Ah, the power of Cheese
I am surprised that no one has mentioned Livarot yet, it's STINKY, but it is oh so GOOD. Also, what about Explorateur, a great triple-creme. A few of my other favorites include all blues (including Cabrales, a Spanish blue made from a mix of cow's, sheep's, and goat's milk), Petit Basque (a sheep's milk cheese, mild and slightly nutty, with a texture similar to cheddar), cheddars (my favorite being Sharp Cheddar from Cabot in Vermont), Dry Jack, and Saint-Nectaire. Though there are few cheeses I can pass up. Luckily here in Chicago we have a purveyor with a great cheese selection, Tekla. Sophia, who oversees the cheeses does a great job. She seeks out beautiful cheeses from smaller producers. Her cheeses tend to be pretty expensive, I have seen prices upwards of $20 a pound and that is wholesale price. It is amazing the difference in quality from cheeses made in large scale production houses and those that come from small producers. If you have never tried a Saint-Nectaire or Explorateur from a small producer, be prepared for a revelation. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a great cheese. That said, I still love my hot, spicy Velvetta-Chile dip!!!!