Talk:Monterey Jack

The Franciscans were Spanish
The article states "Monterey Jack was made by the Mexican Franciscan friars of Monterey, California, during the 19th century." However Franciscan friars were Spanish not Mexican, in fact when Mexico took control of California they expelled the Spanish missionaries and ended the mission system, so the Spanish Franciscans didn't get a chance to become Mexican. Promontoriumispromontorium (talk) 08:50, 17 September 2011 (UTC)

Furthermore Monterey Jack was based on queso de país which was a Spanish cheese, the technique was brought to California by the Spanish missionaries. After the Spanish missions were shut down by the Mexican government, local Californios maintained the traditional production of the cheese, which eventually became Monterey Jack. Promontoriumispromontorium (talk) 08:58, 17 September 2011 (UTC)

Move?

 * The following discussion is an archived discussion of the proposal. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. No further edits should be made to this section. 

The result of the proposal was support for move as the primary topic, the common name and as unnecessarily precise.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 00:59, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

Monterey Jack cheese → Monterey Jack — — unnecessary qualifier — emerson7 22:53, 21 October 2009 (UTC)
 * "Monterey Jack" has other meanings: see Monterey Jack (disambiguation). Anthony Appleyard (talk) 08:03, 22 October 2009 (UTC):
 * comment: indeed. however, 1) Monterey Jack currently redirects to Monterey Jack cheese, and per wp:name the qualifier 'cheese', if used, should be parenthetical, i.e. Monterey Jack (cheese). --emerson7 00:58, 23 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Comment It's not a disambiguator so does not need parenthesis. 76.66.195.206 (talk) 03:40, 25 October 2009 (UTC)


 * Support per nom. Quite definitely the primary meaning of the expression.  Indeed, were one still active at AfD, one would not support the continued existence of the other articles linked from the dab page... Tevildo (talk) 00:03, 24 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Ah. None of the entries linked from the dab page is, in fact, an article.  Grounds for deletion of the dab page?  Perhaps.  However, my primary opinion still stands. Tevildo (talk) 00:06, 24 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Support. Clear primary topic and none of the items currently on the disambiguation page are even remotely close. The word cheese is unnecessary for the article title, but a redirect should remain. older ≠ wiser 12:22, 25 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Support Per common name and WP:PRIMARYTOPIC. --Born2cycle (talk) 23:50, 26 October 2009 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the proposal. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

Regional difference?
Having moved many years ago from California to Ohio and, subsequently, the New York City area, I have continually been curious about why we can't get proper Monterey jack cheese here in the Northeast. It's sold under the same name, but no matter what brand you buy, it tastes completely different from the California variety. Instead of the very mild, buttery, nutty flavor and soft texture of the California cheese, our so-called Monterey jack is rather sharp and firm enough to grate -- not unlike a white colby or a mild white cheddar.

It seems like it would not be difficult for some maker in Vermont, upstate New York, or Wisconsin to produce an authentic Monterey jack cheese. It also seems like they should not be allowed to sell it with the same name when it's obviously not the same cheese.

Have people in other parts of the U.S. noticed a similar difference? Any explanations for why the unavailability of the real thing persists, at least here in the Northeast? ElsaObuchowski (talk) 21:54, 25 September 2011 (UTC) Elsa Obuchowski

Uncomprehensible?
"Dry Jack was originally created by mistake in San Francisco during World War I as Italian aged cheeses became increasingly difficult to obtain."

Pondering the above. If the cheese-type was mistakenly created what would the co-existence of WW 1 or any conflict or ANY event anywhere and/or at any time period have to do with the "error"?

In my Disgruntled Old Coot ensconced within a shanty surrounded by the first snowfall and truly frigid air of the winter season and huddled next to the wondrous heat spewing out my tiny 1500 watt electric heater opinion I believe an editor-type hombre or hombrette might consider the worthiness of omitting that convoluted thought brought by me, the Coot, to this page to alert others more involved with that which is Wiki attention.Obbop (talk) 18:36, 6 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Throw another blanket around your venerable shoulders and take a look at the edit I've done to that part of the article. Does it make more sense now? Cheers, mate! Geoff  Who, me?  03:45, 29 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Howdy unknown human creature. Considering the rampaging German submarines of World War One (the war to end all wars) and the negative effect upon shipping (ask a survivor of the Lusitania or any vessel receiving a torpedo from the then rather new wide-spread use of submersible at-sea weapons delivery units) I can easily comprehend how that time period could have been detrimental to transporting cheese and other goodies from Europe to the USA (or Japan or Guatemala or French Polynesia or Siam or pert-near everywhere on this planet).

Ponder this while eating thine Monterey Jack cheese; what if the USA had not become involved in a Europe-based war? What affair was it of the USA? Our safety and security was not in danger. Do not allow propaganda disseminated by USA elites, corporate USA, special-interest groups, etc. influence yer' thinking. Look at FACTS!!!!!!!!!!!! It is conceivable that the USA's actions in WW1 caused the ensuing World War Two and the multi-millions of deaths!!! TRUE!!!!! Germany was close to winning WW1 and the following political "climate" within Europe and Germany may have never allowed Hitler or any Hitler-type creep to ascend to any position of power and/or influence!!!! Yes, Germany lost WW1 and WW2 followed; that is reality. I am unable to find ANY correlation of Monterey Jack cheese with WW2 following WW1 so that is a good thing. While on the cheese topic I am forced to consider pizza. Some parts of the USA, especially where Portuguese folks settled, one can find linguicia offered in pizza joints thereabouts as a topping; at local and chain pizza joints. A Pizza Hut or other national chain will alter menus to meet local offerings. Crumbled linguicia is especially yummy as a pizza topping. Grab one today!!!! And read "War is a Racket" by Marine Corps general Smedley Butler. I am NOT a pacifist but We, the People, must stand up to our ruling masters and corporate USA whose OWN wants, needs and desires have, too often, led the USA into wars that as heard so often on both sides during the USA Civil War; "that the rich man starts but the poor man fights." Let it be known I am a veteran of two military tours to SE Asia in the 1970s. And this concludes the rather expanded commentary compelled by Monterey Jack cheese.Obbop (talk) 13:35, 13 February 2012 (UTC)

Assessment comment
Substituted at 00:23, 30 April 2016 (UTC)

Pepper Jack, a question
From the article:

"Pepper Jack cheese is a derivative of Monterey Jack that is flavored with spicy chili peppers, as well as various peppers and herbs."

Is there any reason why such spices couldn't be added to virtually any type cheese? Is there something peculiar about Monteray Jack that makes it especially conducive to having spices added to it that merits a distinctive name? Could there be, for example, "pepper cheddar" or "pepper Munster?" Just wondering and thanks!HistoryBuff14 (talk) 17:54, 28 March 2018 (UTC)
 * They could, and sometimes are. For example, Havarti is often sold with additional spices added. But "Pepper Jack" is such a common variant it's known by that name rather than "Monterey Jack with peppers". Tarl N. ( discuss ) 22:58, 28 March 2018 (UTC)


 * Good answer. Thanks much!HistoryBuff14 (talk) 17:36, 29 March 2018 (UTC)