In praise of British Cheese

Wherenext
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edited November 2016 in Food & Drink #1

Having just returned from the self styled capital of the cheese world, namely France, I would like to say how much we love British Cheese. Yes, we did enjoy many different types of French Cheese and count some of them among our own favourites but I don't
think British Cheeses get the plaudits they deserve.

Nothing tastes quite like a really good Cheddar, our current one is Colliers (a Welsh one), or a Blackstick Blue or a Shropshire Blue or Mrs. Applebys Cheshire or a creamy Lancashire. Plus we are prepared to experiment with our cheese, by putting chilli
or mustard etc. in. There are some smashing local entrepreneurs making cheese these days.

Why are our cheese not more respected?

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Comments

  • MJ730
    MJ730 Forum Participant Posts: 184
    edited November 2016 #2

    Off to Hawes in 2 weeks time and will definitely be visiting the Wensleydale Cheese as we do each time we are in that area.

    "You can't beat a nice bit of Wensledale a Grommet."

    Mike

     

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,484 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2020 #3

    I could live off cheese and particularly love a good mature cheddar.  I've had English, New Zealand and others over the years.  I also enjoy blue cheeses, the smellier the better.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited November 2016 #4

    Like Jill, I could live off cheese Laughing  I always buy local cheese on our travels.  My latest favourite was bought on our trip
    to Scotland.  There was a small 'Food Festival' in Mallaig where I bought some Isle of Mull cheese.  If you like a strong tangy cheese ..... this is one of the best cheeses I've ever tasted
    Wink 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,298 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #5

    It is rather difficult to understand why they are not more respected. Whilst the French generally outshine us with the softer cheeses, our hard cheeses are in another league. 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #6

    I eat more cheese than meat and love it but I always enjoy a good cheddar. Local Wookey Hole Cave cheddar is one of my favourites. Smile

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited November 2016 #7

    I eat lots of cheese and love it but as far as British cheeses go I only like proper cheddar and real stilton. I like stinking bishop as well  

    Wookey Hole cheddar is great but I really like one from the Isle of Man as well and my current favourite cooking cheddar is Canadian. 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,027 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #8

    Another cheese fan here! The smellier the better! There is a fabulous cheese shop in Tavistock, near Pannier Market. A must visit place for us. Tried one called BlueBoy last time we were in, and a hard cheese with fenugreek in it, giving a wonderful nutty
    taste. Next door is a deli that sells the perfect accompaniment to cheese, fig jam! With some decent crackers, absolute dining bliss!Happy

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
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    edited November 2016 #9

    Totally agree, I absolutely love our British cheeses. Our local supermarket, (Booths), have a wonderful cheese counter.

    Like it with a glass, or 2 of French wine though!

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited November 2016 #10

    Having just returned from the self styled capital of the cheese world, namely France, I would like to say how much we love British Cheese. Yes, we did enjoy many different types of French Cheese and count some of them among our own favourites but I don't
    think British Cheeses get the plaudits they deserve.

    Nothing tastes quite like a really good Cheddar, our current one is Colliers (a Welsh one), or a Blackstick Blue or a Shropshire Blue or Mrs. Applebys Cheshire or a creamy Lancashire. Plus we are prepared to experiment with our cheese, by putting chilli
    or mustard etc. in. There are some smashing local entrepreneurs making cheese these days.

    Why are our cheese not more respected?

    In some areas of France the French are developing a real 'British cheese' habit.  There are two types of cheddar on sale in our nearest supermarket, and our French neighbours love the British cheeses we offer them if they have a meal with us.   They tell
    us they are able to buy Stilton at Christmas, too!

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #11

    Another cheese lover here.  Always get some Snowdonia Cheese at the NEC shows when we go.

    David

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited November 2016 #12

    I don't know what it is that the Dutch do to cheese despite their colourful market at Alkmaar. Photogenic but tasteless.

  • Richard12
    Richard12 Forum Participant Posts: 112
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    edited November 2016 #13

    Another cheese lover here, have you tried Dorset Blue Vinnie, a good cheese that goes down well with a good red wine.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,585 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #14

    Another cheese lover here, have you tried Dorset Blue Vinnie, a good cheese that goes down well with a good red wine.

    Write your comments here...Yes I have and quite agreeLaughing

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited November 2016 #15

    With likely increases in prices following Brexit tariffs, we could see more diversification in British Cheese.I am sure we can produce the same varieties as those we imort from Europe. Likewise we can gow most " Meditaranian" vagatables here in the UK>Hopefully
    our farmes/ hoticultualist will spend the next few years  developing these items to meet the new market conditions.

  • Spriddler
    Spriddler Forum Participant Posts: 646
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    edited November 2016 #16

     

    In some areas of France the French are developing a real 'British cheese' habit.  

    Too late for an exasperated de Gaulle who in 1962 famously complained...

    "How can you govern a country which has two hundred and forty-six varieties of cheese? "

    There are however, around 700 varieties of British cheeses which may explain a lot...............

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #17

    You can't beat a good Stilton. Smile I like Shropshire Blue too, just read it started out as a Scottish cheese.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #18

    Just helping myself to some cheese and bis cuts with a glass of red, whilst reating this thread.  Alas, tonight it is St Agur blue cheese.

    David 

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited November 2016 #19

    Also a cheese fan - love finding local cheeses when away - has anyone found the cheese shop in Tavistock - that only sells - um is it West Country Cheeses - certainly British masses of choice.  There are some lovely cheeses in Lincolnshire too - Cote Hill
    Farm have a delicious Blue Cheese and various others and then of course the Poacher Range to name a couple. 

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,663 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #20

    Last time we were in Yorkshire we went to the Wensleydale cheese factory and tried quite a few of the cheeses.  We ended up buying several pieces, our favourites were the Wensleydale with Limoncello,  and the Wensleydale with mango and ginger.

  • bestboy
    bestboy Forum Participant Posts: 302
    edited November 2016 #21

    Love British cheeses, favourites being Cheshire and Wensleydale but unlike KNN above I'm not keen on cheese being "mucked about" with!

  • JonCaz
    JonCaz Forum Participant Posts: 84
    edited November 2016 #22

    I'm also a lover of mouse meat

    Hartington blue, Dovedale blue, Huntsman and Stinking bishop are wonderful 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #23

    Love British cheeses, favourites being Cheshire and Wensleydale but unlike KNN above I'm not keen on cheese being "mucked about" with!

    Same here BB, keep the fruit away from the cheese please...Worried

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #24

    As far as blue cheeses go you can't beat Yorkshire Blue in my opinion.

    Corra Linn, a Scottish cheese from Lanarkshire Is also well worth a mention.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #25

    Cheese  ??  Surprised  Where  ?  ??  Money Mouth

     

    Just  had  a  slice  or  three of  Snowdonia's  Red  Devil  -- almost  makes  me  like  a  certain  KickBall  Team  !!

    Yes  Really,  It's  that  good   Wink

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited November 2016 #26

    Cheese  ??  Surprised  Where  ?  ??  Money Mouth

     

    Just  had  a  slice  or  three of  Snowdonia's  Red  Devil  -- almost  makes  me  like  a  certain  KickBall  Team  !!

    Yes  Really,  It's  that  good   Wink

    Try Snowdonia Black Bomber, too!  It's a very strong 'cheddar type' cheese, which is very very tasty, and very moreish!    We always bring some back from Wales when we visit, and our local Booths stocks it too.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #27

    You lucky people with Booths, it's such a good shop, I'm envious! Smile

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #28

    Savng  Black  Bomber  for  my  Birthday  !! 

    Thats  when  I  sit  back  & think  of  Times Past  !  --  the  Black  Bomber  was  the  nick-name  of  the  great  Joe  Louis,  Fine Fine  heavyweight  boxer,  --  from  the  USA  of  course  !

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #29

    I'm also a lover of mouse meat

    Hartington blue, Dovedale blue, Huntsman and Stinking bishop are wonderful 

    Bought some truckles of Hartington cheese today at the Chatsworth House Christmas Market.  Went for  the Mature Cheddar, Caramelised Onion and Chilli and Lime.  Looking forward to sampling it later.

    David 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited November 2016 #30

    Joe Louis was 'The Brown Bomber'

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #31

    Cheese  ??  Surprised  Where  ?  ??  Money Mouth

     

    Just  had  a  slice  or  three of  Snowdonia's  Red  Devil  -- almost  makes  me  like  a  certain  KickBall  Team  !!

    Yes  Really,  It's  that  good   Wink

    Try Snowdonia Black Bomber, too!  It's a very strong 'cheddar type' cheese, which is very very tasty, and very moreish!    We always bring some back from Wales when we visit, and our local Booths stocks it too.

    I'm almost sure that Brian will have had Black Bomber as I know that, like myself, always visits the Snowdonia Cheese Stall at the NEC shows.

    David 

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