National Cheese Lovers' Day

[GusB]

According to the programme that's currently playing out on Radio 4, it's National Cheese Lovers' Day. I don't usually bother with "National this and that Days", but cheese is one of my favourite foods and I thought it'd be interesting to find out what preferences forum members have.

My first choice will always be a good cheddar and I love double Gloucester (with or without chives and other additives). A friend once introduced me to "Tintern" and I loved it. I don't mind Red Leicester on the odd occasion and I'm okay with cream cheeses like Philadelphia. That's as far as it goes, really; I'm suspicious of anything that has blue veins and the smell of Parmesan makes me want to heave.

What's your favourite?

 

[Cambus731]

I think, if pushed I’d say Saint Agur Blue.
Particularly lovely on small crackers made with black pepper
Also love Stilton.
Or Edam or smoked cheese go very well with peanut butter in a sandwich

 

[signed]

As a good Frenchman I do enjoy Saint-Nectaire.

On food, Gorgonzola is fire

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Perl Las.

But there's too many to choose from, really.

 

[Trainguy34]

One I found in Aldi last week that was surprisingly nice - Cheddar with Pineapple.

Even just a black pepper cracker on its own is amazing, it's better with cheese but I'll still happily eat them without.

 

[ChrisC]

I like the white crumbly cheeses like Wensleydale, Cheshire and the often more difficult to find white Stilton rather than the blue. My real favourite is a really good Lancashire cheese of all varieties which include crumbly, tasty and creamy. A good Lancashire is often difficult to find outside of the Lancashire area as the pre packed versions available in supermarkets are nowhere as good as that cut fresh from a large cheese especially within Lancashire. I think that applies to most cheeses that the cheeses available in a good cheese shop are often far superior to pre-packed versions in supermarkets.

 

[cb a1]

Manchego is my 'go to' for sandwiches.
Local cheese shop sells a Truffle Cheddar which is delicious (have had truffle cheese from a supermarket which was very disappointing in comparison).
Halloumi as a topping on something like a pasta bake.
50% of a good strong blue cheese when making a cheese sauce.
Gjetost is an interesting change - quite a sweet cheese.

 

[InkyScrolls]

Nothing like real Yorkshire Wensleydale.

 

[dangie]

Nothing like real Yorkshire Wensleydale.

As long as it doesn’t have cranberries or such like!
Strong Cheddar, Stilton, Danish Blue, Red Leicester…….
Probably would be easier to list cheeses I don’t like…… oh here’s one….. Cottage Cheese

 

[Calthrop]

I'd like to try -- just once, I feel pretty certain -- that nightmare thing from Sardinia which is crawling with maggots.

 

[Harpo]

I think, if pushed I’d say Saint Agur Blue…..
Also love Stilton.

Yes. In that order. I can’t bring myself to use Saint Agur instead of Stilton to bake a mushroom*.

Plus, plain goat’s cheese, Wensleydale with cranberries and, for cheddar, Snowdonia’s Black Bomber.




* Crumble stilton into a big flat mushroom - 15 mins in the oven.

 

[hexagon789]

I'd like to try -- just once, I feel pretty certain -- that nightmare thing from Sardinia which is crawling with maggots.

Casu martzu ('putrid cheese'), the Corsicans have something similar.

I think you may be more adventurous than myself there though - I like cheese, but casu martzu is something... else...

 

[Ken X]

The present Mrs X is very partial to a lump of Appenzeller. Comes from her ancestral home town. Tastes great but the smell is a bit iffy.

When my brother house sat for us once, we left a chunk in the fridge without telling him. He nearly resorted to fumigating the kitchen till he found it lurking at the back.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Tallagio if absolutely pushed but being asked what your favourite cheese is kind of resembles asking a parent which is their favourite child.

 

[Cowley]

I love the cheese. All of it! It’s the one reason I could never be a vegan…

 

[brad465]

I love the cheese. All of it! It’s the one reason I could never be a vegan…

Are you also the voice actor for Wallace?

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I love stilton and picked up several blocks from Sainsburys post-Christmas at a bargain price. The problem is how long have I got to eat them; how do you know when stilton's gone off?

 

[Cowley]

Are you also the voice actor for Wallace?

It’s one of my best impressions!

 

[hexagon789]

I love stilton and picked up several blocks from Sainsburys post-Christmas at a bargain price. The problem is how long have I got to eat them; how do you know when stilton's gone off?

Are they all refrigerated or did you freeze any of it?

 

[Stathern Jc]

I love stilton and picked up several blocks from Sainsburys post-Christmas at a bargain price. The problem is how long have I got to eat them; how do you know when stilton's gone off?

I could almost repeat the first part of that word for word, except that my post Christmas forage is at M&S and includes half price Christmas cake and puddings.

Being a native of Leicestershire's North East corner I was raised on Pork Pies and Stilton so it's not surprising that Stilton is my favourite of many favourite cheeses, I just love any good cheese.
Possible second favourite is Mahon cheese from Menorca. Whenever I've been there on holiday the case is always well heavy on the way back with a supply, and also some chorizo and a bottle of Xoriguer gin which my daughter tells me is rather good.

In response to @CaptainHaddock's question:
Stilton doesn't go off, it just gets better!
But I cut the 1lb packs into 2 or 3 pieces and put them in the freezer just to be sure. I still have some from last year and it's fine.

p.s. If you see the Isle of Mull cheddar give it a try, it's very good.

 

[Cowley]

I am very impressed that people have enough of a surplus of cheese to be wondering how to store it. This is never an issue in my house…

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Are they all refrigerated or did you freeze any of it?

Two in the fridge, three in the freezer.

 

[hexagon789]

I am very impressed that people have enough of a surplus of cheese to be wondering how to store it. This is never an issue in my house…

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jan 2025 ==

Two in the fridge, three in the freezer.

Fridge stuff should be good for 3-4 weeks past the date no problem, freezer stuff indefinitely really.

Tbh, sniff and taste it - if it doesn't snell like ammonia and tastes normal it's more than likely fine.

But fair warning - I am the sort of person who will consume things like milk 2 weeks beyond the marked date if it tastes and smells fine, so I take no responsibility for any advice given!

 

[Stathern Jc]

I always think of "Best Before" dates as meaning just that, and not "Unsafe After".
The food manufacturers obviously have to err well on the side of caution for the benefit of anyone with a medical condition or a more sensitive constitution than mine.

 

[hexagon789]

I always think of "Best Before" dates as meaning just that, and not "Unsafe After".
The food manufacturers obviously have to err well on the side of caution for the benefit of anyone with a medical condition or a more sensitive constitution than mine.

Well exactly, even 'Use By' usually errs a day or two to the cautious side.

 

[Harpo]

even 'Use By' usually errs a day or two to the cautious side.

I only use ‘best by’ to pick the freshest items from the shop.

 

[Cowley]

Manchego is my 'go to' for sandwiches.
Local cheese shop sells a Truffle Cheddar which is delicious (have had truffle cheese from a supermarket which was very disappointing in comparison).

I must admit that truffle infused cheese was one of the few ones that I found to be a little too overpowering.

Anyway. Everyone stop with the sell by dates, that’s a whole separate topic.

Back to the cheeese please!

 

[davetheguard]

Small batch local cheeses from a proper cheese shop, sold by staff who are knowledgable & enthusiastic about their wares.

So much more choice than in supermarkets, and not sweating in shrink-wrapped plastic either.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Favourite cheeses include Cornish Yarg,Blacksticks Blue,Vintage Comte and Shropshire Blue. A nice sandwich is Brie & Cranberry chutney.
Yarg seems to be difficult to get in supermarkets at the moment.

 

[DiscoSteve]

Cambozola! End of!