A brick, or a block: what’s the difference? It seems like a negligible distinction, but we take such distinctions seriously—especially when it comes to Trader Joe’s Cream Cheese.

Within the cheese biz, this particular presentation of Cream Cheese is known as a “brick.” Brick, however, sounds heavy, and this creamy creation is anything but. Made for us using fresh milk and cream from cows not treated with rBST, it’s everything you want cream cheese to be—rich, creamy, and when softened, quite spread- able. So, rather than “brick,” we’d like to refer to our Cream Cheese as a “block,” as in “building block,” since it can be a building block in so many delicious dishes.

What’s that? You want examples? Sure. A simple appetizer idea: set it on a plate, top with salsa or sweet chili sauce and serve with tortilla chips or crackers for a Mexican or Thai inspired dip. How’s that for instant versa- tility? And speaking of dips, cream cheese is the star of any number of creamy dips. Don’t forget bagels—but how could you forget bagels? Perhaps our favorite usage for this particular building block is cheesecake. If you’re up to the challenge of making a cheesecake from scratch, you won’t find a better foundation.