I think this is a north of England saying. I learnt it from my husband who was born in Beverley N Yorkshire. He actually hated cheese, but he told me it in the context of a hug WITH a squeeze.

I'd never heard of that saying or eaten fruit pie or cake with cheese in my London childhood. Though my father had another saying 'a tomato without salt is like kissing your sister' (no flavour)

I think different trees do well in different countries - or even areas. My orchard has very productive Bramleys, which sometimes last till April (if picked over) but taste best before Jan - so I give loads away. There is also a Granny Smith, our commercial grower friend said 'they must have seen you coming' when we said we'd planted it. It does fruit, but tastes nothing like the imported Grannies. But it stores well so I use it for cooking when the Bramleys and Kidds' are finished.

In England Bramley is the best cooker and Cox's Orange Pippin usually considered the best eater. Our friend had an orchard full of Cox, but it won't grow in my garden - the first we planted died, the second is still there but never fruits. But I do have a huge Kidd's Orange, which I think is even better. A good Cox flavour and really crisp as an eater. Nice taste cooked too - it doesn't 'fall' the way a Bramley does. It keeps (slightly wrinkled but OK for cooking) longer than the Bramley.