SKU: 8434854686

The Oxford Companion to Cheese

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The Oxford Companion to CheeseWinner of the 2017 James Beard Award for Reference & Scholarship The discovery of cheese is a narrative at least 8,000 years old, dating back to the Neolithic era. Yet, after all of these thousands of years we are still finding new ways to combine the same four basic ingredients milk, bacteria, salt, and enzymes into new and exciting products with vastly different shapes, sizes, and colors, and equally complex and varied tastes, textures, and, yes,

Winner of the 2017 James Beard Award for Reference & Scholarship

The discovery of cheese is a narrative at least 8,000 years old, dating back to the Neolithic era. Yet, after all of these thousands of years we are still finding new ways to combine the same four basic ingredients - milk, bacteria, salt, and enzymes - into new and exciting products with vastly different shapes, sizes, and colors, and equally complex and varied tastes, textures, and, yes, aromas. In fact, after a long period of industrialized, processed, and standardized cheese, cheesemakers, cheesemongers, affineurs, and most of all consumers are rediscovering the endless variety of cheeses across cultures.

The Oxford Companion to Cheese is the first major reference work dedicated to cheese, containing 855 A-Z entries on cheese history, culture, science, and production. From cottage cheese to Camembert, from Gorgonzola to Gruyère, there are entries on all of the major cheese varieties globally, but also many cheeses that are not well known outside of their region of production. The concentrated whey cheeses popular in Norway, brunost, are covered here, as are the traditional Turkish and Iranian cheeses that are ripened in casings prepared from sheep's or goat's skin. There are entries on animal species whose milk is commonly (cow, goat, sheep) and not so commonly (think yak, camel, and reindeer) used in cheesemaking, as well as entries on a few highly important breeds within each species, such as the Nubian goat or the Holstein cow. Regional entries on places with a strong history of cheese production, biographies of influential cheesemakers, innovative and influential cheese shops, and
historical entries on topics like manorial cheesemaking and cheese in children's literature round out the Companion's eclectic cultural coverage.

The Companion also reflects a fascination with the microbiology and chemistry of cheese, featuring entries on bacteria, molds, yeasts, cultures, and coagulants used in cheesemaking and cheese maturing. The blooms, veins, sticky surfaces, gooey interiors, crystals, wrinkles, strings, and yes, for some, the odors of cheese are all due to microbial action and growth. And today we have unprecedented insight into the microbial complexity of cheese, thanks to advances in molecular biology, whole-genome sequencing technologies, and microbiome research. The Companion is equally interested in the applied elements of cheesemaking, with entries on production methodologies and the technology and equipment used in cheesemaking.

An astonishing 325 authors contributed entries to the Companion, residing in 35 countries. These experts included cheesemakers, cheesemongers, dairy scientists, anthropologists, food historians, journalists, archaeologists, and on, from backgrounds as diverse as the topics they write about. Every entry is signed by the author, and includes both cross references to related topics and further reading suggestions. The endmatter includes a list of cheese-related museums and a thorough index. Two 16-page color inserts and well over a hundred black and white images help bring the entries to life.

This landmark encyclopedia is the most wide-ranging, comprehensive, and reliable reference work on cheese available, suitable for both novices and industry insiders alike.
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SKU: 8434854686

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Charlie
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Interactive puppy fun
Color: Blue
Pups love this and I enjoy watching them have so much fun. Serious playtime followed by a well earned nap!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2026
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Nala Nose Best 🐾
Houston, US
★★★★★ 3
Well-designed and quiet, but didn’t keep my dog interested
Color: Blue
My dog was interested in this at first, but she would lose interest after a few minutes and move on. I do like that it’s quieter than the hard plastic ball toys, and the charge lasts well. The internal charging port that twists closed is also a nice design feature. That said, it will occasionally turn on by itself, which can be a little surprising. Overall, it has some nice features, but it just didn’t keep my dog engaged.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2026
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OhCaptainMyCaptain
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 1
Good - for a few hours
Color: Blue, Color: Blue
Concept is fantastic. Dog loved it. Problem is that she figured out how to open it within two hours of play. The robot core, alas, did not survive. In the photo, you see a tooth went cleanly into the button and that was the end of the toy.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2026
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laruex3
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
The most engaging interactive toy for my Border Collie
Color: Orange, Color: Orange
My Border Collie is not a big ball player. He prefers tug type games and actually gives me a look like, “Are you stupid? I’m not going to keep bringing that to you if all you’re going to do is throw it away again!” after about the third time I throw a ball for him to fetch. However, I can only play tug so often and I need him to be entertained and engaged as much as possible. I got him a smaller, non-padded ball like this hoping he would like the interactive aspect of it. He did- he actually loved it! But it was loud, hard on his teeth, would come apart periodically, and he kept hitting the off button when playing with it. It drove me crazy. This one is so much better overall! The soft outer shell is not only easier on his teeth, but it is super resilient to biting and chewing. He actually likes to carry this thing around in his mouth while it’s bouncing and vibrating. The three modes give great flexibility for different kinds of play. His favorite is the most active mode: the ball reacts to touch and practically bounces itself across the floor when he touches it with his paw or mouth. I will point out that in one of the modes, I thought the battery wasn’t charged or there was a motor issue because it’s very subdued movement; however, it’s just set up as a low-key option. Be sure to check out each mode to see which works best for your dog at different times. I can’t say enough about this ball- I have been so pleasantly surprised by how much he loves it. The rechargeable feature is super convenient, it’s big enough to not get stuck under the couch, and it automatically shuts off based on whichever mode it’s set on. As the owner of a busy, super-smart dog who needs to be engaged in mental and physical activity, I think this all is worth every penny. In fact, I’m buying one for a friend who has a Border Collie pup with lots of energy to burn! I highly recommend this toy- it’s the most engaging toy I’ve found that Finn will play with on his own.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2026
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Dani
New York, US
★★★★★ 2
Not as Smart or Interactive as You Think it Will Be
Color: Blue
This is an honest review from a schnauzer owner who has has wanted this cheerble ball for their dog for more than one year. I finally bougI finally bought this toy and both me and my dog are disappointed. The settings are...i would say dog friendly as I'd assumed a dog ball would be. What I mean by that is, for example: the calm play setting is muuch too calm. Super light puffs of energy, like a battery is dying. And the playful setting is scary, alarmingly so. The intervals in between are too long. The ball does not bounce. So they just have settings all wrong. The size is good for a large dog only. Do not buy if you have a small to medium dog. I even think the material is okay. I've only had it for a few days so I can't even speak to how the material holds up. Really hoping to love this ball for my dog. It was not the distraction I was hoping it would be so I could work from home while my dog had fun. I'm hoping this can help someone else who's been pining over it. Essentially, it's a $35-$50 well made weighted ball that moves occasionally.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2026

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