The New $3.29 ALDI Find I'm Enjoying While It Lasts

I love cheese so much that I’ve written three books on the subject. And one of my absolute favorite cheeses of all time is Sartori BellaVitano, an award-winning American original cheese.

So, I was absolutely delighted to discover that ALDI is carrying its own version of this American original, called Not Your Average Cheddar Cheddar & Parmesan Cheese.

What I Love About ALDI's Cheddar & Parmesan Cheese

Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses are two amazing hard cheeses in their own right that, when combined, create cheese bliss. The new Not Your Average Cheddar’s Cheddar & Parmesan isn’t identical to my beloved BellaVitano, but it’s so, so close. It’s also cheaper than BellaVitano, at $3.29 for a seven-ounce square.

When tasting this cheese, you get a sharp cheddar note first, which then melds into a Parmesan-like umami fest. Together the flavors are absolutely irresistible. If you love cheddar or Parmesan, then you’ll adore this variety.

Not Your Average Cheddar also makes a Cheddar & Gruyère variety and a Double-Smoked Cheddar, too. My favorite, though, is the Cheddar & Parmesan.

How I Serve ALDI's Cheddar & Parmesan Cheese

The first time I tried Not Your Average Cheddar’s Cheddar & Parmesan, I ended up eating half of the block with crackers and a fig and orange jam I found in the new ALDI charcuterie aisle end cap. It’s a perfect snacking cheese, and it will instantly upgrade any cheese or charcuterie boards you make.

It also makes a fantastic grilled cheese. I sliced some of it onto sourdough bread with the fig and orange jam and some spring greens, and it was so, so good.

I think it would make a beautiful mac ’n cheese, and I know it tastes good grated on top of pasta and pizza because I tried that, too.

One of my favorite omelets to make is apple and cheddar—the historic Lou Mitchell’s diner in Chicago introduced me to this flavorful combination. This cheddar variety would add an extra layer of flavor to any kind of omelet, but I think it would pair perfectly with sautéed apples.

To make this omelet, you sauté apples with a touch of sugar in butter, and then set it aside. Then, make your omelet with the cheese inside, and top it with the apples. It’s a stunning brunch dish.

While I can think of plenty of delicious ways to use this cheese, all the cheese lovers in my house will probably just snack on it until it's gone.

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