“We got cheese!”

That was the ecstatic shout heard reverberating through my house when my husband took his first bite of Chao Slices, the new vegan cheese by Field Roast.

I had been waiting patiently to try these ever since I first heard vegans singing their praises on social media. I couldn’t wait to try the cheese that everyone was saying was so good that you could eat it “straight from the package.” If you’ve ever had vegan cheese before, you know that’s a huge deal. While other brands may be good mixed into or melted on top of other things, you’d never want to eat them by the handful with no chaser.*

But Field Roast has made a cheese that’s actually really that good. They describe their slices as “a vegan coconut cheese alternative seasoned with a traditionally fermented soybean curd called Chao by the Vietnamese.” Sounds kind of gross, right? Just ignore them. All I know is that we couldn’t stop sneaking pieces right from the package. We also fried up some mean grilled cheese sandwiches. And as someone who used to think they’d never be able to give up cheese, I can tell you these are a total game-changer.

Aside from right out of the package or in the tastiest grilled cheese you’ve ever had, I have some other recommendations for ways they’d probably be great.

Creamy Original
This is your straight-up American cheese slice. This made the best grilled cheese out of the three flavors, and I’m already dreaming up all sorts of sandwiches to top with this one.

Tomato Cayenne
Yes, it’s definitely got a kick (there’s that cayenne) and reminds me of Pepper Jack cheese. I can’t wait to melt this over nachos or on top of a black bean burger.

Coconut Herb
This is the oddball of the bunch and I almost didn’t try it. I’m so glad my husband didn’t listen to me and purchased it anyway. It takes me back to my childhood, when my dad used to buy fresh mozzarella string cheese with chunks of cracked black peppercorns. This would be so tasty with tomato slices, basil and a little drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

A Couple More Things…

• Where Are They? Right now, only one of my local Whole Foods Markets has them and the other one does not. Strange. But keep looking out for them. I’ve also heard that people are requesting that their local health food stores order some, so it can’t hurt to ask.
• How Much? Alright, this is the part that hurts a little. At my Whole Foods, they are around $5.00 for a pack of 10 slices. Ouch. But these are not an every day, eat-all-the-time kind of food. They’re my special treat, and I love them.

Have You Tried Chao Slices Yet?
Did you fall in love with them instantly like I did? What did you think? Let me know in the comments section below!

*P.S. Love this BuzzFeed video of people trying vegan cheeses. It’s totally unrelated – they didn’t try the Chao, which I’m sure they would have raved about – but it’s funny so I’m sharing. Enjoy.