The pros: If you take the texture and firmness of a mozzarella cheese, the taste of a cheddar cheese with a splash of herbs you would have Trader Joe's Italian Bigonda Cheese.
The cons: If you don't like dried herbs like the ones listed in the ingredients in your cheese, then you should pass on this. Although I personally hate caraway seeds and fennel seeds they didn't play a strong role in this cheese. The parsley and chives were more noticeable visually and in flavor.
The verdict: For $9.99 per pound I'd buy this again. It's got the elements of some of the cheeses I enjoy most in one package. This is a cheese I'd love to experiment with to add a twist to a recipe. This might add much to a mac and cheese dish or a rolled item that would normally have mozzarella in it, but I haven't confirmed whether or not this will work yet.
The cheese in the refrigerated section:
Out of the plastic:
What did it taste like? Imagine taking the firmness of a mozzarella cheese (think like those Polly-O blocks) but the taste that has more in common with a cheddar and sprinkle in a variety of herbs so that every bite is slightly different you would have this cheese. As much as I personally despise some of the herbs here, they worked in the cheese and I actually found myself cutting more and more pieces of cheese from the half pound wedge I purchased. Trader Joe's Italian Bigonda Cheese would make a great cheese to serve on a platter, with a salad, or for an herby addition to a mac and cheese. This is one of those cheeses you might want them to keep around. Give it a try. Let me know what you thought of it in the comments section.
Want to see more items I've tried from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.