Hit me with your top cheeses

[RealHousewivesOfTaunton]

I'm hosting Christmas Eve this year. We tend to do a really nice cheeseboard. Any suggestions? My favourites are Tor, Smoking Ember, wild garlic Yarg and a mildish Stilton.

Baron Bigod is pretty much the perfect soft cheese (I prefer the normal one to the truffle, it doesn’t need additional flavours)

Stichelton or Harrogate Blue

Stonebeck Wensleydale

Duckett’s Caerphilly or a good Red Leicester

Nothing with bits in. Cheese with added bits is redundant. Fresh fruit, dried fruit and pickles or chutneys belong alongside the cheese not in it.

Sorry but at this time of the year, it has to be Cheeses of Nazareth.

Or Stinking Bishop, Delice de Bourgogne, White Stilton or Stichelton

Montgomery cheddar
Barkham Blue
Wensleydale
Dorstone Goat

My absolute favourite Christmas prep activity is the annual pilgrimage to The Cotswold Cheese company.

Dm, dds and I go and have a good test before settling on our cheeses:

A strong, salty cheddar. Black bomber is great. Mull of Kintyre is also lovely and less "set your teeth on edge" for guests who need a milder one. (Or just disinvite them. It's a valid reason.)

Another vote for standard baron bigod. Just buy the whole wheel and thank us later

Reserved for Christmas only is the Wensleydale with apricots.

Camembert. But you must serve it gooey and with a sweet red onion chutney. Nothing else will be accepted in our house.

Blue - not many fans of blue here so we usually have a cambozola to appease DH.

Carboncino di Capra - this is a mix of cow sheep and goat milk. Good tangy flavour and a bit of a treat for Christmas!

I think you asked for 3 cheeses. But clearly I have no self control and must have been a mouse in a former life.

Also don't forget excellent crackers and chutneys. Don't spoil your delicious cheesy excellence with crap biscuits!

We tried Stinking Bishop from our local cheese shop last year but it ended up in the bin. Neither DH nor I liked it and the DC complained about the smell in the fridge.

Non-crap biscuits are a must. I'm not a big fan of oatcakes but recently found a type with poppy seeds that were very more-ish. Chilli jam goes with everything too.

Have you been here https://www.cheesefestival.co.uk/ ? And Stilton - I lived in Leicestishire for a while - the good stuff is very special.

Brillat Savarin Affine - it’s a really lovely soft creamy white cheese - I am not normally a fan of mild soft cheeses but this one is amazing.
With you all on the black bomber love.
Shropshire red
Dolcelatte and or gorgonzola
Really good comte or gruyere
Manchego with membrillo paste
Tangy soft goats cheese in ash, and a hard white goats cheese
Smoked gouda
Stilton in a pot.

For me the king of all cheeses is Roquefort. At Christmas I also love Gouda with cumin seeds and Y Fenni, a cheddar blended with ale and mustard seeds. Am also very partial to a Blackstick Blue.

I haven't, but it looks like somewhere I should be next year!

If you're into your baked cheese, a brie en croute is a MUST!
M&S did a fabulous one a few years ago, I helped consume 4 of them that year, and may be ready to fight in store if I see them again.
Any other favourites have already been mentioned!

God I want a cheese board now!

It is really special - and if you are in to beer, there were 200 types to try.

From an obsessed cheese lover:

Another for black bomber and blacksmiths blue.
Colston Bassett Stilton
Bath soft cheese
Comte
Soft, chevre style goats cheese served with guava or quince jelly.

One of my favourite parts of Christmas!

This Tesco jalapeno was recommended to me by mn and it is good.

Montagnolo Afine, the best creamy blue cheese ever.
Shropshire Red, a tasty all rounder.

Mmmmmm!

I do enjoy a good comte.

Délice de Bourgogne
Reblochon
Comté

I second the truffle brie. Quite partial to Cambozola and Cropwell Bishop Stilton too.

I agree with Y Fenni. I also like cave aged cheddar. I'd also get a goats cheese and a ewes cheese . This is a nice goats cheese

https://www.bristol-cheese.co.uk/shop/p/hello-ewe
This is a ewes cheese
And this is an excellent goats cheese
https://www.somersetcheese.co.uk/product/pennard-vale-goats-cheese/

Morbier
Comté
Hafod
Gorwydd Caerphilly
Perl Las
Epoisses
Orkney cheddar

I know it's not a 'naice' cheese as such, but you can't beat that pineapple and almond soft cheese. I think it's Castello. Ooh and their soft blue cheese. Aww. I really want that now, either.. Both.. with celery and sourdough toasts or salty wholewheat crackers. Damnit. Aww and grapes. So getting some tomorrow! 🤤

Sorry OP. I don't know that I helped but I did make myself quite hungry. I love cheese.

1. montagnolo affine - very mild, creamy sweet blue.
2. Gouda with cumin - bit hard to find, its such an interesting but not overpowering flavour
3. truffle Brie for the sheer indulgence (and bonus that nobody else at home likes truffle so it is ALL for ME!)

Chaume.
Tomme de Savoie

I love a Sage Derby.

And I won't have Christmas without Appeteasers, even if they are a bit tacky.