Vegan or Lactose free cheese recommendations please

[Letsskidaddle]

Not for a vegan but someone who has a recently diagnosed lactose intolerance. They’d still like to enjoy some Christmas dinner goodies (e.g baked brie, cauliflower cheese, the cheeseboard etc) and I wondered if anyone could recommend suitable cheeses they’ve tried and tested.

I bought a selection box from I Am Nut Cheese for a vegan friend for Christmas last year. Highly recommend. High quality and not ultra processed.

Most vegan cheese is revolting. The only vegan "cheese" that I have tried that was nice is Tyne Chease
https://tynechease.com/

Could your friend try some lactose free cheese before Christmas to see if they can eat it with no nasty after effects? I would hate it if their Christmas day was ruined.

I second I am nut ok They make great vegan cheeses. I think its important not to expect a replica of dairy cheeses. They are a different but really tasty alternative. Unlike the mass produced, highly processed vegan ones in supermarkets.

It sounds like the nut based "cheeses" are the most palatable, which is unfortunate for the nut allergic. I would be interested to try the I Am Nut OK ones.

I sometimes make cashew cream, which is delicious and brilliant for a korma curry.

If your friend has eaten real cheese until recently most of the supermarket ones are really not good by comparison. Sorry.

i can manage small amounts of goats cheese.

For hard cheese: If they can have lactose free, choose that like a shot. Even the cheaper lactose free cheeses in the supermarket are wildly nicer than expensive vegan cheeses. Most of them are coconut based (which I don’t like), smell like vomit and don’t grate/melt well. Honestly if lactose free is ok- just choose that.

Soft cheese- I like Nush, though it’s hard to find these days. It’s almond based.

I agree that the coconut based vegan "cheeses" have nasty vanillary aftertaste. The nut "cheeses" I have tried capture the umami taste that dairy cheese has. The coconut based ones don't. I don't like the plastic mouthfeel of them either.

I used to deal with people's dietary info in a fancy restaurant.
Most people who were lactose intolerant were fine with hard cheese, butter, some goats or ewe cheese. And obviously not all at once. It may be worth focusing on that than trying to find vegan alternatives?
So perhaps baked halloumi instead of camembert? Boulanger potatoes instead of cheesy cauliflower if they want something with a sauce? Some really nice local hard cheese for the cheese board.

The Arlo lactose free mature cheddar is the best supermarket one we've had. It melts well for cooking and slices well for using in sandwiches or on crackers etc. They also do a bag of grated.
It isn't vegan just normal cheese but lactose free.
Attached a photo but might take a bit to come through.