06/04/2026
Happy National Cheese Day!
Everyone loves cheese, but did you know that during the Gilded Age, the cheeses served at your table were an indicator of your wealth and social standing ? The Gilded Age saw a surge of American interest in European foods and cheese was a key part of that. For the American working class, the ancient European practice of cheesemaking was continued as a necessary way to preserve precious milk supplies. For the America elite, cheese incorporated in fine dining, was more than a table food- it was a symbol of refinement, luxury, sophistication, and culture . Elite wealthy families would use imported cheeses to signal wealth and their chefs would pair cheeses with fine imported wines and pastries to heighten the entertaining experience.
One factor in the quality, and importantly, the affordability of the cheeses produced was the type of dairy cows in Europe versus the United States. European dairy cows ate fresh mountainside grass which produced milk with a higher fat content and resulted in softer, creamier cheeses such as Camembert and Brie. American dairy herds were fed more of a dry grain diet, and produced milk with higher lactose and less fat content which yielded cheeses of a harder, denser consistency such as Cheddar and Colby. These bovine differences created an obvious class distinction- the wealthy enjoyed the soft delicate flavors of artisan cheeses while the working class could only afford the local , salted varieties of cheeses.
Cheeseboards became a hallmark of entertaining and featured a variety of imported soft and aged cheeses alongside crackers and fruit. Such cheeseboards laid the groundwork for the popularity of modern cheese plates which are often gourmet centerpieces in upscale restaurants and private dining events. Today, the cheese industry is one of the largest in the global food market- projected to grow to over a $200 billion dollar industry by 2031. The Industrial Revolution fostered the creation of technology during the Gilded Age which signaled the shift of the majority of cheesemaking from farmhouse craft to factory production.
Wishing you a cheesy day on this National Cheese Day!
Image: From Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management
