What’s new this month – French Alp Edition
The 75kg Emmental de Savoie Comes to Cheesewick
At this time of year, I head out to The French Alps to prepare for the ski season with @skiworld_uk (my real job!) and so I associate this time of year with ooey, gooey warm and cosy melted cheese – I’m thinking unctuous fondue, sumptuous raclette, and crispy topped tartiflette – are you with me? Oh, I know you are with me!!
It is with huge excitement that we welcome @thefrenchcomte this month who are bringing us a whole, humungous 75kg Emmental de Savoie. Yes, that’s right – a whole 75cm diameter cheese is on its way to ‘Cheesewick’ – this is the BIG DADDY of cheeses.
What Makes Emmental So Special?
Emmental is at the heart of any good fondue, perfect wedged between baguette and just a great melting cheese. It is the epitome of mountain cheese with its holes and dense texture.
We often pass it by for the more flavoursome members of the family – Beaufort, Gruyere or aged Comte, but this moth you have the chance to join in the parade of the giant cheese at 10am when our cow will be leading the cheese through the market to HQ, watch it as it is cracked open and free tasting all day! I defy you not to smile when you taste this cheese with its all-round pleasing flavours.
I would say we are bringing a little bit of the French Alps to West London, but we are not – we are bringing a huge, big lump of the French Alps to West London – don’t miss it!
‘Cheesewick’ News in brief:
At the October market Todd Trethowan (@trethowanbrothers) came and chatted on HQ at our ‘meet the maker’ event. What a thrill it was to meet one of the people behind the wonderful Pitchfork Cheddar and the glorious Gorwydd Caerphilly.
And in league with @cheese_academy we hosted a wonderful hour cheese tasting for children, introducing young palates to new and interesting flavours. Big smiles all round!
Finally the award-winning author Ned Palmer joined us in the afternoon to co-host a Christmas cheeseboard workshop – what a fun hour that was, packed with cheese stories from Ned, tips, tricks and accompaniments from the Cheese Market team and lots of eating and drinking. I have Ned’s books ready for the perfect gift for family cheese lovers.
Market success in gaining larger market license
Our application to increase the number of stalls at ‘Cheesewick’ was approved by Hounslow Council at the end of October and so we are able to welcome some new traders to the market.
New Traders this month
@cornish_gouda_co will be bringing their stunning Gouda cheeses to the market including semi-mature, mature and some flavoured goudas.
@sexypicklesuk are asking us to defy traditional thoughts of pickling and will be introducing us to ‘dirty dills’ and ‘cheeky grapes’ – both I am assured are perfect with cheese – can’t wait to try.
@halopenosuk will be bringing their cheeses packed with flavours and chillis which they are say are simply fantastic melted on anything!
@cornishcheeseco are returning to the market bringing their Blue and Brie made with Cornish milk.
Christmas is creeping up on us and I always think of the November market as an opportunity to refine, hone and switch up my Christmas cheese board ideas.
It is also the perfect time to order your cheeses for the festive season – the Christmas market is on the 15th December so the November market is simply the perfect time to order anything from our traders who will bring it along for you on the 15th. It’s the best way to be assured of getting exactly what you want to make your ultimate Christmas Cheese Board.
The forecast is good for Sunday, so wrap up warm and join us early for the Great Emmental parade at 10am!