Lake District based artisan farmhouse cheesemaker and owner of Manchester cheesemonger’s New Market Dairy, Martin Gott, is gearing up to join a star-studded line up of cheesemakers, chefs including the likes of fellow Lakes resident Simon Rogan, food writers such as Jenny Linford and an array of cheese aficionados including the likes of Ned Palmer at the UK’s second virtual British Cheese Weekender later this month.
Launched last year in response to the crisis facing the country’s specialist cheesemakers when the Covid struck, the British Cheese Weekender returns this year with three days of free online cheese events aimed at celebrating and supporting this fragile sector.
Kicking off at 5.00pm on 23rd April, with cheesemaker Mary Quicke, participants will be transported across the country, as the virtually drop in at farms, dairies, maturing rooms, cheesemongers’ counters and top chefs’ kitchens to learn more about British cheeses before wrapping up on 25th April at 9.00pm with a chat about the future of British cheese.
There’s a jam-packed programme of events to get involved with, including wine and cheese masterclasses, cooking demos and talks on the history of cheese, virtual farm tours and virtual cheese tastings and even the promise of cheese and jazz from leading comedian Marcus Brigstocke.
Martin Gott’s session is at 6.30pm on Saturday 24th April, followed by Simon Rogan’s session at 7.30pm. To join in and take part simply buy some British artisan cheeses, tune in and taste along with the host of experts across the three days of cheese related fun.
Michelin starred chef Simon Rogan commented: ”Over the years I’ve wholeheartedly supported British producers and have long championed our cheese makers, in particular makers like Martin Gott and Nicola Robinson the creators of St James, based on our doorstep just outside Cartmel, traditional style cheddar like Westcombe, from Somerset and innovative cheeses including my personal favourite, rich and oozy Tunworth, from Hampshire. Which is why I am happy to lend my support to the Great British Cheese Weekender and help shout about our distinctive British farmhouse cheeses.”
Martin Gott commented: ‘’The British Cheese Weekender it’s designed to help raise awareness with as many customers as possible of the sheer quality and diversity of artisan made farmhouse cheeses from around the British Isles. This is especially crucial at the moment, as many of the makers have had a particularly challenging time surviving in the face of Covid, when many lost much of their hospitality trade during successive lockdowns. As a sector we are hugely proud of how far we’ve come but in order to be able to continue to grow and bring new cheeses to market in the coming months and years we will all need the support of the British public, support for which we are all very grateful and hope to see continue long into the future.’’
So, why not get involved and order some British cheese from one of the following cheesemonger’s:
Neal’s Yard: https://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk/
Cartmel Cheeses: https://www.cartmelcheeses.co.uk/
New Market Dairy: https://www.newmarketdairy.com/
Courtyard Dairy: https://www.thecourtyarddairy.co.uk/
And log onto https://britishcheeseweekender.com/programme/ and choose the events you want to attend.
If you want to learn to taste cheese like a pro then you can download the Academy of Cheese Tasting Model https://academyofcheese.org/lp/cheese-tasting-model/
