(8) That’s my steak Valance.

(Or Hail the Cheesemongers).

Once again, I used a film reference. In this case it is a 1962 black and white western by John Ford starring John Wayne, James Stewart, Lee Marvin, Vera Miles, and Woody Strode in the main roles. This is a film well worth watching; we all know what should happen in the film and it is told nicely with only a few twists and the typical John Ford mantra “righteousness must prevail”. Obviously, at the end the best man won. However, the other reference is about food as well, and there is no denying it!

A nice cheese shop in Nantes (2012).

So, the subject of this article is the benefit of the cheesemongers and the habits of shoppers, which is about everyone.

Most people use supermarkets for their shopping, most people would do a large week-end trip for their main supplies and supplement this with their local specialist shops, the remaining food needs would be covered by punctual visits throughout the week to easily accessible places. This brings to attention the quality of cheese that is available in supermarkets. Usually, it is mainly safe and utilitarian products, meaning young and other foods used in cooking mostly with the rare exception of the good products available for special occasions like Christmas and Easter. So, we can say that supermarkets sell cheese, but these would be generic and pasteurised for the majority with no inclination to incite customers to try good traditional products.

Nowadays a good incentive to buy or try something new is to respect the environment and the sustainability of the product. Well, traditional cheese is good on both counts. It respect the environment and is committed to ensure a good quality of life for its maker and its animals. The message should be “support your local cheesemonger, help producers who take care of the earth”. You will enjoy a good and tasty cheese as well. So, visit your local cheesemonger. Benefit from his knowledge, he will be please to talk to you, make some recommendations, let you try some of his products, and he could even give you cooking ideas.

Obviously, not everybody lives near a cheesemonger. However, many delis and specialised food shops sell good local products supplemented by well recognised international products (yes, even after Brexit the rest of the world is still there although a bit more expensive). In large town it is relatively easy to find farmers’ markets, and you should find your cheese fix there as well.

Then again for all of you who like to go out and enjoy a fine evening, restaurants would propose a cheese course. It is becoming rather difficult to find a correct selection in restaurants nowadays, the staff needs to be trained and the staff is short on experience, number, and quality. Anyway, if you have the chance to find a good selection, enjoy it. There is a good chance that English products are a bit more present as well, but this should bring the quality up in the long term. It is a bit like when in the 1990’s foreign football players started to arrive and then the Premiership was created. Very soon quality of play improved, and quality of training went up dramatically subsequently.

To come back to our local cheesemongers, you will find diversity and quality in their shops. Accessories will be available for fondues, raclettes, and other specialities, you will find their preferred crackers or knifes, but if you go during the week you will have time to enjoy their advice. The most magical of time in the cheese shop is the many evenings when a producer comes to present his products and talk about them. Then you have the special evening themed around one or two cheeses when you can meet the shop’s team. It is good time to explore the place, the staff is more relaxed, there is no rush to serve anybody else as these evenings are usually booked in advance. Believe me, you will have a great time.

In short, in detail, in retail we trust (sorry for the pun), your cheesemonger brings you quality. This quality is personal, he will give you advice, he will give you products to taste, he will make you discover places that make great cheese.

Give it a go, and have fun, use your taste buds.