If there is one food I can confidently say I am addicted to in this world, it is and always will be cheese. I have spent all twenty years on this planet loving, enjoying and embracing cheese, and I have no current plans to end this romantic relationship we have developed.
I am in love with cheese, but cheese is, however, not in love with me.
Being a lactose intolerant vegan, there are obvious reasons I should not love cheese. In fact, I should despise cheese and all of its dairy-filled counterparts. I should avoid the mere idea of cheese - but I cannot do that. Cheese is my one true love, and how could you separate yourself from your one true love? Impossible.
Luckily, brands like Field Roast exist to preserve that loving bond we all hold with cheese. Goodbye casein, hello chao cheese slices!
With other vegan cheese brands such as Daiya, Follow Your Heart, and Chicago Vegan Foods, there's currently some fierce competition to go head-to-head with in the vegan cheese industry. Shreds, slices, wedges, and even spreads of non-dairy cheese have been on the market for years and their quality is only improving as we speak. To break into an industry where common brand names have already been established is challenging; however, Field Roast has joined the party and they're setting a brand new standard for quality and authenticity of vegan cheeses everywhere.
After hearing that a new vegan cheese was hitting the market, I searched high and low for this cheese everywhere I went. It was supposedly a game changer in the vegan cheese market, leaving me desperate to find and try it as soon as possible. While there are currently multiple vegan cheeses on the market today, none have satisfied my desire for a truly authentic, delicious vegan cheese thus far. As a former cheese addict, I had high hopes and standards for this cheese - so let me tell you that it did not disappoint.
Since finding this cheese and nearly devouring it all straight from the package (in one sitting, if I may add), I've put it to good use in a variety of different dishes. It works phenomenally well in hot sandwiches, like a classic grilled cheese or a grilled pepperoni pizza panini - all vegan, of course.
It also tastes incredible cold, especially in a sandwich with Tofurky Deli Slices and Hampton Creek Chipotle Mayo.
Best. Lunch. Ever.
Does it work well in cheese sauces, you ask?
Very well. It works fantastically in macaroni and cheese, for one thing.
It also works great in vegan alfredo. Move over, parmesan.
Vegan nachos? Yes, these are more than possible with this cheese.
What about pizza muffin bites? Those can be a vegan thing? Yes they can.
I'm clearly having copious amounts of fun with this cheese.
Before we get too cheese crazy, let's move on the review:
FLAVOR: ★★★★★ (5/5)
The flavor of these cheeses is amazing. I've tried two of three flavors (the Creamy Original and the Tomato Cayenne) and they are out of this world. Though Field Roast aspires to not mimic traditional dairy cheese flavors with this product, I can't help but note the impressive similarities between these and dairy cheeses. The Creamy Original tastes similar to a soft provolone and the Tomato Cayenne tastes like a spicy pepper jack - but WAY better!
TEXTURE: ★★★★★ (5/5)
For a vegan cheese product, the texture on this cheese is incredible. While they may not be as creamy as standard dairy cheese, they still provide a good bite and a solid texture. In no way are they "dry" or even "too creamy", as I've experienced frequently with other vegan cheeses. They're great hot or cold, especially on crackers or in a sandwich! Yum!
AUTHENTICITY: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
This one is a bit tricky. While these cheeses taste great with crackers or inside of a melty grilled cheese, they don't provide that "stretch" factor 100%. Maybe I'm being a dreamer here, but I'm awaiting a vegan cheese that gives me that stretch and pull of melted mozzarella or cheddar. They're unbelievably creamy (but again, not "too creamy") and melt in your mouth wonderfully, but the stretch just isn't there when melted. I wouldn't recommend these for a pizza (believe me - I've tried), but they're entirely suitable for any other cheese-related need.
COST: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
While everyone's budgets are different, I'm basing this review on the current costs of other vegan cheeses on the market. Most that I've seen range from $3.50 - $5.00, but these exceed those greatly, coming in at about $6.00 - $8.00 per pack of ten slices. Recently, however, I've seen them reduced to $5.00, which was lovely. Again, this entirely depends on your region and the store you are purchasing them from, but I feel as though the prices I've provided are pretty spot on.
AVAILABILITY: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
It took about two months for my local Whole Foods to receive these cheeses after everyone on the West Coast began receiving theirs. I live in the Midwest, so with the exception of Chicago, vegan products are pretty scarce and may be in fairly low demand. Regardless, once this cheese hit the shelves at my local Whole Foods, it wasn't long before the other health food stores in my area began carrying it as well. Still, my local grocery stores haven't begun carrying it to this day and I'm not sure they ever will. (For reference, I'll note that they carry Daiya cheeses as well as some lactose-free cheeses.)
OVERALL PERSONAL RATING: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
I've recommended this cheese to every vegan and non-vegan inquiring about dairy-free cheeses. It is a bit pricey and it is SLIGHTLY lacking in the stretch factor, but it is still one of the best vegan cheeses I've ever tasted. The flavors are delicious, the texture is spot on, and it is so incredibly versatile in cooking (as I've shown above). With a few minor complaints, I'm all for this amazing cheese!!
NON-VEGAN RATING: ★★★★★ (5/5)
The first day I brought these cheeses home, I immediately began the process of making a grilled cheese sandwich with them. My little brother watched me make mine and became incredibly curious about their taste (I was quite thrilled to have found them and was making a very large fuss of how delicious they were), so he tried them both hot and cold. The result? Two thumbs, way up. He even asked me to make him a sandwich with this cheese instead of the dairy cheese in the fridge! Score!
Fast forward a few days later and I've prepared myself another grilled cheese - shocker. This time, my mother hears me raving about my sandwich and asks for a bite. To my surprise (and hers!), she falls in love with the flavor and even asks (read: demands) I make her a sandwich with this cheese. Go Field Roast!
Though it has been quite a bit since these cheeses have hit shelves, there have been some states who still haven't found them just yet. However, if you have already tried this cheese, let me know what you think of these cheeses! What have you used them for so far? Do you hope Field Roast comes out with some more flavors in the future? Let me know below!
Click HERE for the Field Roast website to see the other Chao Cheese flavors as well their separate line of vegan products!
Happy cheese eating!
- xoxo, the Friendly Foodie ♥
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