How to Spot an Artisanal Cheese Huckster
Signs and Symptoms
- Exorbitant pricing (>$20/lb for a block of cheddar? That's not artisanal, that's highway robbery!)
- Mandatory use of the phrase "small batch" to sound impressive
- Use of unnecessary buzzwords: "hand-crafted", "locally sourced", "micro-portioned"
- Overly dramatic labeling: "Truffle infused, artisanal, organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, artisanal, small-batch, locally-made, artisanal, hand-crafted, artisanal, artisanal, artisanal, artisanal, artisanal..."
Don't be swayed by the artisanal cheese huckster's tricks! Stay informed, stay alert!
Subtleties
- Check the label for the number of 'artisnals' used
- Ask the huckster to describe their 'process'
- Request a taste test
- Watch for inconsistencies in their story
Next Steps
Take a deep breath, put on your best "I've seen this before" face, and politely walk away.
Or better yet, Go to Next Steps
