I've broken out the festive cheese. We don't always have food from the farmer's market, it's a rare treat, but when I can I like to support local farmers and producers. So the other day at the town's food market I picked up some cheese made over towards Bath, by cows grazed in fields that I know well.
It's sad that buying something a bit different, something very local, something that has its own unique flavour and process can't be our normal way of shopping, but on a limited budget I can't buy lots of food at the farmer's market every week. That's not to say that the prices are in any way too high. Overheads are substantial, people need to make a decent living, and in my experience the products are usually worth it.
This cheese certainly was. The sort of cheese that makes you want just a bit more. Not as hard as a cheddar, delicious with an apple and really full of flavour. It made me want to share it with you, although I'm aware that me eating a piece of cheese and telling you how much I enjoyed it isn't sharing in the classic sense. If you were here I'd cut you off a chunk though.
It also made me think I might share some more locally found things. Perhaps in the New Year. Maybe as something that you could join in with too. It wouldn't have to be food, it wouldn't have to be something you bought. Something grown, or foraged, or made by someone locally. I'd like to see what's out there in the world, on your doorsteps so to speak. Things that don't come from China via Tesco. An apple that fell into your lap from a tree on the corner rather than one that flew here from New Zealand and then got wrapped in a big plastic bag. A vase that was made by a potter in a back garden studio in the town up the road rather than one that came in a batch of 10,000 from China.
I love to find things that are unique and different. A high street that doesn't look like all the others. Or with at least one or two shops selling local wares. I shall think about it for a while and maybe return with more thoughts on the subject. I think it would be encouraging to see what lovely things are out there. I was so inspired and motivated by your comments about sustainability over Christmas.
So I shall go away and think, and in the meantime leave you with a final cheese shot.
Now I am one for the cheese box and that one sounds delicious m'dear. As for your idea to share locally found 'things' you may count me in as I think there is a richness to be discovered upon folks doorsteps.
ReplyDeleteLove local cheeses..delicious. I think it would be a brilliant idea to share ideas about our own locally made produce..That cheese will go down well at the Christmas table...if there is any left;) Barbara X
ReplyDeleteMy mouth is watering looking at your photos. I love the idea of sharing photos of locally made things.
ReplyDeleteI could eat cheese until the cows come home...which they'll need to, so I can get some more cheese out of them. :)
ReplyDeletehello claire...enjoy your blog...thank you for sharing the local sights and flavors...i am always in awe of the talent, skills and dedication of craftspeople...our world is so beautiful and inspiring...the best of wishes to you and your family for a peaceful and joyous christmas and new year...take care...sally
ReplyDeleteYum yum. I just did a post on making your own beeswax candles.. so I'm on board with you. Right before I hit the post button our electricity went out during a huge wind storm and I lost all the text and had to wait 9 hours later to do it AGAIN and post it. LOL.. I'll go along with you on the green ideas. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's always a pleasure when you find something locally produced that you can support or promote. And found things are just as exciting. It sounds like a good kernel of an idea here. Count me in. And enjoy your cheese - I love a slice with a good apple. (My predictive keyboard wants to put that with a capital A - grrr). Sam x
ReplyDeleteA good idea, I buy butter and cheese from a local farm when I want to push the boat out. My eggs, both hens and ducks, come from a large garden just 2 minutes walk away, sometimes they are still warm when I buy them.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful idea, it would be great to see what is available. I live in Lincolnshire where a lot of the country's veg is grown, so I am rich with local farm shops selling veg. A bonus at this time of year when there is nothing in my garden ( except weeds) and a few carrots I am saving for Christmas dinner. Have a wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI bought local apples at the Farmers' Market on Friday - they are nothing at all like French Golden Delicious I can tell you and if I could I'd send you a couple to go with your cheese! I also bought an local free range organic chicken for our Christmas lunch (as the market was a week before Christmas Day I have had to freeze it of course)I do buy local wherever possible and I love your idea of showcasing things local in the New Year - count me in!
ReplyDeleteyou're so right... it makes you feel good to buy local! And that cheese looks delicious... try cheese with pears too... it's an italian thing and worth trying!
ReplyDeleteVery good idea although we seem to have nothing but hairdressers, nail bars and cafes where once there were grocersand bakers in our village. Still, there's always the farm up the road. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I love this. Now when it comes to food, the main problem is that processed food is heavily subsidised by governments and this is why it is so cheap! Imagine if all this money would go to small local food producers, their products would be as affordable!
ReplyDeleteI'm a big cheese fan and probably eat far more than is good for me. Yours looks and sounds delicious. Sadly, our local cheese shop closed down recently, so we're stuck with the more mundane supermarket stuff. There's a goats' cheese stall at the local market but that's the only type I dislike. High streets do tend to look a bit samey these days. Maybe 'buy local' should be my New Year's resolution. Happy Christmas. xx
ReplyDeleteThat looks, and sounds, delicious. Good for you for buying local if and when you can. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteNow I know what to have for lunch. A no brainer which is just as well at present.
ReplyDeleteCheese is my cake. I could live on the stuff. We have a huge wedge of Stilton in the fridge which we've already started on. Alone with crusty bread or crackers, crumbled in a salad with crispy bacon and really ripe pears or stirred into a soup ... I'm drooling now. We live quite close to Melton Mowbray so Stilton and Pork Pies are something I'm very sniffy about and refuse point blank to buy from anywhere else. We've ordered our Christmas Day beef joint and some sausages from Boston Sausage, a company I've used for years. Local vegetable box providers are well worth the money too.
ReplyDeleteI share a lot of your frustrations my friend and you've sort of struck a chord with something I've been dwelling on. I'd love to be part of anything you've got planned.
Hxx
You did share the cheese! It made my mouth water and I could recall the flavor of cheese I bought at Boston Public Market two weeks ago. It's in the fridge waiting for Christmas Eve. I would join in on blogging about local items. I support local folks as often as possible.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the cheese has made me hungry! I love the idea of sharing "local" things and look forward to taking part.
ReplyDeleteThe cheese stall is the one I always make a beeline for when I visit a farmers market. There's some wonderful local produce out there but the supermarkets are filled with imports so I do try to support smaller, local shops and producers if I can.
ReplyDeleteI am going to queue in the cheese shop tomorrow, may favourite shop of all times, for our annual slice of Isle of Mull cheddar and (more guiltily) a slab of gorgonzola. I love cheese but particularly soft cheeses make me ill. More often than not it is supermarket cheddar for us but every now and then but you are right, a special treat from a special place is worth all the money. Usually. I am not sure of our local farmers market, it is the kind of place where the wealthy mingle and live the illusion of sustainable shopping. Luckily there are other ways to support local business and local produce. Enjoy the rest of your cheese, it looks yummy. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I will look forward to hearing about local, found or foraged items. Your cheese sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteCheese over cake any day of the week. I don't do puddings in a big way either but if there's cheese in the fridge I can't resist snacking. Only salted caramel would give me pause to think..
ReplyDeleteOur most local cheese would be the Wensleydale made at the cheese factory in North Yorkshire at Hawes. They make lots of different the rioters with additions such as ginger, pineapple, cranberries et cetera. It is very nice. As for local produce our greengrocer often has a little card saying where his stock has been ground and often it is grown locally.
ReplyDeleteThat cheese look delicious! In fact, I purchased some yesterday that I think is very similar. It was made by some monks in Quebec, so not quite local since I live on the other side of the country, but good nonetheless. I'm very interested in sustainability and eating from local sources as much as possible, and am anxious to see what you come up with on your blog in the new year.
ReplyDeleteI meant to say Merry Christmas before I hit the publish button. Have a great holiday season withy our family! I'm sure it will be an exciting and busy time!
ReplyDeleteOooh, cheese ... it's my downfall, but so delicious, especially when it's local. I agree that I would love to do all our shopping locally but the prices prohibit it. When we can, we buy from our local farm shop and it's always excellent produce. I'd be very interested in more posts on local stuff. I must try some of that cheese myself.
ReplyDeleteCathy x
Great idea about sharing local things- I'd be up for that. LOVE those photos of that beautiful cheese and the lovely apple. There is a cheese man who sells his wares at Romsey market at the weekend and we often pop down and get something from him- he's a mine of information and always chooses a great cheese for us. XX
ReplyDeleteThat cheese looks delicious, I would love to join you in sharing local things. Buying local is one of my passions and something I have been meaning to feature more prominently. We discovered our local vegetable shop sells local cheese cheaper than the producer so we can afford to have this as a weekly treat! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteWe are very lucky to live in a town with two farmers markets in Winter and in Summer we could go to a different one 5 days of the week. At the Tuesday market, there is a cheese seller who makes awesome raw milk cheeses. We splurge on the Camembert more than we should!
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteThis would be something I'd be keen to join in. It would give me local focus, so to speak. I am a cheese fan, but in recent years it has not agreed with me. I shall content myself with your delicious pictures btw I have cracked open the Xmas Baileys.
Leanne xx
Oh yes CJ, please count me in. What a great idea to share our local and seasonal produce. Down on the south coast in Emsworth is one of my favourite shops which only sells British cheese. It's become a bit of a tradition for me to give my husband Montgomery cheddar for Christmas. It complements new socks (and a bottle of red) quite nicely!
ReplyDeleteOne of the local products I am able to buy year round is honey...and I appreciate when I can purchase other local foods and products, too. Off topic, but I think you will appreciate it also, CJ, I picked the last of my [green] sun gold cherry tomatoes before the first frost in October. They have been ripening on my windowsill and we have been enjoying eating them as they ripen. We will even have a few to eat for Christmas, I think! [I'm surprised they have lasted so long!] xx
ReplyDeletelocal treasures x wonderful x
ReplyDeleteLiving in a London 'burb, my local High Streets are full of 'chains' a local farmer's market brings produce from far afield, rather than local....butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers have sadly all closed in recent years, but in the New Year I will aim to sniff out some local gems....there must be some!!
ReplyDeleteMmm cheese. Cheese and snacks start at 2ish on the eve. I will be thinking of you and your lovely locally sourced.
ReplyDeleteThe cheese sounds delicious and I think you have a great idea with the sharing locally.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Merry Christmas,
Meredith
I think the idea of sharing locally sourced products sounds great. Like you, I can't always do it but as a local maker myself I do try when I can. Your cheese sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteWe bought a Wyfe of Bath from our Sunday market before Christmas and are relishing it. Our high street deli sells a variety of local cheeses, including the aptly named Stinking Bishop (as featured in Wallace & Gromit The Curse of the Were-Rabbit).
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