Top 5 British Cheeses
ES sponsor Farmison.com is a new online food store: an artisan butcher, greengrocer and cheesemonger offering high-quality, organic British goods, delivered directly from the food producers who supply Britain’s top chefs, like Heston Blumenthal of Fat Duck. The online shop includes everything from premium British bacon to leg of lamb and fresh produce. But, as usual, we’re most excited about the cheese. Turns out Britain has much more than just cheddar to offer. Check out Farmison’s cheese boxes available online, including our five new favorites:
5. Dunsyre Blue
4. Golden Cross
Another French adaptation, this East Sussex product is a St. Maure-style goat cheese; an ancient method that involves lightly ash-ing each log so that it becomes denser, creamier and fuller-flavored as it ages. Golden Cross has a strong, cheese-lovers’ flavor, but with two distinct velvety, creamy textures — which can be brought out perfectly by grilling. Part of the Cheesemasters Special Selection Box.
3. Mrs Kirkham’s 4 Day Smoked Lancashire
Moving on to a British original, Lancashire-style cow’s-milk cheese has been produced in Northwest England for centuries. This creative take on the classic method involves smoking the cheese over hickory for four days while it is still very young. The cheese develops along with the smoke, resulting in a deep, dry, full-bodied flavor. Part of the Farmison Handpicked Cheese Box
2. 10 Month Old Lochnagar Cheddar
OK, so Britain’s not only about cheddar, but they still do cheddar pretty darn well. Made in the traditional Scottish style and colored with annato, then aged slowly until it develops a mature, only slightly sharp bite, this very cheddar-y cheddar is perfect for pairing with wine. Part of the British Artisan Cheese Box.
1. Ragstone
This award-winning southeastern English goat’s cheese is unusual in that it is made using kid’s rennet, producing a finer, deeper and more consistent flavor than in most goat’s cheeses, which are actually finished with calf or vegetarian rennet. The smooth, slightly oozy result, with just light notes of lemon and honey, is the freshest-tasting goat’s cheese you can find. Part of the Farmison Handpicked Cheese Box.
Farmison offers six unique cheese boxes, or customers can create their own custom versions, choosing from an ample online selection. To view their unique selection of online cheese, meat and veg boxes. visit Farmison on the web.
Having had Mrs Kirkham’s cheeses before, I can attest to just how… bloody lovely they are. Not for nothing does the – and this sounds a bit crap, but isn’t, honest – second best restaurant in the UK make use of them. Mrs Kirkham was also featured on Rick Stein’s Food Heroes in the UK as well, if you’ve not seen Rick, check him out on iPlayer on the BBC, a committed restauranteur himself, he has a similar love of good food to that shared by us!
If you get across to England, and you’re in the North West, make a visit to L’Enclume in Cartmel. The chef, Simon Rogan, has a very modern twist on old ingredients and methodology making him the most innovative chef outside of London.