Granted I'm not an expert on cuisine, or on cheese, or on English fare. But when I saw the latest offering dubbed "Spicy English Cheese" from Pilgrims Choice, a brand of cheeses from British-based North Downs Dairy Co. Ltd., it drew a contradiction in me.

I always grew up thinking that English food was the most bland tasteless stuff seemingly consistent with the timeless routines and traditions of stodgy old England. Don't rock the boat with anything spicy or demonic! That would be hedonist!

Spicy English Cheese is simply made with bits of jalapeno peppers. Keep in mind that Pilgrims Choice has produced other varieties of tongue burning milk curds. I just continue to be amused at how globalization is knocking down age old traditions. Here in the United States, everything is borrowed from one culture or another due to our immigrant history. In Europe, they're getting it all back from us.