346812 Wed Nov 29 23:15:24 -0800 2006 9 31 Home Cooking 0 2056819 what's your favorite cheese with chili? is it really cheddar? has anyone tried being a little more adventurous? I confess to having tried blue cheese, once -- it wasn't as bad as it seems (actually quite good for the first 5 mouthfuls). i'm making a pot of turkey and bean chili and just wondering what might i be missing out on in sticking with the old-standby of cheddar. thanks! Wed Nov 29 23:15:24 -0800 2006 56556 fecurtain 1 2056862 I really do like sharp cheddar with my chili -- I like both the sharpness and the gooey-ness of the melted cheese as an accent to the spiciness of the chili. That said, I also like jack cheese and varieties of mexican cheese, including queso panela and cotija, sprinkled over chili. Don't forget the avocado, cilantro and chopped onion! Wed Nov 29 23:34:50 -0800 2006 2056819 11028 DanaB 1 2056957 If you can get queso fresco (sp?) to put on your chili, it is just the most delicious. I've also found feta to be an intriguing partner with chili. Young goat cheese (chevre) is also fantastic on really spicy chili as it helps keep your mouth from getting too, too hot. Though honestly, just about any decent cheese is good on chili. Thu Nov 30 00:08:15 -0800 2006 2056819 53430 cpanagakis 1 2057130 thanks, danab and cpanagakis! i'm intrigued by the avocado and the goat cheese... i'm trying some queso fresco tonight (but have the cheddar just in case!) Thu Nov 30 01:13:36 -0800 2006 2056819 56556 fecurtain 1 2057215 On the other hand if your chili is mild, you could go for a jalepeno cheese. I have used pepper jack, jalpeno havarti. I also love the goat cheese with chili (and just about anything else for that matter) Thu Nov 30 01:49:25 -0800 2006 2056819 34604 sweetie 2 2057731 If I have both on hand, I usually do a 50-50 blend of sharp cheddar and jalapeño jack. Barring that, just the cheddar. I have not tried the Mexican queso fresco on chili, but I've been doing a lot of experimenting with it and I think it'd be really good. Really different, but really good. Thu Nov 30 07:00:24 -0800 2006 2057215 11478 Will Owen 1 2057469 Queso fresco would be my first choice, but I'm another fan of jalapeno harvarti, sharp cheddar, and I've even used munster cheese with my chilli. Thu Nov 30 03:53:12 -0800 2006 2056819 11222 Infomaniac 1 2057755 I don't know how long they're going to keep it in stock, but Trader Joe's is currently selling a terrific New Zealand Grass Fed Sharp Cheddar which I think would be great with your turkey chili. Thu Nov 30 07:27:21 -0800 2006 2056819 10991 kiwi 1 2057760 If I'm having cheese on chili, which is pretty rare for me, it's almost certainly going to be some form of jack, probably a co-jack or possibly a pepper jack. Thu Nov 30 07:31:49 -0800 2006 2056819 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 1 2062948 Jalapenos, olives, cilantro, lot of red onion, Jack Cheese (melts great) and fresh icey cold tomatoes,and avacodo if you have it. It's like having a salad on your bowl of piping hot chili. Dont' forget the tabsco sauce. Fri Dec 01 23:00:01 -0800 2006 2056819 50431 chef chicklet