Eat Cheese Like a Pro with top tips from Emma Young Cheese Explorer

In this episode of In Good Taste, I sit down with cheese explorer and consultant Emma Young, author of The Cheese Wheel, to unpack how to buy, store, serve and eat cheese like a pro, from Christmas cheeseboards to weekday fridge raids. We get into what actually makes a good cheese, how to navigate intimidating counters and the big myth about lactose intolerance and cheese that blows everyone’s mind. WHAT WE COVER ➡️ What makes a great cheese: good milk, happy animals and why “happy cows give good milk” ➡️ Cheesemonger vs supermarket: how to shop smarter and find the good stuff ➡️ Cheese has seasons too: goats, sheep and the long, gooey joy of Mont d’Or ➡️ How to build the perfect cheeseboard: Emma’s special formula ➡️ Texture and toppings: mixing soft, hard and blue with nuts, fruit, chutney, crisps (yes, really) and even chocolate ➡️ How to store cheese properly: wax paper vs cling film, veg drawer tactics and the truth about Tupperware ➡️ Fruit in cheese: when it works, and when it’s just hiding boring cheese ➡️ Big myths, busted: why many lactose intolerant people can eat (aged) cheese ➡️ Emma’s desert island cheeses: Stilton, soft and oozy beauties and the “chubby baby” tommes ABOUT ME I’m Mallika Basu, food writer, advisor and spice obsessive, on a mission to make food matters accessible, joyful and useful for food lovers. My new book, In Good Taste: What Shapes What We Eat and Drink – and Why It Matters (paperback), is out 22 Jan 2026 and available to pre-order in the UK now. FOLLOW ME Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mallikabasu_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@MallikaBasu Substack: https://mallikabasu.substack.com/ Follow In Good Taste so you never miss a weekly episode on food matters for food lovers – and if you enjoyed this one, a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating or quick review really helps others find the show.