Saxelby Cheesemongers

What's in the box: Each shipment features a selection of artisan cheeses from small American farms, with a chocolate pairing option on one club.

Saxelby Cheesemongers is a New York cheese shop with a counter in Chelsea Market, and its subscriptions are cheese clubs built around small American farms. Know this before you buy: it is not a cheese making kit. You get finished cheeses to eat, not cultures, molds or equipment to make your own. The site lists three clubs: a Monthly Cheese Club at $100, a Cheese and Chocolate Club at $130, and a Connoisseur's Club at $440. The main page does not explain how the Connoisseur's Club differs from the others. The idea is to discover new artisan cheeses each month, and the shop's range supports that, with makers such as Cabot Clothbound, Bayley Hazen Blue, Shelburne and Seal Cove. Saxelby also publishes farm profiles, a cheese library and cheese care guides, which help if you want to learn about what you are tasting. The downsides are cost and missing details. A monthly box is expensive, and the main page does not say how many cheeses or how much weight each shipment holds. Shipping costs and delivery areas are not shown up front either. If you want a well chosen tour of American farmstead cheese from a knowledgeable shop, this is a strong choice. If you want to make cheese at home, look elsewhere.