What does it take to become a cheesemonger? Culinary school and years at a dairy farm might be optional, as Cassia Schifter of Murray's Cheese will tell you, but you do have to have a profound love for cheese. "I've loved cheese since before I can remember. Growing up my family would always make fun of me because I'd always say, 'I'm going to make myself a snack,' and I'd just go in the kitchen and cut off a huge chunk of cheese and eat it. No bread, no crackers," she says. More

[Photograph: Kathy YL Chan] Near the cash register at Murray's Cheese, a perfect spot for temptation, lies an assortment of candy bars custom made for Murray's by Tumbador Chocolate. They're all chocolate, marshmallow, cream, and cake-based confections, and my... More

Banana Pudding Ice Cream? Sign me up. Phin & Phebes is a Brooklyn-based ice cream company, and their Banana Whama ($8.99) is made of fresh banana puree and crushed vanilla wafer cookies. It really does taste like banana pudding in frozen form, only fluffier More

We can feast on apple desserts all year round, but they seem especially appropriate during the colder months. From classic tarte tatins to fancier versions found at restaurants, from apple milkshakes to apple butter-laced sundaes, pastry chefs in the city do all sorts of things. Check out ten apple desserts we love this holiday season. More

Fluffy and sweet, chubby and light, what's not to love about marshmallows? From the plain and pure version by Tumbador Chocolates, to seasonal flavors at Three Tarts, and fancy versions by Butter Baked Goods, we've got no shortage of great marshmallows in NYC. More

Two thick slices of a Pullman's loaf flank mozzarella-laced meatballs, a ladle of tomato sauce, and sliced provolone cheese. A brief visit in the panini press and out comes a messy, fantastically indulgent sandwich. More

Consider keeping the Maple Walnut Chevre ($7.99 for a five-ounce container) by Nettle Meadow in the fridge for unplanned afternoon snack cravings. More

To break out of the typical Midtown lunch routine, consider Murray's Cheese inside the Grand Central Market. More