A must stop destination for any lover of artisan cheeses
Vanja and I were wandering around the Covent Garden area of London looking for a hot pair of shoes (it is a great little shopping area) when I squeeled with delight and jumped up and down with glee! “Vanja! Look! It’s Neal’s yard Dairy! ” Vanja thought I had gone over the edge and was experiencing a form of exhausted dilerieum from all of the miles we had travelled by foot this day. He just looked at me with the most confused and considerately loving look. “Neal’s Yeard Dairy!” I pointed again. Then, I realized he didn’t live inside of my head, or read my mind. “Brulee Blog told me to not miss it. It is a great cheese shop! Let’s go in!” Ah! He grinned that knowing grin.”
Neal’s Yard Dairy is paradise for any cheese lover. And they sell a few other things, but not too much. Just something to eat your cheese or dairy products with.
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Cook Sister had written me a lovely letter about what not to miss in London, as well, and this was also on her list for me. Look at that cheese!
I found the information about how this amazing shop started, on their website, extremely interesting. The artisan cheeses that the owner discovered connecting with one of his providers grew into what we find today. This is not the original location, but this shop is in the area of the first location. The Borough Market shop is much bigger store and there is also a dairy and another cheese aging location. This small artisan cheese idea grew into a massive support network and sales venue for artisan cheese makers within the UK. There are a couple of cheeses from France (Brie and Chevre)Â and one from Italy(Parmasan).
Double click on each photo, or open each in a separate screen to be able to read the information on each cheese. I found it so gratifying on a primal level to read the names of each cheese, and then when each came from and who the Cheese Maker was. The names of the real people who made each cheese was such a find. To know my cheesemaker, or farmer, or butcher, or producer of any of the food I buy is very important to me. At Neal’s Yard Dairy, you will know whose cheese you are eating. You can find out where their farm is. You can taste their cheeses. It was truly a very special experience. I could taste every corner of the UK in cheese if I had the time and the capacity.
I didn’t. But I tasted as much as I could. The staff is incredibly helpful. They do ask you what you like. You may not know. I found that a hard question to answer as I like almost all kinds of cheese. But, we found our way around some very interesting cheeses together. This stilton was deadly: Colston Basset Stilton made by Billy Kevan, one of the proprietors of the Colston Basset Dairy founded in 1913 and synonymous with Stilton. There are only 6 dairies in the UK permitted to make Stilton Cheese. I have never had a blue cheese like it. Look at all of that luscious Stilton. Not in my life have I seen so many varieties and so much of each in one location. And all are artisan cheeses. Double swoon! You can order online from Neal’s Yard Dairy. Otherwise, you have to go to the Dairy and buy it in person.
I was drawn to the deep orange cheese for a taste, and found it very mild. I was told that almost everyone asks to taste this cheese and expects something different than they taste. It was delicious, but I do like strong cheeses. That was a helpful clue to my guide.
It is a very busy place, and there are usually a lot of people waiting for a person to help them make their choices, so, I did feel a bit rushed. On the other hand, I couldn’t have tasted any more with clarity, and certainly purchased any more. I just wanted to stay and talk cheese and learn. But, my half hour was definitely over, and I had made my choices. This would be a magnificent cheese platter for mom’s 80th a few weeks after I get home. Everything I bought was to last at least 6 weeks in the fridge.
Artisan butter. I could not resist. It had a beautiful cow embossed on it that had been pressed out by the time it arrived home in my suitcase. Darn! The Cadea was a must.
I bought a slab of quince paste, too, as it pairs beautiful so with cheese and cannot be found anywhere in Edmonton at this time. The Colton Basset Stilton was the best Stilton I have ever tasted. The Montgomery Cheddar, below, right, was also unforgettable and a must!
Now, how did I get this cheese home with me? I once bought a huge round of young Pecorino from a cheese maker in Sienna, Italy: Pecorino country. It was about 30 pounds and I carried it all over Italy in my back pack. When we came back to cross the border, I declared it, and was allowed through. I had it wrapped as it would be to be mailed to me. That is what I did with this. I have had many people tell me that they have never been able to bring cheese through the border. Either I was lucky, or had it wrapped properly.
Time to leave. Satisfied, and happy. I know I will be at the Borough Market store tomorrow, so I don’t feel a need to linger. Smiling wide with the load over my shoulder, I greet my husband and we continue shoe shopping before stopping by a pub for another thing to do on my list: “eat a pub meal at a local pub”.
Ah, Saturday. Our last full day in London, and after an early morning tour of The Globe Theater (which was amazing and I would highly recommend it to all), we were off to the Borough Market. We took the tube to the Millenium Bridge, and walked across it to The Globe. Borough Market is a short walk from there. We turned down a street toward the market, and the first shop I spotted before even getting to the market was Neal’s Yard Dairy!Â
Lucky, me, many times over.
This store was much bigger than the one in Covent Gardens, but also much more crowded, particularly on this last Saturday before Easter Sunday. The only sample one would find would be outside the door of this dairy today, above, to the right. Delicious. But, I was here particularly for the double creams as the dairy had just sold out of them all when we were there the evening prior.
And, of course, I could not resist another look around and a second opportunity to breath in this amazing artisan cheese experience.
I did get a taste of the Stinking Bishop and consider myself extra ordinarily fortunate. Everyone else was buying for the holiday and seemed to be there knowing exactly what they wanted. It was clear I was enamoured with the experience and was lusting after this cheese. A young chap kindly took a little wooden test stick and swooped up a scoop and handed it to me with a wink and a smile. That Bishop might stink, but he was mighty tasty!Â
I really appreciate that the label even includes whether the cheese is made with traditional animal rennet, or not. And, in this area, all I saw were. This Yarg was a softer hard cheese: not sharp like a cheddar, but strong and full and distinct.
Wouldn’t a tasting of all these creamy buttery soft cheeses be a blast? Oh, my!
The shapes and sizes and colours and textures are simply incredible.
And now, I found my creams.
I bought each of these. I was told they would all freeze beautifully. So, that is what I did. I froze them and then thawed them for mom’s party. But, no one even tasted any of them. There was too much to choose from. The thought was there… and I found each divine. The gal at the store had her favourites, and another gal had hers. That is why I bought three. And, I could not pick. The clotted cream does have a different texture. It is clotted, so has little grains of texture in it, that dissolve into buttery goodness. I think anything dairy from a Jersey cow has to be lush and rich and creamy and full. And it was. I love the double cream. It is as thick as our sour cream in Edmonton, but with the flavour of a 52% whipping cream. Can you imagine that on a scone? Addictive.
This is still cold.
We can buy so many international foods here, but not this. I wonder why?
Everything arrived home safe, and healthy and delicious. Except Beavie. He got home owly, stinky and with his nose out of joint.
I am still enjoying some of these cheeses. I baked Fougasse and breadsticks that Richard Bertinet taught me to make at my cooking class in Bath, to eat with them. YUM!
Owly? Cheeeeeeese! Sometimes YOU are just too cheesy for me, Valerie!
Thanks for sharing Valerie. It was like being on a walking tour of London.
Neal’s Yard Dairy cheeses are amazing indeed! We’ve tasted several and enjoyed them all!
I am so glad you managed to get to Neal’s Yard Dairy. I love sharing the cheese love! 😀
(Did you know you took a photo of the bread I bought? Top shelf in the second photo!)
O more of those gorgeous London photos! Lovely Valerie and what a coincidence to see that bright orange cheese Sparkenhoe that I purchased today, believe it or not. Never heard of it and I haven’t even tasted it yet. But now I know it is mild… Probably a good thing as Tom is not a cheeseman and this will be melted on top of something (can’t tell you what; Daring Cooks stuff..:)) He would probably run out of a shop like this due to all that lovely cheese smell. I am amazed though that you got it all home…
Isn’t it fun to find a spot without really looking for it. What an amazing cheese and dairy shop. Unbelievable. I am missing cheese so much, now that I don’t have access to anything but the usual Safeway stuff.
Oh I do miss Cheese! and when I see those quaint stores, it makes me miss it even more! lucky you! I wish the US will start importing more cheeses or at least make good quality ones! can you send me some ;o)
I had to laugh at your introduction: “Then, I realized he didn’t live inside of my head, or read my mind.” I do that to Mack all the time, heh.
Great post again, Valerie. I love how the blocks of cheese are just stacked on top of one another, and, as you said, how the cheesemakers are all identified. Brilliant.
Wow, that is a lot of cheese! I am definitely a big fan of cheese. This is a great post. Thank you!
Another fab post. I’ve been here once, but it was before I was the food obsessed housewife i am today. I realise now that I must go back… with a baguette. Never know when you need to make an impromptu cheese sandwich, ya know?
*kisses* HH
citronetvanille – Neals Yard Dairy actually ships to the US. I would check some specialty cheese shops near you and see if they carry any.
You carried 30 pounds of cheese across Italy? Now THAT is dedication to food! I’ve totally done the same with wine 😉
I haven’t had any cheese that I don’t like….but then again I know very little about the cheese and haven’t really had many so far. I love love some Gorgonzola on my homemade salt-less Tuscan bread with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or maybe some really good Aussie Shiraz as a dinner…just to relax myself…
What’s that “ruby red” block between the cheeses?
This is like cheese heaven!
I cannot believe you carried 30 pounds of cheese all over Italy! You may need to be in the Guinness Book.
That cheese shop shows some serious cheese! Love it! Thanks for the tour!
I am curious, what are you going to do with the cheese? anything or just enjoy it with bread and some wine? (that would be my choice!)
Hello Valerie!
This is in response to the comment you left on my blog because twitter messages were just too limited for this! Haha, anyways…as for the comment situation on the new blog…sadly I have realized that I don’t think comments are possible. Either this or I have not figured out how to enable them yet. I hope I can!
And as far as bubble tea goes…I hope you didn’t mean you have not had a single bubble tea in your entire life! If this is the case, I strongly recommend you head to “Dream Tea House” located in either the “Chinatown” of West Edmonton Mall or on 104th Street in the little strip mall area near Whyte!
All bubble tea drinks are incredible…some of the bubble “tea’s” do not even have actual tea in them, the most popular ones are fruit/vegitable/nut flavored milk drinks, made with syrups or fresh fruit, ice, and sugar! And of course the tapioca pearls (the “bubbles”).
I found a nice selection of bubble tea tapioca pearls at t&t market at West Edmonton Mall in the “dried bean” aisle. You can use these (they are parboiled and only take 5 minutes to become plump!) in “boba” drinks (fresh fruit smoothie-type drinks), i have a recipe for this on my blogger blog, or in a plain tea drink! I like passionfruit flavoured green tea. The best part about buying bubble teas is sucking the tapioca up through giant straws they give you (like the one’s at mac’s for slushies).
On another note though, I’m loving your London posts! It’s like going on a trip without the actual “going” part, even though I really wish I could with this weather!
Hope this was helpful! Now go get a BBT and experience your life change before your eyes…er…tastebuds. 🙂
Mariel
I have never had bubble tea. Ever. And your post was so pretty that I had to tell you that, and it IS on my list of “to do’s” ! Thanks for all of the places I can try it – and that is exactly what I will do. Truly, I cannot imagine it.
🙂
Valerie
You’re welcome, enjoy! Oh and I figured out how to get comments on the tumblr blog haha. It was a feat, I had to tell someone…
Lovely photos, lovely cheeses. I want them ALL.
Thanks for the vicarious pleasures Valerie!
I’m in love. I don’t, however, know if the object of my affections is you or Neal :-). This was a wonderful post. I hope you are having a glorious day. Blessings…Mary
P.S. I’m still trying to provide the email service you need. No luck yet, but I don’t give up easily.
Wow!”Miss Canada” I love the pictures and thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining narration of this post.Your enthusiasm is so refreshing!I salivated for the tub of Guernsey cream.
When I visited Kent a while back,my cousin introduced me to heavy whipping cream made from soy. Needless, to say I made some desserts there.It is indeed a great pity that I too cannot find this soy cream over here!
Anyway,Neal’s Yard Dairy should start paying you royalties for this advertisement! LOL!!!!The travel bug has bit me again!
I LOL-ed at your first paragraph ” Then, I realized he didn’t live inside of my head, or read my mind.” I’m guilty of doing that with Gary also. Your last tow posts make me want to visit Londo NOW. What wonderful experiences you had! I’m not sure if you’re a wine drinker or not but all the rime I was reading this post I couldn’t help but think how amazing it would be if Neal’s Yard Dairy also sold wine. I don’t have much knowledge of wine but I’ve read enough to know certain wines go well with certain cheeses. And I do enjoy a nice glass of ice wine once in a while. I could just imagine the awesome pairings from Neal’s Yard Dairy. Thank you so much for bringing us to London with you to experience such delightful food Valerie 😛
I thought I died and went to heaven. Oh my God, this was an amazing post.
Hey Valerie, Vanja sounds very sweet. Cauldron Boy has to read my mind too sometimes (food related and otherwise).
Neal’s Yard Dairy sounds like the kind of wonderment we can only dream of here. I wish I could be there tasting REAL cheeses-they look so awesome. When real food like that is involved, I will gladly break my diet. Oh, and I would totally help you take photos too (smile)!
Valerie
I wanted to reply to your comment:I know exactly what you mean! It is getting harder and harder to find authentic and traditional food in various places all over the world; Nice is no exception. Are you referring to the pissaladière? or the socca? (chick pea flour crepe)
Even in Lebanon, I ask around to find out where the good places are. A tourist is always at a disadvantage.
Joumana,
It was the socca… but couldn’t find the pissaladière easily, either. However, I knew I was looking for that. It is what you don’t know about that you want to find, and it is so difficult to when one travels these days, without a guide, or without knowing a local. 🙂 Thank you, again… for finding the word I needed!
XO
Oh Valerie, thanks so much for sharing this and for your inspiring post from Borough Market. That and this shop are top of my list as places to visit in July. I’m an absolute cheese addict and love all kinds, not matter how mouldy or stinky. Stilton has always been a firm favourite of mine, at Christmas, we buy a huge piece and savour it with a glass of port. As for cream, double cream is one of the things I miss the most as the whippping cream here just isn’t the same. Glad you found clotted cream too – it’s awesome with scones and jam. Yum!
I want to try the Stinking Bishop. That looked like the cats pyjamas! You are so lucky. its hard looking at your blog because I turn green with envy! i do love it though!!
Valerie, you are so lucky to have had this experience! So cool too that you were able to clear customs with these goodies. I love Covent Garden, you are right about that place, I always used to find awesome shoes there! I have never been to Neals Yard Dairy. Yes, milk from Jersey cows is the best, by far!! xo
So, what happened at the end? Did Vanja get cool new shoes?
Great post and great to read how much you appreciate our travelling adventures! Not that I don’t know it already.
And this time we did get close to being stopped after customs at the baggage carousel because we kind of felt the customs officer had given us a break, but that little sniffing dog got occupied by someone else’s bag packed with cheese or who knows what. XO
Valerie, thanks for following my travels. It’s good to be home and to be able to check in with you.
What a wonderful place Neal’s Yard is! What I love about it is that they know all the producers. I feel like I’m supporting the producers when I buy cheese there (I am, in fact!)
I’m glad you could visit there. I only wish it were closer…
And Valerie…now less than one year after your foray to Neal’s Yard Dairy, you can get some of those items here in Edmonton at Everything Cheese! Red Leicester, Lincolnshire Poacher, Kirkham’s Lancashire, Appleby’s Cheshire, Appleby’s Double Gloucester, Ticklemore and Cornish Yarg to name a few. We also carry Quince paste and a variety of crackers, both from the Fine Cheese Company of Britain. And Ploughman’s Chutney for a classic English lunch!
Tania!
I am so thrilled to hear this! How lucky we are to know we can just pop over to your store and buy such incredible cheeses, not only from all over the world, but the local ones as well. So many places will not carry our own local cheeses and for that, I am so thankful, too: cheesiry, smoky valley goat cheese, and sylvan star to name the Northern Alberta ones.
🙂
Valerie
Hi Valerie,
My husband and I are working on our itinerary for our trip to London in June. Would love to get some recommendations for what we should see and do while we are there. We don’t have a lot of time, but after reading your post about Neal’s Yard Dairy, I hope we can add that to our list of stops.
HI, Gail!
I have sent you an e-mail!
🙂
Thank you for reading and asking! Love to share and want to hear all about your trip when you return!
🙂
V