Cheese of the Month – February 2009

Shrophshire Blue

This traditional Nottinghamshire made cheese is made with cow’s milk into an 8kg round and makes a fabulous table cheese.

The cheese was originally invented in Scotland at the beginning of the last Century and then introduced to the Stilton makers. Its orange colour is what distinguishes it from Stilton, created by adding a few drops of annatto, a natural dye into the vat. The cheese maintains its wonderful blue taste, while the annatto creates an underlying richness of buttery caramel. The cheese matures for 10 weeks and has a fat content of 34%

At No.8 we collect the cheese direct from Cropwell Bishop Creamery regularly to keep it in the freshest possible condition. They have won many awards for their cheese which is extremely creamy and full flavoured, – a real Deli favourite!

Cheese of the Month – July 2008

Old Amsterdam

The lush green pastures of lowland Holland make it ideal dairy country, and its name has become eternally linked with cheese production. In fact the Netherlands are the largest exporters of cheese in the world.

The name Gouda comes from the small town situated between Rotterdam and Utrecht, which started producing the cheese for export in the 13th Century. Records show that it was popular in Britain at that time. Today Gouda production is no longer restricted to the local farms around the town itself, but is made all over Holland.

Old Amsterdam is a gouda which has been matured for 18 months. It comes coated in black wax. The paste is a deep yellow colour with a waxy texture, punctuated with a few holes. It is a pressed, uncooked cheese made from pasteurised milk. The fat content is 48%.

Although it can be used in cooking, Old Amsterdam is best enjoyed on its own. The full flavour also complements salads to give an added dimension.