24/09/04
32Weekend Cheese Entertainment
There is nothing more noble in this life, (NOTHING I tell you) than pursuit of fine cheese. It just so happens that this weekend is the Great British Cheese Festival and it’s practically on my very doorstep in the grounds of the beautiful Blenheim Palace. Over 100 cheese makers will be attending, and I am so going to be there. Wish me luck in my search for Stinking Bishop.
Ilchester sir, its very popular round these parts…
A gaggle of Stinking Bishops
Later on : I have never seen or smelt so many cheeses, made by people who really care about cheesemaking. The roll call of cheeses purchased:
- Stinking Bishop (soft cheese, with rind washed in Perry)
- Oakwood Smoked (Creamy Cheddary, with strong smoked flavour)
- Goats Cheese with Chillies (Mild creamy, then goes very hot)
- St Dunstan (nutty creamy ‘alpine’ cheese), bought in honour of a missing countryman.
- Various cheeses from Ilchester Cheeses, such as smoked applewood, and abbeydale.
Also, we got some rather special Minty Lamb pies from the pie minister. Top notch. All we need now is separate ‘Cheese Fridge’, not least to contain the smell of the Stinking Bishop…
Even later on : The Stinking Bishop all went in one go – absolutely delicious.
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Faruk Ates said 1477 days ago:
I wonder what you’d think of Dutch cheeses. Personally, I find Dutch cheese to be the best kind, even beating the french/swiss blue cheeses.Ever had any Dutch cheese, various types? :)
Edit: I love mozilla, I didn’t enter an email address, got the error, accidentally clicked the “Back” link rather than hitting backspace, got a momentary fright upon seeing my comment gone, then hit back and Mozilla filled it in again. Gotta love a browser that’s smart about forms :)
Dante Evans said 1477 days ago:
Danish is also quite good. At Safeway strores here in the Bay Area you can get the #1 sandwich (the ‘Hail Ceasar’) which has Danish cheese. It’s very good.Matt said 1477 days ago:
Be careful. Once, I made myself ill after an afternoon of sampling cheeses at the Nantwich Show, Cheshire. The temptation to try everything is just too much.John Oxton said 1477 days ago:
Jon – My cheese boffin of a wife says Montgomery Cheddar is worth a try. Cerney Ash or Bannon are also worth a nibble apparently. I can see we are going to be coming to Blenheim.Oh and Berkswell as well, try Berkswell.. I don’t know why she didn’t do this post! :)
Jon Hicks said 1476 days ago:
See you there then!nik taylor said 1476 days ago:
Jon – My Saturdays are usually spent shopping for food. We start at a farm shop near Evesham where they have a wonderful cheese counter. My son aged 8 then chooses the cheeses for the week. He starts with Cornish Yarg, covered with stinging nettles. My wife has some Devon Oke, my five year old daughter likes St Auger or Cashel Blue and my current favourite is an unpasturised Caerphilly.We have always allowed the children tastes and they have developed a love for cheese that sometimes leaves adults, let alone their peers gasping. Will, at the age of 4, amazed people by digging into a large Stilton at a party with some relish.
Enjoy your weekend I know that my family would certainly love the day out.
Dean Allen said 1476 days ago:
You lucky dog. If you ever want to swap some serious Stilton for some serious Roquefort, let me know.Mark Evans said 1476 days ago:
M cheese. My boss is from Wisconsin and often gets us large quantities of all kinds of wonderful cheeses. I must say I do share your passion in this. So out of your purchases which should I look for first?Khoi Vinh said 1476 days ago:
For when you come to New York, be sure to make time out to make it to the mecca for cheese gourmands: Murray’s Cheese Shop in Greenwich Village. Save up, because their prices are not cheap.Jon Hicks said 1476 days ago:
Dean – I have a hundred weight of Stinking Bishop that’s heading your way…Mark – Try and get the Stinking Bishop if you can. If you like soft rindy cheeses like brie, but with plenty of flavour it’s one to go for!
Khoi – Like the sound of that
Gabriel Mihalache said 1475 days ago:
So… eh… when are the cheeseburgers ready?Martagnan said 1474 days ago:
Hi Jon, I thoroughly recommend anything on offer from these people . Another personal favourite is Dovedale Blue.Phil Balchin said 1474 days ago:
in deed, the persuite of cheese is a noble quest. If Danish is a good cheese, and it indeed is, then Wensleydale is the Holy Grail.Have you ever considered running down a hill in Gloucester?
Jon Hicks said 1474 days ago:
Yup, the Wensleydale folks were there too! They do a great range.As for the cheese running stuff – “not on your nelly” springs to mind!
Matt Frost said 1474 days ago:
This all sounds very fancy, but is the Stinking Bishop available in plastic-wrapped individual slices? Or better yet, in a spray can*? I think not.American cheesemaking has many many secrets to share with the poor, benighted British, apparently.
*“Stinking, Squirting Bishop”
Jason said 1474 days ago:
John.. You need one of these.link text
Jason said 1474 days ago:
Link Text.. Pretty descriptive.. I know.l Like Cheese Shirt
But I have one of these and thought of it instantly when I read this.
Aleksandar said 1474 days ago:
I find it really amazing that someone can actually eat anything which has Stinking in its name.Jon Hicks said 1474 days ago:
Hey its just the smell! The name comes from the Stinking Bishop Pears that are used to make the perry that they wash the rind in.Its kind of like a brie, but with flavour.
Regnad Kcin said 1473 days ago:
div#bishop {smell-family: stinkingbishop, oldsocks, cheese, dairyproducts;
}
Andrew said 1473 days ago:
“And I thought to myself, “a little fermented curd will do the trick,” so, I curtailed my Walpoling activites, sallied forth, and infiltrated your place of purveyance to negotiate the vending of some cheesy comestibles!”“Come again?”
“I want to buy some cheese.”
classic python sketch!
Chris BIshop said 1471 days ago:
Ha ha. Please remove this from your website.-Chris Bishop’s lawyer
Tim Woolfenden said 1468 days ago:
It’s a bit runny sir!Was I the only one to get the monty python quote?
Jon – Are you still up for that pint and a chat? I have most thursdays free.
Jon Hicks said 1468 days ago:
Tim, I think #21 got it too!Shut that bloody bouzouki up!
Ben Gilman said 1467 days ago:
I’ve had the misfortune of that Stinking Bishop – eating it felt not dissimilar to some sort of punishment – the fact that you ate a quantity in one sitting suggests to me that you are in some way an oddity. That is all :)Jon Hicks said 1467 days ago:
Ben – no way! Smelt bad, but tasted delicious!Phil Balchin said 1467 days ago:
blessed are the meekblessed are the cheesemakers
Ben Gilman said 1466 days ago:
Well on your recommendation I might have to try it again – with a stomach pump on standby.Graham said 1466 days ago:
Try any of the cheeses at this site www.snowdoniacheese.co.uk. Pricey but well worth buying some. The Ginger Spice, creamy with pieces of ginger in it and the Purple Passion with chocolate chips are wonderful!Jon Hicks said 1466 days ago:
Chocolate chips?! And I get called an oddity for eating stinking bishop?!Sheldon Schwartz said 1465 days ago:
Wow – It is amazing the cheeses web folks know!It would be an interesting survey – to find if webbies are big-time foodies.
I worked in Cambridge, MA – at a WholeFoods Market that had a great selection of cheeses from around the world… mmm…mmm…
(3 years in the specialty {cheese, wine, chocolate} dept.)
Stinking Bishop really deserves it’s name… especially as you first open that box & cloth!
Faruk mentioned Dutch cheeses… now if he’s talking aged Goudas… next time he is in the states- he should bring some! [hint][hint]
Anyone know of the best cheese places in the Midwest US? I’m in MN… but will travel for cheese!
Jon Hicks said 1465 days ago:
Don’t you just love the community-building power of cheese! I never thought so many people would be interested in cheese – how wrong I was.“Will travel for cheese” – thats sums it up!