Cheese is beloved by almost anyone with a working set of taste buds. But if you really think about it, coagulated milk proteins and moldy rinds really aren't all that appetizing. Here are eight specimens that plumb the depths of that dark intersection between delicious, revolting, and just plain wack.
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8.
Brick of Cheese FriesIs there such a thing as too much cheese? Your stomach might say yes, but this $8 brick of cheesy fried goodness says no. If you want to see for yourself, you'll have to wait until next year's L.A. County Fair.
7.
Casu MarzuThis Sardinian sheep's milk cheese, also known as "maggot cheese," is filled with live insect larvae that break down the cheese's fats to a near-liquid state. And yet, brave souls in Italy are willing to pay twice the price of a brick of Pecorino for maggot cheese on the black market. The reason? It's damn tasty.
6.
Breast Milk CheeseIt's not on store shelves (yet), but Mexican artist Raul Ortega Ayala turned donated breast milk into cheese for a recent art gallery exhibition in London. Ayala dubbed the cheese "Alejandra Ortiz-Reynoso" after the kind donor of the milk. It sounds yucky, but admit it: you've probably enjoyed your fair share of breast milk.
5.
Camel CheeseBored with cheese from cows and goats? Consider camel cheese, a brie-like cheese that supposedly has a distinct "animal flavor" and pleasant barnyard undertones". Caravane camel cheese, also known as "Camelbert," is now available in certain gourmet shops and restaurants around the country.
4.
Mt. Rushmore, Cheddar Cheese-StyleDoes it get much better than a massive replica of Mount Rushmore carved out of cheddar? We don't think so. The smell wafting from this 700-pound block of Land O'Lakes cheddar might be nauseating, but opportunities do you get to bite off Abe Lincoln's head?
3.
Quezo Real MellorineSelecta's ice cream fortified with cheddar cheese bits might be the ultimate sweet and salty combination. Just ignore the sickly yellow coloring.
2.
Prawn Cheese SpreadDon't believe there could be actual prawns in this Swedish spread? The shellfish are there, all right -- in the form of small pink bits. Think of it as shrimp-flavored Cheez Whiz and you might be able to stomach it.
1.
Mac and Cheese on a Stick
Okay, this isn't so much gross as it is a natural evolution of mac and cheese from fork food to finger food. It just seems so
right.
