Say "Cheese"

A quick word on cheese here in Scotland... for someone who loves cheese as much as I do, it's been quite a challenge here to figure out what's going on.

First of all, cheese in the grocery store is pretty limited in terms of selection, and sometimes cheese isn't even labeled by type so it's a mystery. Sharp cheddar is way too sharp and mild cheddar is not cutting it. Shredded cheese is way too thick and doesn't seem to have the same melting properties as American shredded cheese. I must have put my pasta with shredded mozzarella cheese in the microwave five times trying to melt the cheese on top, but no luck.

What's more, cheese in restaurants is disturbing at best. I ordered a sandwich down in Berwick-Upon-Tweed a few weekends ago and asked for cheese on it and it came back with cold shredded cheese. I thought it was odd but wrote it off as a restaurant-specific quirk. A few days ago I ordered a sandwich in Edinburgh only to get the same results: cold shredded cheese on a hot sandwich.

I'm not sure what the deal is but it's unacceptable to me. The Scots really don't know what they're missing... warm, melty, gooey processed cheese. MMMM.

On a different note, I've figured out how the UK takes advantage of American tourists/students. The 1-pound (brutally now worth about $1.60) and 2-pound denominations are coins. Coins to me in America are like free money--spending 4 quarters doesn't feel the same as spending a dollar bill. Unfortunately the 1-pound and 2-pound coins kind of weigh down purses and pockets and are practically begging to be spent just to relieve some of the weight. I have to keep repeating "Pounds are not quarters" in my head as I walk by the countless promotions geared towards students advertising 1-pound, 1.50-pound, and 2-pound items. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Conveniently (for the university), drinks in all the student unions typically max out at 2 pounds per drink.

Don't let the tone of this post fool you; I'm having a blast here. There's really nothing like Arthur's Seat at twilight. Next up is St. Andrews (tomorrow) and Dublin (this weekend), so there's plenty of excitement ahead. I just wish the Scots would step up their cheese game.