Talk to me about Cheese ..

[AwaitingSnow]

I don't know a lot about cheese. Thinking of trying some this Christmas.

What should I try?

Brand names helpful!

[TennisFan42]

Ossau-iraty is really yummy. It's a ewe's milk cheese and available in Tesco

[worldgonecrazy]

It's difficult to make recommendations without knowing your tastes. My mum loves Camembert and smelly Brie, but hates anything blue. I love blue cheese with Port. DD loves cheddars and I find them either too boring or mouth-stingingly strong.

The best thing to do is go to the cheese counter and try a few. Waitrose usually have a good selection in. Good cheese can also be eye-wateringly expensive.

Serve cheese at room temperature, not straight from the fridge. If it stays cold then you can store it outside if it's a bit stinky. Ensure it's well covered and secure from cats and rats though.

[FlyOverTheMistletoe]

Twelve it would have to be very small going shopping in a different area this afternoon, so I think I'll just have a quick search for cheese shops there or en route

[TwelveLeggedWalk]

Oh well done Fly!
You could get something small and strong tasting so you don't eat too much of it...

[FlyOverTheMistletoe]

Twelve your post is naughty I've just lost half a stone and I swear I put it all back on when I looked at your link

[Spons]

Ooh Altinkum, can I come???!!

[Spons]

Mmmm cheeeeeeeeseeeesse! You can get some pretty decent cheeseboards in a lot of the supermarkets, and a lot of small taster packs. I'd personally bake a Camembert as someone suggested above with nice warm bread, then get some Somerset brie, a nice creamy Stilton, maybe a festive Wensleydale and cranberry and a cheddar then a load of biscuits / chutneys...

I'm not gonna get cheese out of my head all day now!!!

[AltinkumATEalltheTurkey]

I have got for tonight, cheeseboard for 15 people.

Blue and white Stilton, Camembert, Brie, cranberry wheydale, goats cheese, Scottish cheddar, tex mex and Mexican scotch bonnet, served with ploughmans chutney, sticky onion (homemade) chutney and mango and spiced red onion chutney (homemade)

With a selection if mixed crackers and homemade bread.

[Stinkyminkymoo]

I love cheese.


That is all.

[DoubleMum]

See if you have a Paxton and Whitfield near you. You can order a cheese (eg a whole or half brie) and tell them the precise ripeness you'd like and they will order it in for you at the right time and put it in their ripening room so that it gets to the correct ripeness on the date you are collecting it. For me, a lovely ripe oozy Brie de Meaux is fantastic but they will be happy to talk to you about, and let you try, any cheese.

[FlourFace]

Shropshire blue with chutney!

[MarshmallowCupcake]

Bake a Camembert then dip ripped up bits of French loaf into it - amazing! (Put it into an oven proof dish first, make a cross into the top to stop it exploding and wait till melted) bits of garlic popped in are scrummy too!

[TwelveLeggedWalk]

You just got me googling. I have found these people Smelly cheese central!

[TwelveLeggedWalk]

You need Vacherin. It is THE French Christmas cheese. But you need to get it from somewhere who knows what they're talking about and will sell it to you at the right ripeness for when you want to eat it. I know that sounds like an unbelieveable faff, but it is beyond amazing.

[HazeltheMcWitch]

70 - quince cheese/membrillo is like chutney in the sense that it goes really well with cheese, but it's sweet not savoury/tangy/spiced etc. It's just quince, chopped up, and boiled up with sugar then set. It goes really well with salty cheeses (manchego is the classic). You can also buy/make 'cheeses' from other fruits that are high in pectin, eg damson is also quite traditional for the uk.

[AngryFeet]

www.nealsyarddairyshop.co.uk/

[AngryFeet]

I go to my local farm shop as they seem to have a better selection. Last year we had black bomber cheddar, a nice smoked goats cheese (hard), cornish blue and roule (because I bloody like it!)

[ChristmasCountdown]

Second the suggestion to find a good local cheese shop. They'd be happy to let you try stuff and make suggestions. I'm a fan of mimolette, which my Sainsbury's now stocks.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Does anyone buy Quince Cheese? I've seen it in Waitrose in the deli.
What is it?
A solid chutney sort of thing?

[PomBearWithAnOFRS]

Morrisons usually do festive WEensleydale in the shape of Santa and The Snowman

[SantaWearsGreen]

Cranberry wensleydale mmmm.

[AlohaMama]

Are you thinking cheese for cooking, or a selection for a cheeseboard type of thing?

I agree with louismummy definitely go and try some. Try different types - hard cheeses, goats cheeses, soft cheeses, etc. A good supermarket or deli should be able to tell you a bit about the cheese they are selling. Plus they'll often change the varieties on offer, so I would focus more on finding what types of cheese you like rather than on brandnames.

Personally I love wensleydale, mild blue cheeses (e.g., stilton), white stilton with cranberries or apricot, cornish yarg, halloumi, gosh I could go on forever.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

oooh - a salad with blue cheese, walnuts, rocket, salad leaves and apple.

Salad dressing.
Homemade croutons- cubed bread, garlic, olive oil and grated (vegetarian) parmesan. Bake til the croutons are golden
Delia recipe-


Baked camenbert (I even bought a little lidded dish from Lakeland)

[SnowMuchToBits]

You need a good local cheese shop. We have a fantastic one here in Ipswich. They can recommend stuff, you can try it, it's all good!