Melton Mowbray Pork PiesPGI 2008 As mentioned previously my family are Butchers, on my rounds delivering to many Butchers in the Northeast I became a bit of an expert on Pork Pies. It wasn't unusual to recieve a pie of hot dip sandwich from the Butcher after a delivery and all the drivers knew who made the best ones. Melton Mowbray pies take some beating though. Whey as by product of cheese production (see Stilton) was an ideal food for Pigs so Pork became a big part of the local diet. The ... continue reading...
Roquefort, cheese of Kings PDO.
Roquefort PDO The French Emperor Charlemagne loved a bit of Roqufort on his bread and who can blame him that tangy, sharp taste washed down with a good glass of aged red wine, I fancy some now just thinking about it. The Cheese must be aged in caves that tunnel for miles into Mount Combalou in south-central France. The cool and humid atmosphere is ideal for the growth of the mold Penicillium roqueforti, which gives the cheese its characteristic blue-green marbling and tang. Legend has it that ... continue reading...
Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb. PDO.
Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb PDO 2010 The Yorkshire "rhubarb triangle" lies between Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford. Yorkshire Forced is grown and harvested indoors by candlelight to preserve its sweet flavor. Rhubarb is Originally from Sebia so the triangle offers ideal growing conditions for the 12 Yorkshire farmers who still produce it. The farmers use recycled-wool fertilizer from local mills to enrich the cold, moist soil which is perfect for this hardy plant.It can take up to three years ... continue reading...
Jersey Royal Potatoes. PDO.
Jersey Royal Potatoes PDO 1996 Who doesn't love Jersey Royals with a knob of butter? I actually worked on the harvesting in 1979, hand picking these tasty morsels. We would eat them fresh out of the ground, washed and boiled every night, sometimes adding some fresh mint and courgettes at the last minute. Since the 12th centuary Jersey farmers have used seaweed (Vraic) as a natural fertiliser, this and the light, well drained soil are thought to contribute to the flavour. Potatoes planted on ... continue reading...
Stilton The King PDO.
Stilton PDO 1996 My wife's uncle Pete would feed a round of this King of Cheeses with spoonful Port throughout December to be devoured Christmas day and it was wonderful. I since read somewhere that it's a tradition that's frowned upon by the Stilton experts as it adulterates the taste. I promise I won't take up the habit. Stilton comes from (no prizes here) Stilton and the surrounding area, it started life in 17th centuary as a cream cheese. In 1724 Daniel Defoe commented in his “Tour through ... continue reading...