On my third visit to Whole Foods today (yes, it's getting out of control), I found myself making an unexpected cheese purchase.

I just went for a cup of coffee, but as I wandered around, sampling the samples, I tried a delicious cube of some really unique Gouda. It was the kind of sample, that as I walked away from it, I froze in my tracks and turned around for a closer inspection.

The label read "Gouda Borenkaas Raw Milk Farmouse Dutch Cheese," to be specific. I tried another sample, hoping to talk myself out of buying some afternoon cheese.

No dice. This was good cheese.

So now I'm back at my desk with a cup of coffee and .34 pounds of Gouda. It makes me wonder when the last time I actually found a sample so good that I made an impulse buy.

Considering how many samples I sample, I can only think of one other instance, though there are surely more.

A few years ago, I tried some quince at Beans and Barley. Since I had never heard of quince -- and come to think of it -- I haven't heard of quince since, I pulled the trigger and bought a jar of it. As I recall, I ate a few teaspoons on some cheese and crackers and put the jar away. I hate to admit that it might still be sitting the back of the fridge.

Maybe I'll eat this cheese before it expires on June 18, though as it contains unpastuerized milk, I'll be eating it alone (nothing unpasteurized for the pregnant wife right now).

Or maybe, if it's still edible, I'll eat it with that quince.