🧀 June 4 – National Cheese Day: Sweet Dreams Are Made of Cheese (Who Am I to Dis a Brie?) 🧀
Get ready to gouda your way into June, because National Cheese Day is here—and it’s grate! Whether you're a firm cheddar fan, a soft brie believer, or a stinky blue devotee, this is your official excuse to shout your love for all things dairy from the (cheddar) rooftops.
Affiliate Disclosure
Just so you know, this post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click through and buy something, I might earn a tiny commission—enough to keep the lights on and maybe snag a celebratory cupcake. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, pinky promise.
🧀 A Cheesy Little Origin Story
Unlike some of our more buttoned-up national observances, National Cheese Day doesn’t have a verified creator or an official founding tale—and honestly, that feels pretty on brand for cheese. It’s been around for centuries, it doesn’t need to explain itself, and it ages better than most of us. While the exact beginnings are a little muenster-ious, the day itself seems to have sprung up as a delightful way to honor one of the oldest, most beloved foods on Earth.
People have been making cheese for over 7,000 years, so yes, that block of aged gouda in your fridge is basically following ancient traditions. Respect.
🧠 Fun Facts That’ll Make You Say “Whey Cool!”
🥇 The most expensive cheese in the world is Pule cheese, made from Balkan donkey milk in Serbia, and it’ll cost you upwards of $1,000 per pound. Yes, donkey cheese. No, we don’t know how they milk them either.
🧀 There are over 1,800 types of cheese in the world. That’s one new cheese every day for nearly five years—and you’d still have more to try!
🧊 Cheese was found in an Egyptian tomb that dates back over 3,200 years. Moldy? Probably. Cool? Also yes.
😴 Cheese dreams are real—scientific studies suggest that cheese before bed might influence your dreams. Time to test the limits of your subconscious with a bedtime cheddar snack.
🎉 10 (Delightfully Cheesy) Ways to Celebrate National Cheese Day
🧀 Host a DIY Cheese Board Party
Go beyond the basic brie. Think lavender goat cheese, wine-soaked Toscano, and all the honeycomb-drizzled accoutrements your heart can handle.🎨 Craft Cheese Portraits
Yes, this is a thing now. Make a self-portrait using cheese slices and post it proudly online. You’re an artisanal genius.🍕 Order (or Make) the Cheesiest Pizza Ever
Extra cheese? Make it double. Stuffed crust? Obviously. You deserve this dairy overload.🧂 Try a Funky New Cheese You’ve Never Heard Of
Like Epoisses, the famously pungent French cheese banned on public transport. Yes, banned. Adventure awaits.🎥 Watch a Cheese-Themed Movie
Wallace & Gromit, Ratatouille, or even She’s All That (because of that iconic "I like... cheese" moment). Make it a dairy flick night.🧑🍳 Make Homemade Mac and Cheese from Scratch
And no, the boxed stuff doesn’t count today. Get fancy. Throw in four cheeses and a breadcrumb topping.🧳 Plan a Cheese Crawl in Your City
Hit up local cheese shops, delis, or markets. Rate each cheese on a very serious, totally scientific scale (bonus points for cheesy puns).🧖♀️ Pamper Yourself with a Cheese & Wine Spa Night
No facials required—just silky wine, indulgent cheese, and a face mask while watching rom-coms. Self-care, dairy-style.🧩 Do a Cheese Trivia Night with Friends
“What cheese is illegal in the U.S. due to its maggot content?” (Answer: Casu marzu. Gross but fascinating.)📸 Post Your Favorite Cheese Meme or Pun Online
Don’t be bleu—spread the joy. (Like butter. On cheese. On toast.)
“A Cheesy Love Letter to Dairy”
🧀 Main Dish: Three-Cheese Baked Gnocchi with Herbed Breadcrumbs
Ingredients:
1 lb potato gnocchi
1 cup ricotta
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (plus more for topping)
1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional but encouraged)
Salt + black pepper to taste
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (thyme, parsley, or basil)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Cook gnocchi according to package. Drain and set aside.
In a saucepan, heat a little butter and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
Stir in ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes.
Toss gnocchi in the cheese sauce and pour into a baking dish.
In a skillet, melt butter and toast breadcrumbs with herbs until golden.
Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the gnocchi and bake for 10–15 minutes, until bubbling and golden.
Garnish with more herbs and extra Parmesan like a true dairy enthusiast.
🧀 Side: Mini Cheese Board for One (or Not)
Set out a little board with:
2–3 kinds of cheese (soft, hard, funky—mix it up)
Crackers or baguette slices
Fruit (grapes, apple slices, dried apricots)
Nuts + a drizzle of honey
Bonus: a tiny pot of fig jam or mustard
Perfect for nibbling while dinner bakes.
🍷 Drink: Red Wine + Cheddar Cocktail (aka a Cheddar Martini? Stay with me...)
OR
A Grapey Mocktail Sparkler
For the cheese theme, naturally.
Mocktail Version:
3 oz white grape juice
Splash of lemon juice
Top with sparkling water
Garnish with frozen grapes or a twist of lemon
Cocktail Version:
Add 1.5 oz gin or vodka + a cheddar cube garnish (yes, you’re fancy now).
🍯🧀 Dessert: Honey Ricotta Tart with Almond Crust
Ingredients:
For the crust:
1 1/2 cups almond flour
2 tbsp all-purpose flour (or gluten-free if needed)
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
For the filling:
1 1/2 cups ricotta (whole milk, well-drained)
1/3 cup honey (plus more for drizzling)
Zest of 1 lemon
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Optional: pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg
To top:
Fresh berries or sliced figs
Crushed pistachios or almonds
More honey, because you’re worth it
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix crust ingredients and press into a tart pan or pie dish. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until lightly golden.
While that cools a bit, whisk together ricotta, honey, lemon zest, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
Pour filling into the crust and bake for 25–30 minutes, until just set.
Let cool completely. Chill in the fridge if you like it cold.
Before serving, top with berries, nuts, and a generous honey drizzle.
🎉 Bonus Vibes:
Play some French jazz or Italian café music.
Light a candle that smells like a cheese shop (just kidding… unless?)
Wear an apron that says “Grate Expectations.”
🧀 Elementary Idea: "Cheddar-tastic Cheese Quest!"
Theme: A cheese-themed, inquiry-based scavenger hunt that blends literacy, geography, and snack-sized science!
🧰 Materials:
Printed “Cheese Clue Cards” (templates below)
Clipboards or folders for student teams
Small plastic cheese wedges or pictures (optional but fun!)
Printable Cheese Map of the World 🗺️ (highlighting origin of popular cheeses)
Markers, pencils, glue sticks
Optional: cheese samples (if allowed by school policy), or cheese-shaped crackers like Goldfish 🐠
📚 Activity Steps:
Hook 'Em with a Riddle: Start with a mystery letter from “The Cheese Council,” inviting students on a secret mission to discover The Legendary Lost Cheese of Quirkonia.
Scavenger Stations (5-6): Set up learning stations around the room. Each station has:
A cheesy clue 🧩
A mini-activity (examples below)
A stamp or sticker upon completion
Sample Station Ideas:
Literacy: Unscramble cheese names
Geography: Match cheeses to their countries on a world map
Science: Observe what happens when cheese is heated (pre-melt a slice vs. solid slice – safe and no heating in class!)
Math: Solve “cheesy” word problems (e.g., If 1 wedge = 30g, how many for 120g?)
Art: Design your own cheese label with name, logo & flavor description
Cheese Quest Certificates: Once all stations are completed, present students with a goofy “Certified Cheese Explorer” award 🏅
Wrap-Up & Reflection: Quick circle share — “What’s one new cheese you learned about or want to try?” (Optional: do a vote on class-favorite cheese!)
🧀 Secondary Idea: "Say Cheese: A Culinary Culture Collab Project"
Theme: Dive into the delicious world of global cheese through research, presentation, and creative storytelling.
🧰 Materials:
Research templates (digital or paper)
Access to devices or printouts for cheese research
Poster board or digital slide tools (Google Slides, Canva, etc.)
Optional props for presentations (chef hats, menus, fake cheese, etc.)
📚 Activity Steps:
Intro Hook: “Cheese Around the World” Gallery Walk
Hang up or display 8–10 famous cheeses (e.g., Manchego, Paneer, Roquefort, Cotija).
Students rotate and make quick observations: “Texture?”, “Origin?”, “Looks fancy or funky?”
Assign (or let them choose) Cheese Cultures
In pairs or small groups, students pick a cheese and explore its:History & cultural significance
Production process
Common dishes it stars in
Any controversies or fun facts (hello, maggot cheese! 🐛🧀)
Creative Twist: Invent a Cheese-Based Restaurant/Street Food Cart
Design a menu (3 dishes with the cheese featured)
Pitch their “culinary brand” to the class Shark Tank-style!
Option: Add a jingle or cheesy commercial to up the fun factor 🎶
Reflection & Vote:
As a class, students vote on:Most innovative cheese concept 🧠
Most likely to go viral on TikTok 🎥
Cheese they'd actually want to eat 🧀😋
🧀 Quirky in the Workplace
Each team member brings in their most unhinged cheese plate interpretation.
Key twist: it doesn’t have to involve actual cheese.
Encouraged entries:
A cheese board made entirely of yellow office supplies (highlighter slices, sticky-note cheddar, rubber-band brie)
Literal “cheese” puns (mac & cheese... made of macaroni art and Monopoly money?)
An interpretive cheese sculpture using leftover lunch wrappers
Judging Categories:
“Most Likely to Offend a French Cheesemonger”
“Best Use of Non-Dairy Materials”
“Looks Moldy But Isn’t”
🏆 Winner gets a golden cheese grater trophy (aka a spray-painted grater no one wants to touch) and eternal workplace brie-gadeship.
Tagline for the day:
“National Cheese Day: Because nothing says team spirit like a cubicle that smells faintly of dairy and dreams.”
🎬 Movie Pick: Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave (1995)
Why it’s perfect:
You can’t celebrate cheese without mentioning Wallace, the most cheese-obsessed character in animation. This stop-motion classic is filled with British charm, plenty of clever cheese puns, and Wallace’s eternal love for Wensleydale. “Cracking good cheese, Gromit!”
Bonus cheese moment: Wallace’s cheesy moon obsession in A Grand Day Out is also a great backup if you want a double feature.
📺 TV Episode Pick: Friends – Season 5, Episode 9: “The One with Ross’s Sandwich”
Why it’s cheesy magic:
While the spotlight is technically on a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich, the “moist maker” sandwich includes a generous helping of cheese—and Ross’s complete meltdown over it is unforgettable. The drama over a cheesy sandwich is oddly relatable and totally hilarious.
Iconic line: “Someone ATE the only good thing going on in my life!”
🧀 Hashtags to Share the Cheesy Love
#NationalCheeseDay #SweetDreamsAreMadeOfCheese #GrateDay #BrieMine #SayCheese #CheesePlease #CheddarChasers #CurdIsTheWord #DairyDivine #CelebrateQuirky
