45. Le pays aux mille fromages

You already know that the French take gastronomy very seriously, but even so, cheese occupies a special place in our hearts and on our tables. No meal is complete without a piece of cheese. A lot of restaurants even offer lunch menus ending with "fromage ou dessert" (either cheese or dessert). I wonder if many people outside of France would consider that a piece of cheese is an acceptable alternative to a slice of gâteau au chocolat or a crème brûlée...

How many French cheeses are there? Hard to tell, but it might be in the thousands, according to this article. In the following activities, you'll get acquainted with a few of the most popular ones.

• Crossword exercise: Lexique des fromages de France (document created by dodeuil at ISLCollective. Includes answer sheet.)

• Quiz des fromages français, with answer sheet (based on this document.)

Similar to wine, cheese is more than a food: it's a way of life, connected to many traditions and customs. 

For example, do you think you know how to cut cheese? Think again! In France, there are specific rules about the proper way to cut various cheeses, and you may inadvertently offend your host if you don't know them. 

But no worries, this video from the French-German TV channel Arte will explain everything to you:

Here is a transcript + translation for the video above.

You can also watch this other video, less funny but easier to understand:

Still confused? This article in English may clarify things for you.

And now, enjoy your cheese, and don't forget the bread and wine pairing!