweet, cheesy dreams about a cheese that chars and doesn't melt. As will Sandy. "Mmmm, cheeeeeeeese...." is about all she could say until the expression on her face switched to one of pure, transfixed serenity as she recalled the fond tasty frolics she and the halloumi had together. I'm kinda surpised she gave it only a four. I'm going 4.5.
Bottom line: Trader Joe's Sliced Halloumi Cheese: 8.5 out of 10 Golden Spoons
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This is a middle-eastern breakfast staple. Serve it up with some fresh tomatoes and cucumbers (salted and peppered, of course), some olives, and with pita bread for an easy Arabic style breakfast. Also (and I know the point of this blog is to revel in the wonders of TJs) if you ever need it and can't find it, any middle-eastern specialty grocery store will surely have it.
ReplyDeleteGood idea and good point, lala. Thanks!
DeleteMy husband and I love, love, love Halloumi cheese! So glad to hear TJ is finally carrying it. My hubby and I call it oink cheese because of the squeaky sounds it makes when you chewing it. LOL
ReplyDeleteHaha, "oink cheese" I love it!
DeleteFirst time I had this cheese was on vaca to Santo Domingo where it is a staple for breakfast with fried salami, fried eggs, and sauteed onions over mashed plantains...ong...so delish...I have been looking for a place where I can buy it in US...
DeleteOoh, my husband would LOVE this! I'll have to check to see if it is available in the Dallas area when I do my weekly trip this coming weekend!
ReplyDeleteAt a greek place here in Atlanta ( and I am sure other places too) they set the halloumi on fire as they bring it to your table!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds awesome! Must...find...incendiary...halloumi....
DeleteIt's called "saganaki". The cheese is cooked on a cast iron griddle and served piping hot to spread on bread. At tableside they pour on a tablespoon or so of brandy and light it, shouting "Opa!" It's fun.
Deletehave to try that next picnic !
Deletehalloumi was in the sliced cheese/deli meats section of my tjs--did you look there?
ReplyDeleteI found this at TJ's today and bought it based on your recommendation. I was not disappointed! I tossed a couple of slices into a nonstick fry pan with a little bit of cooking spray and then enjoyed it with sliced apples. Totally delicious and now a new cheese to add to my list!
ReplyDeleteI made 15 pizzas from scratch. I shredded 5 types of cheeses, including was the halloumi cheese. These pizzas were so delicious chewy and crispy. We could not stop eating them. I love this cheese!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a tasteful sliced cheese, great post. You can also try Sargento a 100% real and natural cheese. Thanks ! :)
ReplyDeleteTry frying ittool golden brown and crispy. Pat dry with paper towel and squeeze lemon over it. Serve along side seafood platter or with tapas
ReplyDeleteDo you shop at Trader Joe's?
ReplyDeleteDo you love halloumi cheese?
If the answer to either of those questions is yes, you will be saddened to know that TJ's recently discontinued the greatest cookable cheese known to man (yes, I'm looking at you, paneer!)
http://www.traderjoes.com/contact-us/general-feedback
It's time to band together and demand that TJ's return that small white wonder to their shelves! And if it works, if they return the halloumi to all of us, I promise to cook for anyone who has not tried that delicious, firm yet flexible, hearty, squeaky and salty cheese!!