This year's 'big cheese' is Norwegian

Norway's Nidelven cheese described as "Delicate, creamy, buttery and soft, with mild peppery blue veins" was named the best cheese in the world at last week's World Cheese Awards, topping cheeses from many countries better known for their cheeses. France and Britain didn't even make the top 10.

The winning cheese, selected by a panel of 250 judges, is made on a small farm near Trondheim, Norway, perhaps not coincidentally the site of this year's award ceremony. It topped a list of 4,502 cheeses entered from around the world. A Belgian morbier-style cheese took second and a Swiss Alpine cheese came third.

Here's a list of the top 16:

1. Nidelven Blå from Gangstad Gårdsysteri, NORWAY
2. Baliehof Houtlandse Asche Kaas from Baliehof Kaas En Zuivelboerderij Jabbeke, BELGIUM
3. Eberle Würzig Seit 5 Generationen from Dorfkäserei Muolen, SWITZERLAND.
4. Eleftheria Brunost from Vivanda Gourmet, INDIA
5. Müller-Thurgau Rezent from Käserei Müller-Thurgau, SWITZERLAND
6. Kärntnermilch Mölltaler Almkäse Selektion 50% FiT. from Kärntnermilch, AUSTRIA
7. Michel from Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz, GERMANY.
8. Holland Delta, 1 Year Old from Van der Heiden Kaas, NETHERLANDS
9. Old Amsterdam Goat from Westland Kaasexport, NETHERLANDS
10. Parmigiano Reggiano 30-39 Months from Nazionale Parmigiano Reggiano Rastelli Fratelli, ITALY
11. Deichkäse Gold from Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz, GERMANY
12. Sinodun Hill from Norton and Yarrow Cheese, UNITED KINGDOM
13. Goustal La Bergere from Société des Caves, FRANCE
14. Pirano from La Bufalara, ITALY
15. Lamucca Di Castagno from Romagna Terre, ITALY
16. Wigmore from Village Maid Cheese, UNITED KINGDOM