It's getting to that time of year again, when the queues stretch literally for two blocks outside…read moreJ. Mellis. You won't find a better cheesemonger in town, and doesn't Mr Mellis know it. I never really noticed just how big a deal cheese becomes at Xmas until I saw the queues here, and it prompted me to give it a try myself. I went for the unusual combination of French saucisson and a nice bit of Wensleydale, and after it I can safely say that despite the sometimes stomach turning smell, I'll definitely be back.

You can smell it before you even get in the door, but don't let that stop you!…read more I love cheese, and, I should probably put that on my CV somewhere. I. LOVE. CHEESE. Even the stinky ones. Here's a few tips about Mellis's. First, be sure to talk to the staff and tell them what you're looking for. There's a couple of benefits of doing this. First of all, they'll help you find something suited to your taste. Secondly, they'll help you find something that goes with the meal or wine you'll be having. They're very knowledgeable about their cheeses, so trust them. If they suggest something you're not used to, don't say no just because you don't like blue cheese (or whatever). They won't have you try something they don't think you'll like. Which brings me to my second point: If you're going to dinner at a friend's (which I often do); tell them what's for dinner, or if you're not sure, tell them what wine you're bringing as well. The staff will ask some questions to get a better idea of what you want. Do you want something melty? Something soft? Or maybe a cheddar? Then, not only will they help you pick a cheese which will go with your meal, but they'll help you pick a second cheese that will go with the first. If you tell them where you're going, or what you're planning to have the cheese with, they'll get out their little pear knife, and have you taste different ones until you find the ones you like. You'll never choose blindly, and that's a good thing. Here's another tip: If you're just wanting to buy something for the sake of having it and not a special occasion, look behind you. There's a little display of discounts there, which are usually on sale. I once bought a pot of really melty, stinky stuff and it was divine. And cheap. And once, when I went in with my gift certificate (they won't give you change, so you have to use it all), they gave me a half a dozen eggs for 20p just so that I could use my gift certificate up to the penny. Now that's service! Parma ham and other meats are sliced right in front of you, so that you can choose the thickness and amount that you want, which is way way wayyyy better than buying a pre-packaged selection from the supermarket. And hand-made oatcakes? Pretty cheap for oatcakes and so delish they can be eaten on their own. I love cheese. And I also love I J Mellis.

I always enjoy checking out the local cheeses and bringing some home to share with my friends, as…read moresome cheeses are hard to find back home or are very expensive compared to the local prices. My friend who lives in Glasgow recommended this place, which is not far from the University, and on a main street with plenty of eateries. Not going to lie, walking in I was a bit disappointed at how small the store is. One side of the store has wine, jams and other things that go with cheeses (or a fine life), so it's really a small cooler for soft cheeses and a long counter for the aged ones, quarters and half wheels stacked neatly on top of full wheels. The staff is nice and knowledgeable about their cheeses. They have a plate of samples going on, and they also gladly cut samples off other cheeses we asked about. I ended up getting a few cheeses: Blue Murder is a blue cheese made by the Highland Cheese company, at the family farm at Blarliath near Tain. The cheese is rich and buttery and wonderfully balanced in savory and sweetness. Isle of Mull is a delicious aged cheddar. Their secret - the cows are fed fermented grains from a local whisky distillery!! Ticklemore - it's hard to find in the US so I'm glad to find it here. A beautiful goat cheese that is mild, lemony and creamy, and not overly goaty. The prices are very reasonable when compared to what I would have paid for in the US. It's more expensive than your average supermarket cheeses, but shopping here allow you to support small businesses and artisanal cheesemakers!

If you like cheese it doesn't get much better than a visit to George Mewes. First tried George's…read morewares a few Christmases back and I've been going ever since. Doesn't matter what time of day you go in or how busy it is, you'll still get the same immense and consistent service. The people that work here know their cheese and are unbelievably passionate about their products. Wandered passed the other day and the smell pulled me in and I had to purchase some Stilton. The guy working that day pointed out that the Stilton is at an all time high, he cut a piece off and gave me it to prove it. He wasn't wrong, the Stilton here is probably the best thing I've ever eaten, hands down. My girlfriend who apparently didn't like blue cheese has now been converted. It isn't just the Stilton that is good, it goes for every type I've tried or bought here. The prices are a little higher than supermarkets but that doesn't matter as the product here isn't even comparable. Once you start shopping here you'll never look at generic supermarket cheese in the same way again. If you like cheese, don't go anywhere else!

I was oh so very very happy when I found out about this place. Place isn't quite the right term,…read morethough. Cheesy Peasy is a moving cheese van. Yes, that's right: a moving cheese van. Every Saturday it, and the French man who sells the cheese, can be found parked on Meadow Place between ten in the morning and six in the evening. All his cheese gets delivered from France every week or every fortnight. Apart from cheese, he also sells croissants, pain au chocolat and baguettes! I very recently discovered that he also sells macaroons. I got myself a passion fruit and chocolate macaroon and it was better than any macaroon I've ever had. Passion fruit and chocolate is the best fruit and chocolate combination in the world. Fact. The cheese, needless to say, is also mouth-watering. We've started the habit of buying camembert and making baked camembert with white wine and garlic. These are the best three ingredients put together. Ever. Again. Not only is Cheesy Peasy the coolest idea (I mean ANY kind of moving cheese van gets my approval) but their cheese is also top-rate.

I love this new addition to Marco Island and The Esplanades! The shop is beautiful, extremely clean…read moreand neat... the owner and staff are very nice and accommodating! I've sampled many different cheeses, nuts, crackers, salami and so on... Love it all! They also can put together beautiful snd delicious trays for special occasions! Highly recommend it!

Who doesnt love cheese? My bf ... but still he was happy to indulge my inner cheese fiend when…read morevisiting arran. Although its quite a small shop they have plenty packed in and ALWAYS have lots of samplers for you to try. I feel in love with the chilli cheese and also the chive and garlic. You can peek through to the factory and watch the cheese being made. I really wanted to take a picture of this but was put off by the staff member growling at me through the factory window. Very off putting!

All my research said that IJ Mellis was a must and I understand why. This tiny cheese shop located…read moreon Victoria Street is booming with business. Likely for the cheese, but also for the service! Even though crowded and busy, the staff was so delightful and friendly! They let us sample some cheeses before we made our selections. We went with all Scottish cheeses, because when in Scotland. They were fabulous!! We got a mix of cheddar, Gouda and blue that we can't wait to enjoy on our upcoming train ride. Prices are fair and by weight. Yum!

Fantastic! If you're a cheese lover, you must stop by. The staff member was so unbelievably kind…read moreand knowledgeable. I got an aged Scottish cheddar and it was amazing. They even suggested the proper cracker to go nicely with it. They'll give you a sample, so just ask! It's a small place but so cozy and welcoming.

I heard that George Mews was opening and was looking forward to it. I've been to the Glasgow shop…read moreand they had a great range if cheeses and it was consistent here in Edinburgh. Samples are plentiful and this place is cheese lovers heaven. They also do a great range of charcuterie, smoked fish, bread, oatcakes and chutneys. Many of their products stocked are local and if not, sourced from small independent Scottish producers. I picked up angelic oatcakes and I'll pop down before new year to get a range of cheese for my visitors. Well worth a visit!

The Glaswegian cheesemonger George Mewes has opened up a shop in Stockbridge. Visually it's a…read morebeautiful experience, with wheels of British and European cheese piled high, artisanal products neatly arranged on shelves. The staff is friendly and makes you feel welcome by plying you with samples of their cheeses. I could have stayed all day. The only thing keeping me from declaring my undying love to this shop is the price point - all this fancy cheese does not come cheap. Do cheeses make for good Christmas presents?

The Torrylinn Creamery is home of the wonderful Arran cheese, all made on the premises from local…read moremilk. It's a cheddar style cheese (Dunlop style) - available as either a white cheese or a red (coloured) cheese. You can buy the cheese in many major supermarkets - but you can get offcuts at a fraction of the price direct from the creamery. The creamery also has a viewing area and information boards - so you can find out more about the cheese making process and see them making the cheese - and see how clean the factory is at the same time (which I'm sure is the point of having a viewing area). A very tasty product - and an unusual place to visit as a tourist.

Of course only good things to say about a good experience with great selections and service!read more

Quite literally the best thing we did in Scotland. Okay, I may be biased as a cheese-lover, but I…read morewould come here every day if I could. A wonderful and diverse selection is available, and we focused on Scottish and local. They had a cheese available that only five cows could produce - be sure to ask the staff and they'll point you to the most interesting selections! And we couldn't leave without a baguette to sample them all on. My only regret is that I didn't buy more - and we walked out with nine cheeses and some other snacks. Put this on the list especially if you're a visitor - we never get to enjoy unpasteurized cheese over here in the US especially - and if you're lucky enough to live nearby I'd go daily.

I went in here to buy a big rubber band called a 'resistance band'…read more I had been using one in a singing lesson, it helps to engage more muscles as part of the 'support system' that singers use to achieve very high notes. Obviously I can't use it for performances but it is helpful because it gets muscles that I do not normally use to work, and then I have a 'reference point' - something to aim for when I am singing without the resistance band. So I decided I would nip into this fitness shop to buy a resistance band of my own. I am a chubby person who eats a lot of cheese, and this shop is a fitness shop that sells protein shakes and gym equipment and fitness stuff, so I was a bit concerned that the staff would treat me dismissively. Instead the service in this shop was very very good. The man behind the counter was very polite, knew what I meant when I asked for the band, recommended the stronger of the two when I told him what I needed it for, and was generally welcoming and encouraging. I bought the band, it works great. Since I am unlikely use this shop again - since I am not particularly interested in fitness (I am more interested in singing and eating cheese) - I thought I would recommend it on here. if you live in Scotland's central belt and want to use a fitness shop without the hassle of going to glasgow or edinburgh, the service in this one is great. They are a small shop but very full of stuff! You can check their website to see what they stock, although the website does not have everything on it that is available in store.

Anster Connage Crowdie…read moreCriffel Cromarty Dunsyre Blue Grimbister Farm Lanark Blue Loch Arthur Cheddar Lochnagar St Duthus & Strathdon Blue If you're looking to take home some Scottish cheese, this I.J. Mellis is a great starting place. The staff are friendly and knowledgable and happy to recommend cheeses to suit each customer's palette and tastebuds. More importantly, they're happy to dish out free samples! Based in Morningside, this branch also stocks a cracking selection of fresh bread, fruit and veg, ham, fish, salami, oat crackers, olives, chutneys, olive oil, vinegar, honey, jam and coffee. In fact, if I lived in the area and had a bigger disposable income, I'd probably do most of my shopping here!

I was very impressed by Clark's, another cheese store located in Bruntsfield. However, Mellis,…read morewhich is just a few minutes away in Morningside is probably the cheeselovers heaven. It's one of many Mellis stores in Edinburgh, the most famous one being located in Old Town, but certainly doesn't disappoint. Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French and of course Scottish cheese can be bought here, but it's more than just a cheese shop; all sorts of bread, antipasto and olives can be bought as well as eggs, ham and even baking ingredients of the more wholesome variety. Naturally, it isn't cheap, but definitely a fair price for good cheese, and fresh food. If I keep discovering places like this in addition to Valvona and Crolla, I may just stop going to the supermarkets altogether.. or at least until I can't afford to anymore.