1. The New Rules of Cheese, by Anne Saxelby
saxelbycheese.com, $15
Cheesemonger Anne Saxelby’s new book is packed with infographics and charts that make understanding cheese easy, and there’s something for every level of cheese lover, from handy guides to cutting and storing cheese and geeky explanations for meltability to dairy farming deep dives and cheesemaking 101. Saxelby expounds on 52 “rules” in all, from “Great cheese starts with great milk” to “Learn to speak cheese.”
2. Monaco Black 3-Knife Set
boska.com, $90
Boska Holland has been making fine cheese knives and accessories for nearly 125 years, but its Monaco line has a decidedly modern look and feel. These stainless-steel knives are sturdier than their slim looks suggest, and the quilted pattern on the blades is designed to reduce sticking with soft cheeses. Leather storage sleeve included.
3. RBT Collection Modular Serving Tray
rabbitwine.com, $125
From the RBT luxury barware imprint from the Rabbit corkscrew brand, this elongated hexagonal geometric design has a melamine base and removable silicone mat and marble inserts. Stainless-steel cheese knife included.
4. Messermeister German 6-Inch Cheese and Tomato Knife
messermeister.com, $35
The California-based Messermeister brand of imported Germany-made forged knives is completely female-owned, run by the late founder’s wife, Debra Dressler, and their daughters Chelcea and Kirsten. This versatile, reliable blade is backed by a lifetime guarantee and is as deft at slicing tomatoes and baguettes as it is cheese.
5. Microplane Cube Grater
microplane.com, $20
Microplane is the industry standard for cheese graters. The Cube adds myriad functional improvements to the standard box grater: It’s self-contained, dishwasher-safe, includes a built-in measuring cup and has multiple grating surfaces for rough and fine grating of not just cheese but chocolate, ginger, vegetables and anything else that’s greater grated.
6. Alessi Forma Cheese Grater
alessi.com, $82
This showpiece grater designed by late architect Zaha Hadid is ergonomically designed. The stainless-steel grater is dishwasher-safe, and the melamine resting stand doubles as a receptacle for freshly grated cheese.
7. Cheese Subscriptions
Look to trusted regional sources for cheese clubs, with an expert-chosen selection of cheeses delivered to the recipient’s door every month typically for three, six or 12 months: Murray’s Cheese, Cowgirl Creamery, Formaggio Kitchen, Antonelli's and others.
