GG - I've been challenged by a French person to prove that there are more cheeses in the UK than France... I remember your claim from when we met in Basel...

Can you provide me with info on the web (I've tried looking but can't find)?

Also, I'm going to send her to your shop (she's Zurich-based, but not for long...).

There are about twice as many British cheeses (700+) as there are French cheeses (350-400)

http://www.britishcheese.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_cheeses

It's a case of "lies, damned lies and statistics". There are many statistics on the web showing that France makes between 370 and 500 different styles of cheese and Switzerland between 200 and 400 odd. Now, it depends for example if you count all the Berg cheeses here as one style or as different styles of cheese.

Cheddar for example, we count as one style of cheese, and there must be over 300 different cheddars in the UK. What is a fact is that there are over 700 different styles of cheese in the UK with cheddar being just one (some have counted 900 but that includes cheeses such as Somerset Brie which to me is a French style cheese just made in Britain). In total there are over 1500 different cheese and that is still less than half pre WW2 levels (but we're slowly getting back there).

I had a discussion about this with a regular French customer who explained that in France though, there are many small village cheeses that are probably not counted on official statistics....

"that's not my fault" was my reply..."if you want to make more cheeses than the UK, go and count them all".

At the end of the day I use some official statistics to prove that the UK makes an awful lot more cheese than anyone in Europe would believe. And anyway, I have since been quoted on Swiss TV, so it must be true

Haven't English cheeses beaten French cheese in the world cheese awards the last few years.. quality not quantity my french cheris

Lots of cheese at the Zurich HB market today for the Easter weekend including the champion British cheese, Golden Cenarth. We also have Westcombe PDO, Isle of Mull and Godminster cheddars and Stilton in ceramic as well as grahams Port.

We're open there until 8 and here at the Viadukt Thursday and Saturday until 8 too.

I'll take both if I can...

Lancashire Creamy is back at the Zurich HB market today and it's on special offer at 3.50 / 100gr. We also have 3 very different Raw Jersey Blues from Exmoor as well as Stilton in Ceramic. That with a glass or 2 of Port would be a great way to celebrate the Royal Wedding

Unless of course you are already coming to our party at the Viadukt on Thursday evening.

Our best selling Godminster Bio Cheddar is back in stock and I also have some great goat cheeses from Peter Humphries in Somerset (he who makes the Rachel goat).... Katherine, Eva, Whitelake and Driftwood. They're all at the Viadukt and will be at the Zurich HB market tomorrow.

The Viadukt Markthalle is also open this Sunday from 11.00 to 18.00.

We are back in Zug this coming Saturday from 11.00 to 17.00 at the Moevenpick wine shop. Lots of wine and cheese to try and buy

The following Saturday 21st May I will be in Bern at St Ursula church spring book sale and the day after in Basel for the Expat Expo

Just for the record, tonight i am making a cheese sauce for pasta with some Grumpy Shropshire Blue (sister cheese of the Stilton).

A simple white sauce (butter, flour, milk) then just with the Blue, and the tiniest bit of salt.

Doubt the kids'll eat it, but hey - all the more for me

http://www.cheeseclub.ch/en/thebritishcheesa.html

I would also suggest half a glass of a fruity white wine in there too

OK, so a busy weekend ahead, I'm in Bern tomorrow (Saturday 21st) at St Ursulas English church on Kirchenfeldstrasse from about 10.00 - 14.00, they are having a second hand English book market and a few other food stalls will also be there.

Then on Sunday I'm at the Expat-Expo in Basel, free entry and lots of exhibitors offering goods and services to the expat crowd.

..........

The Viadukt is closed tomorrow so get your holiday cheese in today, we're also at the Zurich HB market and we have lots of special blue cheeses to tempt you with.

Coming next week for the first time in Switzerland is Isle of White Blue, a small soft blue Guernsey milk cheese. It was requested by a Swiss customer who declared it to be the best cheese he has ever tasted, so I guess it must be good

Do you have your lovely better half's favorite blue at the HB today? (I forgot the name, but it is officially my favorite too)... If so, I will have to come by and get some.

When will you update the website (I'd like to get some Godminster and Lanark)?

Tom

Beenleigh Blue sheep, yes, at the HB and Viadukt today..

Thanks for reminding me, Godminster is available, I have some Lanark, I just need to taste it as it's getting quite ripe at the moment, double Kilt Lifter if you like

How do I order some? I'd be interested in a kg of the Godminster, 1/2 or so of the Lanark, and maybe some other stuff.

Tom

You could try http://cheeseclub.ch/en/thebritishcheesa.html

Alas, that only works for some cheeses.

Tom

As per our email exchange, but for others interested.... I don't put many of the cheeses on the web shop as some I only get in small batches. These cheeses are usually listed on our stock list PDF and I can send them out with a payment slip. Always best to call me first to discuss what is ripe and suitable for you.

Next week we also have some fantastic goat cheeses from Somerset and more of the raw Jersey blues from Exmoor.

However, I notice that the stock list is dated Ferbruary 2011 , so you may want to update that!

Tom