EPIC FAMOUS MUSTACHES

I actually hate the word, "epic" and think it is ridiculously overused nowadays, HOWEVER, I can't come up with a better term for this collection of facial hair that we all know and love. Some may be unfamiliar but I have combed (joke) history for the mustaches that I think standout as the best. 



Mr. T

Just look at that face folks, he will bust you up. Now here is a mustache of epic proportions! Watch as it turns into a beard, then sideburns, then into a strange over the ear around the side of the head-kind of thing. If you want to be the one to tell Mr. T that it looks strange be my guest, as for me, I'll keep my mouth shut and keep my jaw intact. He actually has more facial hair than hair on his head! Mr. T was famous for his role as Clubber Lang in Rocky 3, and then in the A-Team as B.A. Baracus. He even had his own cartoon show where his facial hair looked just as good! 

Tom Selleck 

Good luck making a call without wires.

Tom Selleck was a huge sex symbol in the 80's and I guess that symbol was a giant mustache. He was Magnum P.I. and has found fame once again starring in the show, "Blue Bloods," but his mustache has never left his face. It's rare to see Tom without his trademark mustache and I don't know why you would even want to. Whether it is for a cowboy, a private investigator, a police commissioner, or raising a baby with two other men, this mustache looks good in every situation! 

Hitler and Charlie Chaplin

I'm not saying they are in the same category but their mustaches sure are! That is to say, if they both actually had these mustaches. I think more people would call this look, "The Hitler," if you wore it today even though Charlie Chaplin had the same one but it turns out, Charlie Chaplin's mustache was fake, so he doesn't count. It's kind of a dumb look if you ask me and other than these two people, I don't think I've ever seen it worn by anyone else. I don't think I'll play, "Who wore it better," because in all fairness only one of them actually grew it. I never knew why Hitler wanted this style of mustache but I guess he figured he could do whatever he wanted? Charlie Chaplin came first so was Hitler just trying to copy his famous look?? It's like he invaded Charlie's face and took over his mustache. 

Not real hair

Real hair.

Not real hair. 

Real hair. 

DISHONORABLE MENTION

I was going to add the incredibly famous Groucho Marx for his trademark massive mustache until I realized....IT'S FAKE TOO! It is a FAKE people! That thing is painted on! It isn't even fake hair, it's just a drawing! Did anyone else know that, cause I didn't. Shame on you Groucho and your wannabe awesomeness. Too bad, you could have gone down as one of the greats but the sad truth is...you didn't have facial hair. Even your eyebrows are drawn on! What next, are there even lenses in those glasses?? That's probably not a real cigar, I bet it's a hotdog. Get off my list you liar and join Charlie Chaplin in the loser section. 

Notice paint where hair should be...

President Taft

When it comes to presidential mustaches, one wins in a landslide as the best. William Howard Taft had an epic mustache that the free world could get behind and really sleep better at night knowing it was living on the face of the main man in the white house! Just look at that magnificent specimen! I understand there are some famous presidential mustaches out there and Teddy Roosevelt was a contender, but just look at these two side by side and you'll see who is the clear favorite. 

He's got you Teddy...and he knows it.

What a fuckin' Pimp you are Mr. President! 

Knock out punch for best mustache on a president

And don't be giving me any of this, Chester A. Arthur, bullshit. Granted, he did have a massive and impressive mustache that attached to his sideburns but at a closer glance, we can clearly see how skimpy and patchy it was. If you're going to grow it like that, it had better be thick and full so THAT is why Taft gets my vote for the best mustache.

Fu Manchu

The mustache or the guy?? Well before it had a name, Fu Manchu wore it best and he is the reason why we call this style a Fu Manchu today. Sure it was thin and skimpy but any mustache that is named after the person that wore it, gets to go down in history. Fu Manchu maybe a character but his facial hair has been worn by a lot of famous people over the years and I feel it has become the top choice for bikers! The next person on my list has had one for as long as I can remember....the early 80's. 

Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan used to be the face of the WWF, back when we could still call it the WWF, and that face had an epic mustache that still survives to this day. Hulk Hogan wore a Fu Manchu, also known as a horse shoe (especially when it doesn't drop past the chin) but as you can see, as the years went by, the mustache got bigger.  It would be very difficult to picture this mouth not surrounded by that bleach blonde hair. No matter how much hair Terry loses on his head, he only gains it back in his mustache. 

Sam Elliott

Most people don't even know who Sam Elliott is, but he is a great actor and he has an even greater mustache. Just look at that thing! Just like wine and cheese, his mustache gets better with age. He has done a lot of westerns and in one movie he wanted to date Cher...for some unknown reason. No matter what the role, he incorporates his epic mustache. Good for you for never shaving it for a part Sam! I really did a whole, "evolution of Sam Elliott's mustache," thing here. 

Joshua Chamberlain

Few people will know Joshua Chamberlain, but for you Civil War buffs out there, you already know what an epic mustache this guy had. He was a Civil War hero and many historians agree that without his leadership at the battle of Gettysburg, the North may not have won. During the Civil War there were a lot of amazing mustaches and beards but I always liked Chamberlain's the best. It's kind of a Fu Manchu, (only Joshua had it many years earlier) but it's far thicker and lifts off his face. Very impressive indeed! If you get the chance please watch the movie Gettysburg, not only does it have Jeff Daniels and his portrayal of Chamberlain's mustache, but it also has Sam Elliott, that's two great mustaches for the price of one!!!

As you can see, Chamberlain's mustache has gone down in history.

Jeff Daniels portrayed Chamberlain and captured his epic mustache

Colonel Sanders

Unlike Chamberlain, Colonel Sanders was NOT a real Colonel. What he actually was, was insane, and what his mustache was, was insanely awesome. With that little goatee combo, Colonel Sanders served up a recipe for epic facial hair. Sure the mustache itself isn't all that spectacular, in fact, it's pretty simple. But add the little beard and his facial hair is as trademark as you can get, and it actually IS a trademark! He used to do his own advertising but unfortunately in the most recent commercials for KFC, we have some unfunny no-talent jackass portraying this legendary founder. Either way, this guy took his facial hair and cooked up a symbol for his business and THAT alone is worthy of my list. 

Facial hair bronzed for the ages.

Clark Gable

It's hard to imagine Clark Gable without that thin mustache but in a few of his films he did appear without it, but let's face it, that was his trademark look and it looked great. Not a lot of people can or would even try to pull off such a thin mustache but he nailed it. He never really changed the style and I'd say it served him well over the years. Once I heard Scarlett say she didn't like Rhett's mustache but quite frankly, I don't give a damn. 

Dennis Gage

Most people into classic cars will recognize this mustache. Dennis Gage from the show, "My Classic Car," has a ridiculous handlebar mustache. I think a lot of people tune into the show to see the classic cars but end up watching this mustache. He wears it proudly and he should. It also really makes him look better in some of those antique cars because they go hand in hand...or should I say, hand in handlebar??? 

Here he is comparing himself to the Pringles guy.

Here he is pretending to laugh at terrible jokes.

Well there you have it, my epic famous mustaches! I have a few honorable mentions, such as, the Pringles symbol, Mark Twain, Burt Reynolds, Zorro, Sir Franis Drake, Burl Ives, and Wyatt Earp. I'm sure there are many more out there that I've missed but the ones that made my list are truly epic...but that's just my two cents. 

Trying New Cheese: Entry 8, Old Croc, Extra Sharp Cheddar

G'day mates! I traveled down under to get a taste of a real Australian cheese. Old Croc cheese warns you that their cheese has bite, let's find out if it did. I know cheese really never comes to mind when you think of Australia but the truth is they make and eat it. The only thing I've really had from Australia would be lamb and I'm sure nothing from the Outback Steak House counts, so this is pretty new for me.

Milk: Grass fed cow

Country of Origin: Australia

Type: Hard

Pasteurized: Yes

Description: Creamy yellow, slight crumble when cut

Claim to Fame: Aged for 18+ months, milk from grass fed cows, the extra sharp cheese claims to have "bite"

History: Old Croc describes the history of dairy by Australians on their website. As legend has it, 7 cows were brought to Australia but escaped. A few years later those few cows had grown into a heard of 60 and so Australian dairy began! Not sure if that is true but it's a cool story. Old Croc is a pretty new label, only being here in the US for a couple of years but their cheese is vintage and they have been making it since the 1700's. Let's not forget another other important factor, Australia was British and the British were the ones that created cheddar, so the heritage and roots are definitely there.

Old Croc was a great example of sharp cheddar. I don't know if I would call it extra sharp though. It didn't matter because it still had a great taste. It didn't crumble as much as I thought it was going to, especially since it was aged for 18 months. The texture was rather creamy, again for being an extra sharp cheddar. There were no protein crystals in it and if you don't like those then this is a great choice for you. Old Croc was tangy and there was a bit of sting to it, hence their slogan of this cheese, "having bite," but it definitely didn't make my mouth pucker. It had a full flavor and was nutty but it really made me keep coming back for more. I really enjoyed eating this and it didn't last long in my house!

The price was the best so far out of all the cheese I have tried. $6.50 for 7 oz. It was worth it in my opinion. A huge fan of extra sharp cheddar could probably find a lot to complain about but if you're like me and love all kinds of cheese and venture out of cheddar land, then I suggest trying this Australian cheddar. For the price I feel that if you use this with a recipe that calls for sharp cheddar cheese you could make a really interesting signature dish and it sounds cool to say, "I used an Australian extra sharp cheddar cheese that was aged for 18 months." This would go great with a brown ale as well.

I will give this Australian cheddar a solid 8 out of 10, mainly because something that is labeled as, "extra sharp," should be a bit more sharp in my opinion. I would definitely try this again and for the price it's a great cheese for using in specialty dishes that you don't want to spend a ton of money on the cheese. Sometimes finding good cheese can be difficult so next time trying looking down under, but that's just my two cents.


Cheese Fact: Turophilia is a love of or obsession with cheese.


Thank you for reading and check back again with my next entry in this cheese series!

Trying New Cheese: Entry 7, Garcia Baquero, Iberico

You usually don't think of Spain when it comes to cheese. The truth is, the Spanish use cheese in many of their dishes. They have been making cheese for 100's of years and I decided to try one of their traditional cheeses that is meant for tapas. This is actually one of the most popular and used cheeses in all of Spain. The interesting thing about this cheese is that isn't just made out of cow, goat, or sheep milk....it's made from ALL of them put together!

Queso Iberico

Milk: Mix of Cow, Goat, and Sheep
Country of Origin: Spain
Region: Province of Valladolid, Central Spain
Type: Hard
Pasteurized: Yes
Description: Ivory white with a natural rind
Claim to Fame: Cheese made for tapas that uses a mixture of cow, goat, and sheep milk

5.99 for 5.02 oz

History
Iberico is often described as being just like Manchego, the most famous Spanish cheese here in the United States. I haven't tried that yet so I can't really compare them. Iberico cheese is made by mixing cow, goat, and sheep milk altogether to create a unique special milk. The amount of each isn't exact and it really depends on the season and availability for each milk but no matter what, this cheese will always have all three kinds in it. Usually the cows milk makes up at least 50% of the mixture. The cows milk gives the cheese its flavor, the goats milk gives the cheese its white color and tartness, and the sheep milk adds richness. When you put all 3 together you get the Iberico! This cheese also melts well, which makes it very useful in omelets, sandwiches, soups, or for tapas.

Taste
This truly was like no other cheese I had ever tried before because this was a mixture of 3 different types of milk. The package says, "Recommended: Eat 7 days after opening," well I couldn't wait that long and had to have it right away. This particular cheese was aged for 6 months. It was a very oily cheese and had a very strong smell. It specifically says to not eat the rind, so I didn't. It had a very strong taste, I can't say I could tell it was a mixture of different milks but it definitely was different. It reminded me somewhat of Beemster Valaskaas but not as sharp. It was tangy and nutty but also sweet. For a hard cheese it was fairly creamy but I guess was the sheep milk component.

This cheese would be great with any Spanish red wine or Pinot Noir. It could also go with a white wine, try Sauvignon Blanc. You could serve this cheese on a cheese board but due to its oily nature, pairing might be tricky. "Hard Cheeses From Around the World," might be a good cheese board idea!

I enjoyed my first cheese from Spain and I will definitely be trying more of their traditional cheeses. I will give Garcia Baquero Iberico an 8 out of 10, just because it was a bit oily. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say eating it 7 days from now might make it even better as the package instructed. I really suggest this cheese if you're making Tapas or any other Spanish dish, I can see where it would be useful in adding delicious flavor.

Thank you for reading my review and be sure to check out the next entry in this series!


Cheese Fact:  The first makers of Swiss cheese thought the holes were imperfections. They tried to make the cheese without holes but failed. Can you imagine a world without all the references and the famous Swiss cheese if it didn't have its signature holes???

Trying New Cheese: Entry 6, Trader Joe's Extra Sharp Canadian Cheddar

A Trader Joe's cheese?? Nothing says classy like a kiss-ass in a Hawaiian shirt but to my surprise, the Trader Joe's store has a very large and interesting cheese selection. They are known for their low prices but when it came to cheese I found they were pretty comparable to everyone else. Of course I've had cheddar before but never CANADIAN cheddar. For years I have been wanting to wrap my taste buds around some real Canadian Cheddar, so when I saw an extra sharp block staring back at me from their cheese shelf, I couldn't pass it up. I believe it was Muffy, the mouse puppet from the 80's kid TV show, Today's Special, who said, "Oh nothing could be better, than a hunk of Canadian cheddar." I have always wondered if that was true.

Trader Joe's Extra Sharp Canadian Cheddar

Milk: Cow
Country of Origin: Canada
Type: Hard
Pasteurized: Yes
Description: Off White rectangular block
Claim to Fame: Aged for over 2 years

This cheese comes in a rectangular block that isn't very thick. It was just over half a pound and the price for that wasn't too bad. They price it by weight so you can look around and find one a bit cheaper that looks as big as the rest. It says right on the label that this has been aged for over 2 years! That makes this cheese seriously sharp, which is exactly what I like! Many cheeses say they are sharp but I don't take that term as lightly as some of the huge manufacturers out there, let alone what they consider extra sharp cheese. If it doesn't make your mouth pucker, it ain't extra sharp. It is under the Trader Joe's name, so it is difficult to say who actually makes this and where it actually comes from, other than Canada.

Taste
At first bite this cheese truly holds up to its label of being, "extra sharp." It has that wonderful tangy zing that makes a wonderful extra sharp cheese. This was clearly a cheddar and although the Canadians didn't invent cheddar cheese, they love to flaunt their excellence in perfecting it. I have to say, all the great things I've heard about Canadian cheddar were realized as I couldn't put the cheese knife down. As sharp as this cheese was, and was supposed to be, it was still rather creamy and soft. I expected a crumbly, drier cheese, which happens a lot with cheese that is aged that long but not this stuff! There were also no protein crystals, again, which I found to be odd, yet welcomed. For those of you that love extra sharp cheese but find the protein crystals to be annoying, congratulations, you found a perfect cheese!

All in all I found my first experience in Canadian cheddar to be a delightful one. I will say it isn't the BEST extra sharp cheddar cheese I've ever had, (I still think Cabot Vintage Choice Extra Sharp is still the best.) But I will say this is a great cheese for the price and convenience, as there are many Trader Joe's around. I give this cheese an 8 out of 10 just because it has a strange after taste that reminds me of plastic, I am wondering if it isn't due to the Trader Joe's packaging? I recommend this cheese for lovers of extra sharp cheddar, you won't be sorry if you go with this cheese.

It took me 28 years to find out for myself but I guess it is true what puppets sing about and I have to agree... nothing could be better, than a hunk of Canadian cheddar ...but that's just my two cents.

Cheese Fact: We all know cheese comes from cows milk or the occasional goat and even sheep. But did you know that some cheese is made from buffalo's milk and the even more rare, moose milk???


Thank you for reading and don't miss my next installment in this cheese testing series!

Trying New Cheese: Entry 5, WESTMINSER, DOUBLE GLOUCESTER

For my fifth entry I tried some cheese from merry old England! They have been making cheese since 1498! The English aren't known for their cheese making skills like the French, and yet this is the country that gave us the almighty Cheddar and they claim to have 700 varieties.


DOUBLE GLOUCESTER

Milk: Cow
Country of Origin: England
Region: Gloucester
Type: Semi-Hard
Pasteurized: Yes
Description: Golden Yellow with particles of green chives and onions
Claim to Fame: Made since 1498 from the nearly extinct Gloucester cow.

HISTORY: Gloucester and Double Gloucester has been around since 1498, which is pretty impressive in my book and made me really excited to try it. The, "Double," in the name indicates that it is used from two milkings or has cream added, plus it is twice the height of single Gloucester. Double Gloucester usually has things added to it, typically chives and onions, that is the one I tried. This cheese comes from milk that is exclusively collected from the Gloucester cow, a once nearly extinct animal. This was a summer time favorite 100's of years ago and is still enjoyed today by many people around England.

Double Gloucester by Westminster, comes in a wedge shape cut from a larger wheel. It has a very golden yellow color and creamy texture. There are clearly green bits of chives and onions scattered throughout the cheese.

$5.98 for 5.29oz

TASTE: The second you open Double Gloucester you get the strong aroma of onions! I noticed right away at how oily this cheese was and my fingers were covered in oil. Double Gloucester is usually dry and flaky when aged, but this particular brand had a fairly creamy texture. The moment you bite into this cheese you immediately taste the onions and chives. The taste explodes in your mouth and can be very over powering. I have to say, it was difficult to taste the cheese itself between all the onion and chive flavor. The onion does have a kick to it as if it was a fresh onion, which again, got to be over powering in my opinion. I felt the quality of the cheese was very low. It was very waxy, almost like plastic. A very cheap cheese feel. If you've ever had those gas station meat sticks accompanied by what they call "cheese," that is what this was like, a surprising and disappointing feature. This was made with vegetable rennet and I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it. I have a hard time believing this is how Double Gloucester was meant to be and I think the company of Westminster is more responsible for this poor quality. It was difficult having more than one bite of this stuff. It was on the pricy side too but maybe I just think that because it was so bad. I understand it was imported from England but if it is bad, so what?

Sad to say Double Gloucester is going to get my lowest score ever. I'll give it a 5 out of 10, and that's being generous. I really do feel it was more of the brand than the actual cheese in this case though, that is why I am not giving up on it. The onion and chive taste is just far too strong, you might as well just bite into an onion and be done with it. However, if you love onions then this might be the right cheese for you! I would like to find some single Gloucester and more Double Gloucester from a different company and try it again.

Here in the U.S. Westminster is famous for dogs, but the English Westminster Double Gloucester can go to the dogs as far as I'm concerned, but that's just my two cents.

CHEESE FACT: Cheese making was done by the ancient Egyptians because hieroglyphics found in tombs from 2000 B.C. depict the cheese making process!


Thank you for reading and be sure to check out my next entry in this series!