new logo
November 2010
Greetings!

In my last newsletter I was talking about local cheesemakers who'd won awards.  This time I'm pleased to say that we've won one.  Well, almost.  For the second year on the trot we've been named runners-up in the Observer Food Monthly Awards (Independent Retail category). We're just delighted, and - since this is voted for by the public - would like to say a sincere thank you to everyone who nominated us.

But what do I have for you in this edition?  Firstly, a couple of offers. I'll be pointing to our lovely Christmas gift boxes and trying to tempt you to order early via a pretty nice giveaway.  And there's a discount on two cheeses from the Somerset Cheese Company.  I recently visited Phil and Anita in their draughty hilltop dairy to find out all about their cheeses, which included mega award-winning Pennard Vale, featured in a new box from us.
Early Christmas Ordering: Win a Cheese Subscription!


xmas 5 2010Our Christmas boxes are now up on the site, featuring three, four or five small whole cheeses from some of our favourite Westcountry makers - a selection of terrific hard, soft and blue cheeses. As a Christmas gift these make a great impression, even more so if you choose the Posh Box option.  Prices start at £24.50 + delivery for the Christmas Three in a standard box.  The Christmas Four is £29.50, the Christmas Five (seen here) £39.50.


Order early - before 15 November - and we'll put you in a draw* to receive a Cheese Shed Subscription next year. The winner will get four selections though 2011, with about 1kg of cheese in each (note that the offer only applies to items on the Christmas Cheese page).


*Please note: one of my friends voiced alarm at the prospect of being "put in a drawer". Do not worry.  I will not be doing this.

 
Phil and Anita's Rainbow Nation of Cheese

scc laneDrive deep into Somerset's cheese country and make your way to the village of Ditcheat (pronounced ditch-it), a few miles south of Shepton Mallet.  Perched up on the top of a hill, near a famous racing stables, you'll find Ditcheat Hill Farm, home since 2005 to the Somerset Cheese Company. 

People had been telling Phil Rainbow for years that he ought to be making his own cheese.  After all, he'd been making it for other people - Ford Farm, Monastery Cheese, Cheddar Gorge Cheese Co. - since the mid 60s.  What finally tipped the balance was the encouragement of two friends, Anita and Nick Robinson.  They'd known each other for a while - Anita had been Phil's assistant at one time - but now the time seemed right to take the plunge.  Phil had the experience and Anita was ready for a new challenge. Plus a fully equipped dairy was available to rent at Ditcheat Hill Farm.  With the help of Nick - and a lot of hard work - the buildings were brought up to scratch and the new dairy was born.


pen vale

Phil had a lot of experience in the 'other' milks - ewe, goat and buffalo, so the concept was to steer away from cows' milk and produce a range of naturally-rinded cheddar-style hard cheeses, mainly in a 2kg size to suit the deli trade. 


Among the one's you'll find in The Cheese Shed are Fosseway Fleece (ewe), Pendragon (buffalo) and Pennard Vale (goat - seen here), the last of which brought them the serious accolade of Best Goats' Cheese at the 2010 British Cheese Awards.




anita + phil

Asked about the 'artisan' aspect of what he does, Phil points out that the making of his cheese is overseen by one person from start to finish.  This makes for attention to detail and consistency of quality. The milk changes subtly through the year and he's able to make subtle changes to the process to accommodate this. Plus he evaluates each batch, occasionally tweaking the recipe in order to increase quality still further.  In a big creamery these talks are undertaken by a team; Phil's cheeses are the result of one man's vision and skill.

Recently the range has expanded with - finally - the addition of a cheddar, the superb raw milk Six Spires.  This completes the range, meaning that their market stall features cheeses with all the different milks.  And let's face it: if there's one thing you should never underestimate, it's the British public's appetite for cheddar!
Special Offer: Smoked Pendragon and Six Spires


sm pend + six spiresYou've read all about Phil, Anita and their Rainbow Nation of cheeses made with all the different milks, and we've just added two more of these to The Cheese Shed's range.  Smoked Pendragon is a version of the buffalo milk Pendragon.  We ask: is this the only smoked buffalo milk cheese made in the UK?  Dunno.  But it's a creamy delight.  And Six Spires is a beautifully full-flavoured raw milk cheddar that I was wowed by on my visit.

Order either of these before 15 November at a discount of 50%.

The Champion Cheese Box

champion cheese boxAs a native of Oldham, my Dad would, I'm sure, have approved of this new box and pronounced it 'right champion'. 

He'd have been correct - in more ways than one. All our boxes contain beautiful cheeses, but this particular four are inspired by some of the big winners in this year's British Cheese Awards.  Find out more here.