Inspiration
As a lifelong cheese lover, I grew frustrated with scattered cheese info—no single place to learn about varieties, pairings, or build boards. I wanted to create a seamless guide for anyone who shares my passion for artisanal cheeses, whether hosting a dinner or exploring new flavors.
What it does
This app is a comprehensive cheese encyclopedia: browse 500+ cheeses with detailed profiles, find perfect wine/food pairings, design custom cheese boards (with exportable shopping lists), take a taste quiz for personalized recs, and locate nearby cheese shops on an interactive map—all without login.
How we built it
I started by curating cheese data (origins, flavors, pairings) and structuring the app’s page hierarchy. Used React for the frontend to build responsive views, Node.js/Express for backend logic, MongoDB to store cheese/store data, and integrated Google Maps API for location features. I prioritized intuitive navigation and visual design aligned with warm, approachable cheese-centric aesthetics.
Challenges we ran into
Balancing filter logic for the cheese encyclopedia (ensuring multiple filters worked seamlessly with AND logic) was tricky—early versions returned inconsistent results. Also, designing the cheese board layout view to be visually intuitive across devices required multiple iterations to get placement/quantity guidance right. Location access permissions also posed hurdles for the store finder, needing fallback UI for denied access.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Creating a fully responsive app that delivers 500+ complete cheese profiles, functional multi-filter search, and a user-friendly cheese board designer. The personalized recommendation algorithm (weighted quiz answers) consistently delivers relevant cheese suggestions, and the store finder works smoothly across mobile/desktop.
What we learned
I deepened my understanding of API integration (especially Google Maps) and responsive design for complex visual features like the board layout. I also learned how to balance data curation (ensuring accurate cheese info) with user experience—prioritizing clarity over overwhelming users with too much detail upfront.
What's next for This project
I plan to expand the cheese database to include regional European varieties, add seasonal pairing guides, and enhance the cheese board designer with drag-and-drop customization. I also want to integrate user feedback to refine recommendations and add a feature for saving favorite cheeses/boards (no account needed—local storage only).
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