What I Ate Today

In the late 1970′s, Nicholas Saunders started up “a few businesses in Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden” to quote the Neal’s Yard Dairy website.  These companies were Neal’s Yard Whole Food, Neal’s Yard Remedies, the Monmouth Coffee Company and Neal’s Yard Dairy.  Seemingly Mr Saunders was onto something as the businesses seem to have taken off and have have a pretty strong brand identity.

Neal’s Yard Dairy has a shop in Covent Garden (Not Far From Neal Street and the Neal’s Yard Remedy shop).   Borough Market seems like a more natural location for me, right in food central.   The remedies may be better known, but for me, the cheese shop is where it’s at.  A focus on natural wholesomeness and tradition  seem to permeate throughout Neal’s Yard ventures.

When you go into the shop, there is a man who directs you to a “cheese monger” who will serve you with cheese of your choice. If it is busy and there is a queue, fear not! The man gives you cheese to eat while you wait!

The whole shop is just filled with cheese.  Truckles sit on shelves and shelves tempting your fancy.  There is also a selection of pickles, chutneys and posh bread for you to purchase!  Unfortunately, the shop doesn’t sell smoked cheese – they say it contaminates the other cheese. 

I can’t go to Borough Market without popping into this shop, even if it is only to enjoy the smell!  It is a true spectacle and the shop is always full.  You can learn lots about Cheese and they have no problem with you trying before you buy – indeed, they encourage it and the Mongers do seem to enjoy the odd bit of cheese themselves!

On this occasion, I bought “Strathdon Blue” (a cool creamy cow’s milk blue cheese), “Tunworth” (a soft, strong, brie-like cheese) and Wallace and Grommit’s favourite – Wensleydale (this one was nice and firm, not crumbly).  I also sampled several other cheeses, including goat and sheep milk. The “Colston Bassett” was great – Stilton like and sharp….hmmm….cheese.  I don’t think the prices here are high by comparison to vacuum packed supermarket and brand named, mass produced cheese.  In fact, I’d say that in comparison to “not just taste the finest difference select” type supermarket ”posh” cheeses, they win hands down.

Oh, an finally the very best thing about the cheese in this shop – the cheese is all British.  Given that there is so much cheese heritage in Britain, it seems a shame that a sense of continental cheese superiority persists.  Neal’s Yard is not the only shop selling traditional British cheeses.  They all help elevate British cheese to the podium place it deserves.  Nothing wrong with a bit of cheese protectionism I say!