I once heard Parrano described as a Dutch cheese with an Italian accent, or maybe it was an Italian cheese with a Dutch accent. Either way, it's an accurate description for a cheese from the Netherlands named for an Etruscan village. Think Gouda mixed with Parmesan. Parrano is a versatile cheese that I reach for when I want flavor for not a high cost. After reaching for the cheese I usually reach for the grater.

Ways I use grated Parrano:
Macaroni and Cheese
Grilled Cheese (two no brainers)
Omelets
Topping Duck Confit, Roasted Garlic and Arugula Pizza

Name: Parrano
Type of Milk: Cow, Pasteurized
Type: semi-hard
Produced in: Netherlands
Date Produced: Unknown
Date Purchased: 11/04/2006
Date Eaten: 11/08/2006
Purchased Where: United States, North Carolina, Raleigh, Whole Foods
Price: $7.99/lb.

Leerdammer is one of my favorite Swiss-style cheeses. Big holes. Lots of flavor. Nice bite.
The cheese is named after the Dutch town of Leerdam and is a fairly new cheese, first sold in 1984. For the price it is a bargain for flavor.

Name: Leerdammer
Type of Milk: Cow, Pasteurized, Part-skim
Type: semi-hard
Produced in: The Netherlands
Date Produced: Unknown
Date Purchased: 11/17/2006
Date Eaten: 11/18/2006
Purchased Where: United States, North Carolina, Raleigh, Whole Foods
Price: $7.99/lb.

Farmstead Noord Hollander is an extra-aged, four year-old gouda. The color is rich butterscotch with similar notes of flavor. Noord Hollander brings an intensity of flavor like other aged goods, balsamic vinergar or good Kentucky bourbon. The slow drying over the years has left a salted nutty bite to this intense gouda that can probably only be consumed in small amounts. Fleming said, "I love that crunch at the end of a bite. Almost like it has its own cracker." A prefect description. A super cheese. I recently saw a 7-year-old gouda in the cheese shop and am aching to compare it to Noord Hollander.

Name: Noord Hollander or Noord-Hollander or Farmstead Noord Hollander Gouda
Type of Milk: cow's, unpasteurized
Type: hard
Produced in: The Netherlands
Date Purchased: 1/28/2007
Date Eaten: 1/30/2007
Purchased Where: United States, North Carolina, Chapel Hill, A Southern Season
Price: $15.99/lb.