Site Map
Site Map 2
SciFi Info
Huckleberry Wild - Where To Find Huckleberry Products
Special thanks to:
for designing
Xenite.org's graphics
Contact Us!
|
Where can you get white cheese and/or white cheese dip? Well, I've found the raw cheeses in some grocery stores. Occasionally, I've found fully prepared dips in the stores, too. Here are some places you can look. However, in 2003, I was contacted by Chuck Sweat, then the President of Charley and Sons, Inc in Georgia. They make white cheese dip and sell it to Mexican restaurants. What's more, they are now selling it in stores (they have a distribution contract with Sysco Foods). Their Web site is located at http://www.gordos.cc/.
In December 2006, Ward Sweat (Vice President at Charley and Sons, Inc.) contacted me with an updated list of stores that carry their product. The Gordo's Cheese'n'Salsa Dip, as the product is now marketed, has been expanding into new markets each year. Ward asked me to let you folks know where to buy Gordo's Cheese'N'Salsa Dip. Hey Ward -- no Swe-- er, no problem!
Many people have written to suggest places to find white cheese dip through the years. As of August 31, 2006 this page lists all the suggestions I have in my email. Sometimes, because of the volume of email I get, legitimate messages go unread or may be accidentally deleted. I apologize if I have overlooked anyone. The comments and anecdotes many of you share are simply amazing. We appreciate all your support and interest. Please keep those messages coming, although we only update this site a few times a year.
Grocery Stores
Although many grocery store chains operate on a nationwide or international basis, they do vary their products by region. The fact someone finds a good source in one state may not mean you'll have the same luck in your state. You can usually make special requests at your grocery store, but they have to find a distributor who will sell them the cheese. It's not economical for the distributors to buy one case. They need to stock hundreds or thousands of cases, depending on how far they are from the manufacturers. I was unable to even special order the cheese when I lived in Ohio.
I asked Ward Sweat from Charley and Sons what people can do to help increase distribution. "Just tell them to ask for the product by name at their local grocery store," he said. "They need to talk to the store manager." Now, Ward did not promise you'll get the dip. But you will help create demand for it. Believe me, folks, there are many of you out there demanding it. Keep dropping by here for the latest information, but let the store managers know you want this dip. Ask your friends to make requests, too. This is the best way to increase the distribution of the product.
- Central Market
My girlfriend introduced me to Central Market this year (summer of 2006). She's into teas and stuff like that. I never thought to look for cheese dip ingredients, but Mike Stellini wrote to say that they carry a product called Jaime's Chili Con Queso in the refrigerated cheese section. Guess I'll be going back sooner than I thought.
- H.E.B.
People tell me they have bought the Cacique Asadero at H.E.B. I have never found it there, although they do carry Cacique cheeses. I have found other Asaderos in H.E.B. Check the specialty cheese section. The two I tried worked well enough. Remember, don't get any Asadero made from whole milk. Ask one of the employees for help, and be sure to describe the creamy texture of the dip. I had a very conversation with a couple of H.E.B. employees about how to make cheese dip.
- Kroger
They used to sell the Casa Nobleza and Land'O'Lakes cheese dips. The Kroger stores in Atlanta also sold a dip based on sour cream. DON'T BUY THE KROGER SOUR CREAM DIP (unless you like that kind of stuff -- it's just not the white cheese dip we all love). You may be able to find the Cacique cheeses in Kroger stores. You should find most of themin Texas Krogers, but the Asadero is very rarely in stock.
- Publix
The folks at Charley and Sons tell me that all the southeast Publix stores should now be carrying their Gordos cheese dip. A couple of people have written to tell us they found a suitable white cheese at Publix in Atlanta and south Florida. Jennifer John said she had to look on the top shelf of the commercial cheese section.
- Randalls
In Texas, I have found most of the Cacique cheeses at Randalls, although not the Asadero.
- Wal-Mart
The Wal-Mart superstores are very well-stocked with all sorts of cheeses. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, I was able to buy the Cacique Asadero cheese with no problem.
Jennifer Lamb says she buys a white cheese at Wal-mart that is made by El Viajero. She says it's with other Mexican cheeses. The name sounds familiar to me, but I don't know if I have tried this brand.
Many people have written to tell me that they buy a good white American cheese at Wal-Mart. Lois Dearmon wrote to tell us that the cheese sje buys there is block shaped, about a foot long.
I never found a commercial white cheese dip, at Wal-Mart. Avoid Sam's Club as they don't carry any good dip-making cheese. (NOTE: However, you might want to look for Lois' recommended block of cheese -- that sounds like something Sam's Club might carry on occasion.)
Well, I have never found it but many other people have found white American cheese at Wal-Mart. Tina Keaffaber says: "I always have to get it from the deli counter. It is made by land o lakes brand. It is also the white cheese subway uses on their sandwiches."
Valerie Fullart wrote to say: "White American Cheese is sold at your local supermarket in the dairy section. It is not as common as Yellow American cheese but it can be found. It has wonderful melting properties so it is commonly used on grilled cheese sandwiches. It is sold individually wrapped. In stores with a large deli section, they sell it in block form. It is a processed cheese that is a blend of one or more cheeses."
Donna Gesner wrote: "I have seen 'white american cheese' slices at Wal-mart, put it is usually followed by the words 'Cheese Food'...Anyway, I have found real White American Cheese at the Deli (Publix here in the South)."
Patricia wrote to say: "We have the white american cheese here at our Wal Mart and it is right next to the kraft."
Paul Phillips wrote to say: "I can confirm 100% that the cheese used by a favorite local mexican restaurant is Land O' Lakes 'Extra Melt' White American Melting Cheese. I don't know their recipe, but a waiter actually brought out the 5 pound block of 'velveeta' looking cheese loaf to show me. From what I see, the only way to buy it is food service, or second hand from a restaurant."
Stephanie wrote: "Yes, it's pretty common for us easterners, Kraft even makes their slices in a white american version. However, if you're having trouble finding it the place you'll probably be most likely to find it is in your deli section. White American is most often sold along with the deli meats and swiss cheese that you can have sliced for you at the counter."
OKAY, FOLKS! Thanks for all the tips. I truly do honestly believe that you can buy "White American Cheese" at Wal-Mart and other stores.
- Winn-Dixie
Pamela Bone wrote to say she has bought Queso Melt, distributed by Atlanta Foods International at her local Winn-Dixie in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. They provide a recipe on the front of the package.
Leslie wrote to say she buys the Atlantic Foods Queso Melt at Winn-Dixie as well.
Restaurants
One way to tell at a glance whether a Mexican Restaurant may serve the white cheese dip is to look at the staff. If you're in the eastern United States and they all look Hispanic, the odds are pretty good they serve some sort of white cheese dip. They do vary the recipe from region to region, but I've never been disappointed. West of the Mississippi, I've only found one such restaurant (so far -- I keep hoping to find more). The Berry Hill restaurants in Houston are not owned by a Mexican family, so Anglo establishments can serve the dip. It's just not very likely.
You probably will never find the dip in any fast food chain, so forget Taco Bell, Taco Cabana, and other Mexican-style fast foods.
Just a quick word about suggesting restaurants: We do welcome them, and eventually I'll get around to adding them to the list. I received a lot of email about white cheese in 2004, and lost some of it (unfortunately) due to computer problems. Regrettably, it takes a long time for me to get back to this site, so if you do contact us about the cheese dip, rest assured that your email is read and very much appreciated, and any suggestions will eventually make their way onto this site.
- Alabama
Scott Adcock recommended Rosie's in Huntsville. Jenny Lippincott suggests Tres Amigos in Oxford/Anniston. Amanda Null recommends Buenavista Mexican Restaurant in Scottsboro.
- Arkansas
Shawn Raymond wrote to tell me that Casa Mexicana and Senor Tequila both served a white cheese dip. Shawn asked what cheese they used and was told, "White American Cheese" (naturally). Christopher Beck confirmed Shawn's recommendation of Senor Tequila and added that El Chico's in Little Rock also serves the cheese dip. Jerri Qualls says El Acapulco in northeastern Arkansas serves white cheese dip. Charlee Griffith says the chain El Acapulco is all over Arkansas. Michael Partain says Las Palmos in North Little Rock, El Canaveral in Stuttgart, and "the new Mexican restaurant in Searcy where the old Cafe Santa Fe used to be" all serve the white cheese dip. Toby Simmons says El Porton in West Little Rock also carries he dip.
Barbara Dolan says Ortega's Mexican Restaurant in Heber Springs has the white cheese dip.
- Florida
La Fiesta, La Fiesta II, and La Fiesta III in Panama City and Tallahassee all serve the white cheese dip. These are family-owned. Meredith Houser says that family-owned restaurants now extend as far south as Orlando. In the meantime, she also mentioned Moe's Southwest Grill in Miami has the white cheese dip.
- Georgia - Just about any Mexican restaurant in my experience.
For example, in Atlanta, I know that the El Toro restaurants carry the white cheese. So do the El Azteca restaurants. Don't waste your time with Chili's (unless they pick up Queso Loco or Land-o-Lakes queso blanco). I know there was a restaurant on Roswell Road in Marietta (just outside Atlanta) near the Big Chicken (local landmark). That might have been a Los Bravos or a Los Reyes. Chad Stricklin suggested El Ranchero in Peachtree City. Meredith Houser mentions an El Potro (possibly El Porto?) chain of restaurants. She also recommends La Casuela in Atlanta.
- Indiana. Apparently, the Hoosiers love white cheese dip, too. And why shouldn't they?
Jerri Qualls suggests El Arriero's in Kokomo (in central Indiana, not the Carribean Sea). Jennifer Jehle says Cebolla's in Fort Wayne serves "the best white cheese dip".
- Louisiana. Seems they don't just eat crawfish in Cajun Country.
Chad Stricklin recommends Chile Verde in Monroe (northeastern Louisiana). Sally Ray wrote to tell us about Old Mexico in Ruston.
- Mississippi
Amy Kittrell wrote to say that she has bought the white cheese dip in an El Sombrero and an El Chico restaurant (I don't know which part of Mississippi, though).
- Missouri
Tanya Lobb says she and her brother enjoy the white cheese dip at a restuarant called LaFuente in Lee's Summit.
- North Carolina
Meredith Houser suggested Los Tres Magyues in Cary. Ashleigh Nelson wrote to mention Las Margaritas in Garner. The staff are mostly Colombian and they offer some Colombian dishes in addition to the Mexican menu items. Ashlee McQueen suggests Mi Casita in Rockingham.
- Oklahoma
Ken Clagett tells us that Arizona's restaurants in Tulsa (at least five locations) serves the white cheese dip. Patricia writes to say that El Tapatia in Ardmore, OK serves a white cheese dip made from Monterrey Jack cheese, milk, and jalapenos.
- Tennessee, Murfreesboro (home of SF author Andre Norton)
Well, if you were a regular customer of Darlene McDonnell's BookStop (now closed down), you would know the little Mexican restaurant around the corner from her store. Phillip Wallace wrote to say, "The restaurant ... would have to be Camino Real....There's another restaurant called LaSiesta...." I believe the restaurant I ate at was Camino Real, but I appreciate knowing about LaSiesta (as I am sure other people will be, too).
Charlee Griffith mentioned El Porton in Memphis. Charlee says the El Porton queso is hotter (spicier) than El Acapulco's.
- Texas
Berry Hill Tamale Taco and Azteca (not related to the Georgia restaurants) are the only two sources in Houston that I've found so far. Berry Hill is a small growing chain (read more in Where to find the best white cheese dip in Texas). Lisa from Austin wrote to tell us she enjoyed a white chili con queso while growing up in Austin, but she didn't mention any restaurants. Lana Hager says an upscale restaurant in Austin serves white cheese with flour tortillas. This sounds like what they call Flameado here in Houston, but I have never been to Austin.
- Washington
I seem to be the only source in this state. I feel like a pusher. But I'm trying to change all that.
- Virginia
Juji Wan Kenobi wrote to say there are restaurants in Virginia Beach, VA which serve the white cheese dip. Jodi Kanger says a restaurant called Mexico in Richmond, VA serves the white cheese on their dishes.
If you're just browsing stores and looking for anything that might work, keep in mind that some Asadero cheeses are made from whole milk. For example, Del Norte Ranch's Asadero may be good cheese, but it's not good for making cheese dip. One thing I noticed was that it is made from whole milk. The best brand I've found (in New Mexico and Texas) has been Cacique Asadero cheese. If you cannot find their Asadero (and it's rarely in stock in the Texas stores I've checked), then a workable substitute is Queso Quesadilla cheese. I've also tried Queso Blanco cheese, but it's not necessarily the best substitute (odd as that may seem -- but you may have better results than me).
Cacique's Asadero cheese is pre-sliced (in layers) and comes in a round plastic package weighing 12 ounzes. The ingredients are part skim milk cheeses (cultured pastuerized milk and skim milk, salt, and enzymes), nonfat dry milk, sodium citrate, soy lecithin and titanium dioxide (for color). Just in case you cannot find the brand in your local stores, there may be a comparable type of cheese you can purchase and try out instead. In fact, I found a couple of Asaderos in an H.E.B. store which worked okay (I mixed two together).
Chris Miller and Katrina Berrian wrote to tell us that Cheese Supply.Com sells two styles of the Cacique Asadero. The packaging looks right and the price seems reasonable. You may be able to get a better price in a grocery store, of course.
Keywords: mexican white cheese sauce
|
