My 91-year-old grandmother is a creature of habit. She’s been eating nothing but Kraft American Cheese slices for as long as they’ve been around. I, on the other hand, love cheese so much I’m convinced I was a cheesemonger in a former life. I have a great affinity for artisanal cheeses from around the world. Artisanal cheese making is an art form that is becoming more prominent in the United States. It’s often defined as specialty cheese, or something with a unique quality such as origin, processing and quantity.

This spring, I had the good fortune of visiting the Old Chatham Sheep Herding Company, an artisanal cheese and yogurt maker in NY’s Hudson Valley. You’ve probably seen their products on the shelves at your local Whole Foods, or on the cheese menu at various restaurants. The farm itself is wonderful.

You are free to roam around and watch the sheep and lambs but you have to visit the store. It’s a glass-door refrigerator with a small money-box sitting next to it, where you “pay” on your honor. That’s quite a juxtaposition to the five days I’d just spent in Manhattan.

Artisanal cheeses are perfect for One World Weddings. Include a cheese course during your wedding dinner highlighting cheeses that are representative of both of your backgrounds. During cocktail hour, feature beer & cheese or wine & cheese pairings.

Selections can include sheep and goat cheeses, blue cheeses, cheeses infused with truffles and herbs, aged and fresh cheeses and hard or triple crème cheeses from countries like France, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Holland, Italy, Portugal and the United States. The choices are endless and chances are you will be introducing many of your guests to cheeses they have never tasted before. Offer compliments such as dried and fresh fruits and nuts, and give your guests a truly unique One World experience.

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