British Foods to Try? Cheeses for the Area?

We went to a little wine shop in Dorset this summer. We had a nice glass of wine (not from the region) with a board of cheeses and other items from the area. That was one enjoyable way to sample local cheeses. Most grocers will have a cheesemonger who can steer you to some of the best and/or unique cheese in the immediate area. I love various English cheddars and blue cheeses.

Feeling sassy, so:

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=cheeses+made+in+yorkshire+dales

Feel free to substitute any other region of interest

If you go to Yorkshire to visit the Wensleydale creamery watch this episode of Wallace and Gromit, A Close Shave, to feel the love.

Quality British cheeses should be available in various upmarket delicatessens. Where are you staying?

Absolutely Holy Island/Lindisfarne has a mead. It is quite widely available as well as being sold on the island itself. It's very good, very sweet. On island you'll be able to sample it, before buying.

If going to the Yorkshire Dales be sure to try to get to the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, for some authentic Wensleydale Cheese, including factory tours. Although not food related there is also the unusual chance to visit a ropemakers in Hawes.

When in Northumbria/Hadrian's wall get a stottie- a type of flatbread.

In East Sussex/Kent there are a lot of wineries. I'm not a wine drinker but those who know about such things say that many of them are pretty good.

If you make it to London check out the cheese shop Neal's Yard Dairy -- https://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk/

I've reall enjoyed the Mature Sparkenhoe Red Leicester -- https://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk/collections/hard-cheese/products/mature-sparkenhoe-red-leicester

Though probably my favorite is a Shropshire Blue -- https://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk/collections/blue-cheese/products/shropshire-blue
Thankfully I can get this particular blue cheese here at my local cheese shop. Just bought some today 🙂

As well as Neal's Yard, if you are in London try La Fromagerie in the Marylebone area. Despite the name it has a good range of British cheeses.

Being a big fan of cheese and of Wallace and Gromit, I’m really enjoying this thread.

Worth keeping an eye out when you eat, if you hit up one of the gastropubs or more upscale bistros, they often offer a cheese board of local cheeses. Doing some looking ahead at menus will turn up a few.

Aside from that, I do look for cheesemakers (as well as breweries and various other things of interest) and mark them in google maps, having pretty good luck finding some interesting stops.

Thank you ALL! I hesitated to write this post but I'm so happy I did! As usual, folks have come through and I've got new ideas to research and add to our list to try! Wonderful!!

One more to add... If you are a fan of a gin and tonic, I very much enjoyed Cotswolds dry gin. And I think an elder flower tonic.

Hi Shelley -

If you are in the Yorkshire Dales near Settle, try The Courtyard Cheese Shop. It’s on the end of the A65 Settle by pass headed towards Austwick. Hand made (for the most part), small batch cheeses from local farms (and some further afield). Most you’ll never have heard of, but don’t worry because a) I hadn’t either and b) they are only too willing to cut you a sliver to try before you buy. One farm produces goats cheese from their flock of just six goats (I think post Covid they may have expanded to 9-12 goats!). As for the further afield stuff we bought some Gorgonzola from the actual Gorgonzola and it was heavenly. I don’t even care for Gorgonzola!

It’s a little miracle in the middle of nowhere. During Covid lockdown they did Zoom cheese tastings, where they sent you a box of cheeses with optional accompanying wine and you joined the meeting to eat cheese, ask questions, possibly get a bit sloshed (there were cider and beer cheese tastings as well - each meeting was on a different cheesy subject) while the Courtyard’s owner guided you through what you were eating and drinking and how it came to be! Somebody that enterprising deserves to succeed!

Well worth a visit!

Ian

if you pass through the Leicester area as you head south a minor detour to Melton Mobray will benefit you with hand raised genuine pork pies and genuine local Stilton cheese.... Stilton is also made as far as the Cambridgeshire border.

Rutland Truckle is from a few miles east of Melton Mobray.

In the Cotswolds you'll have Double Gloucester.

These days you can't go more than a few miles between small creameries and their unique (and scrummy) products....

If you do get to London in the Richmond neighborhood visit the small Teddington Cheese stop on Hill Rise. Best creamy bleu cheese. Knowledgeable staff. Great cheese options!

When in East Sussex be sure to check out some of the cheeses from the High Weald Dairy. They've won numerous awards for their cheese, my favourite being St. Giles, very similar to Saint Paulin and Seven Sisters, a semi soft sheep cheese coated with seaweed.

Another recommendation here for the cheese shop Neal's Yard Dairy.

A visit to London's Borough Market is in order, as there are a number of stands there selling fresh cheeses. The proprietors are glad to slice off a small sample for you to try. You'll find a variety of cheeses from all over England here. It's a good way to find out which are your favorites and make some purchases.

Also found in Borough Market are farm stalls selling grapes, apples, cherry tomatoes, fresh strawberries (in season). Why not pick up some cheeses, french bread stick or crackers, fruit or tomatoes and head for a park bench in one of London's parks, or a bench by the river. Borough Market has an extensive wine shop, in case you'll be needing that for your picnic.

One of the cheese shops in Borough Market makes a delicious grilled cheese sandwich. It's a blend of 3 cheeses. They are quite famous for it. Ask anyone around there where the Grilled Cheese Sandwich booth is; they'll know.

I am making the assumption here that you will be passing through London sometime during your visit, either at the beginning or at the end.

And Neal's Yard Dairy does have a store on a street by Borough Market. It was easy to spend a hour there.

I do have to say that I was really humored with the start of this thread, simply because at the same moment, and earlier at work, I was working with a letter by a boy named Richard Frethorne, recently arrived in Virginia to his father and mother in London, in 1623, that had these lines, "But for God’s sake send beef and cheese and butter, or the more of one sort and none of another. But if you send cheese, it must be very old cheese; and at the cheesemonger’s you may buy very food [sic?] cheese for twopence farthing or halfpenny, that will be liked very well. But if you send cheese, you must have a care how you pack it in barrels; and you must put cooper’s chips between every cheese, or else the heat of the hold will rot them."

I loved that he was asking for old cheese and instructing how it should be packed for shipping. After all old cheese is best cheese 😁. The letter can be read at -- http://www.virtualjamestown.org/frethorne.html

Frethorne was from the parish of St. Dunstan-in-the-East London. His family received poor relief, and Frethorne would be indentured to Virginia by the parish. His letters from Virginia ended up in the hands of the Sir Nathaniel Rich and his cousin the Earl of Warrick at the head of the Warrick faction battling with the Sir Edwin Sandys faction and Sir Thomas Smythe faction for the control of the Virginia Company. Today the letters are part of the Manchester papers in the Public Records Office, London. Sadly Frethorne died near the end of his first year in Virginia in February 1623 (OS or 1624 NS).

Please forgive my adding educational content. Surely I'm going to gain a bad reputation.

For me, no trip to London is complete without a meal at The Cheese Bar--they have a couple of locations but I like the one at Camden Market. Various cheese dishes all made from British cheese, the grilled cheese is particularly scrumptious.

Also in London, Paxton & Whitfield at 93 Jermyn St, St. James's, London. It holds the Royal Warrant for cheese and has been in business for over 200 years. It’s close to Fortnum & Mason.

Thanks Everyone ianandjulie- I will look it up in Settle. Great when someone is willing to share so much helpful info.
jc. I'll look up the High Weald Dairy.

Thanks all. I'll reread this and take note of any that will work.

Possibly into London but we haven't decided if we will or not. we were at Bourough Market before and it was wonderful. So much to try.

Appreciate your thoughts. :)

Love those Cornish Meat Pies.

One thing, don't order lasagna in an English restaurant. I did so in the best restaurant in Chipping Campden and got a meat pie with melted cheese on top. It was a great meat pie, just not lasagna. Only order that in an Italian restaurant.