Award Season
The winner of ‘The People’s Cheese 2024’ was found after an exciting on-line final on Friday night. I am sure you all remember our two knock out rounds held at the market in July and September with the wonderful team from The Real Cheese Project (@therealcheeseproject) where we got to taste our way through dozens of British Heritage Cheeses.
It was you guys, at the market, who chose the four finalists – Keen’s Cheddar, Mrs Bourne’s Cheshire cheese, Thelma’s original Caerfilli and Cropwell Bishop’s Blue Stilton. Friday was a fabulous evening, hosted by the wonderful cheese-lover and comedian Marcus Brigstocke (@marcusbrigstocke) joined by hundreds of cheese tasters and voters on line all over the UK.
I was there in person on the tasting panel bigging up one of the finalists – The Stilton. I’m totally biased as was born and raised in Leicester and grew up eating Stilton and without doubt for me it is not only the King of Cheeses but as a chef it’s the cheese you need in your pantry 365 days of the year!
We were pipped to the post by Keen’s Cheddar which was crowned ‘The People’s Choice Champion 2024’. Congratulations to all @keenscheddar and roll-on 2025. There is an opportunity to buy their latest ‘zine’ (that’s a word for a mini magazine for those who don’t know – I didn’t) from Steve Parker our resident cheese book seller next door to HQ. Their ‘zine’ s a great read for any cheese lover.
I am sure I have mentioned before that The Cheese Market sponsors new cheese makers – Partnering with the Academy of Cheese, we offer educational grants and consultancy. It was a thrill to be in Norfolk for an intense two-day level 2 Academy training course with hands on cheese making. What a treat to listen to cheese expert, Charlie Turnbull (@charliet_cheese) translate the complex knowledge of cheese tasting, its making and its history into an enjoyable and accessible learning experience.
Our grantees got to pick the brains of The Academy cheese making expert, Katy Fenwick (@katyjfenwick) who answered their detailed questions about their own cheeses… and big news folks, you’ll get to meet these new cheesemakers and their cheeses in the New Year at The Market so watch this space for further news.
On my way from Norfolk to Lancashire for the event on Friday night I called into Cropwell Bishop Creamery and was thrilled to tour the dairy and join in the grading (that’s looking and tasting cheeses along their maturing journey) with their Cheese Specialist, India Bosden. Although the dairy is a large concern it still does almost every part of the cheese making process by hand.
You will not be surprised to know that this is a 3rd generation family run business with the love of cheese at its heart. I have always believed that great food can only come from respect for excellent ingredients and real care and passion during any making process – Cropwell Bishop only affirmed that belief. (@cropwellbishopcreamery). Their cheese, for me, is simply ‘the real deal’.