Hopefully, if you're reading this, you have a close relationship with a local cheesemonger. If not, that's ok! Finding your cheesemonger can be a bit like finding the perfect therapist (and let's be real, cheese is therapy at times). It takes some work, but when you find the right one, it's pure dairy magic. With the Holidays inching closer, time is of the essence, and building that relationship might not be the top priority. (Maybe make this a New Year's resolution?!) Still, though, you need cheese!

Yes, you can shop for cheese at a grocery store and walk away with some fantastic finds, but this year, do yourself and your guests a favor and visit one of the many small, cut to order cheese shops out there. You'll be supporting small businesses, and chances are high that you will walk away with something delicious and new.

Cheese cases can be intimidating with all the products you've never heard of. It can seem like an impossible feat to find the things you are looking for (or what you don't even know you're looking for), but shopping at a cut to order shop will tailor your cheese to the experience you are looking for.

As a longtime cheesemonger, I've seen the fear in people's eyes as they approach the counter all too often. To help build your confidence and reduce that fear, I've put together a few guidelines to help you conquer any counter!

Don't assume you need to know anything about cheese.

Cheesemongers are there for a reason! It's literally their jobs to know about the cheese, not yours. They have a working knowledge of the case, and they work with people all day, every day, to find the things they want/need. Let them guide you and drop bits of their knowledge on to you.

Have a basic idea of the experience you are looking for.

Are you having a party? Cheese plate dinner for two? Need a cheese to grate over pasta? Just want a tasty snack? Communicating these needs to the Monger will let them know where to start. They will continue to ask questions to narrow down the choices, so you don't need to know specifics, just a general idea.

Give yourself time to shop.

Finding the right cheese is time-consuming. Make sure you are allowing for that and aren't rushing through the process. Yes, we're all busy, but giving it time will enhance the experience overall. Think of it as self-care. It should be an experience that you enjoy and willingly come back for time and time again.

Be open.

Open to answering questions. Open to trying new things. Open to using your words to convey what you like or don't like, even if the words don't seem "right." Be open to the process.

Trust. Your. Monger.

Trust in their expertise. Trust that they want you to have the best they can give. Trust that they want to make you happy. Trust that they know the cheese case better than you do. This relationship is one that should be built on trust. I know, it's hard to give up control, but I promise, it will mean that you will eat better cheese and be a happier person because of it.

I know this list seems like a lot, but really, it just comes down to letting the Monger take the reins while you guide them with your preferences. A cut to order cheese counter is going to give you things you wouldn't necessarily expect or even know about. This is fun and exciting! Nothing to be afraid of.

Do you have a cut to order counter where you live? Do you have a favorite cheesemonger that never steers you wrong? I want to know about them! Tell me who they are in the comments!