Cheshire Blue is Big Cheese
A Blue Cheshire won the title of top cheese at this year’s Chester Food and Drink Festival cheese competition. John Bourne’s cheese beat off competition from seven other finalist cheeses in blind tests, following judging several weeks ago at Reaseheath College, which whittled entries down to the finalist cheeses.
The finalist cheeses included Cheshire, Caerphilly, North West Blue, Soft Cows Milk, Smoked, Soft Goat’s Milk, Hard Goat’s Milk and Best Newcomer and the cheeses were judged on appearance, texture and taste.
Joseph Benjamin’s Deli of Northgate Street, Chester won the best cheese plate at the Festival.
One of the judges Jeremy Bowen, of the oldest cheesemonger in the UK, Paxton & Whitfield, which received a Royal Warrant in 1797, said: “This show is about local and seasonal cheese. What we’ve got here in Chester would stand up against any cheese in the UK. Bourne’s Cheshire cheese is well rounded.”
Other judges included Carole Faulkner, owner of The Cheese Shop in Northgate Street, Nick Birchall, also of The Cheese Shop and retired chef, Ann Leadsham.
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The Taste Marquee contains over 100 retailers and growers with samples of Cheshire, North Wales, national and international produce, reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of Cheshire. Highlights include a chocolate fountain, icecream, wines, beers and liqueurs, pies, roasts and game, sausages, watercress, olives, juices, organic products and hundreds of taste experiences. Family tickets are £12, adults £5 and concessions £3.50.
The Food and Drink Fringe Festival is taking place around the City from April 6 to 15, 2007 with special events, restaurants, bars and hotels all helping to make Chester the focus of food and drink within the UK, with theme nights, special family offers and accommodation promotions.
The Gala Awards Dinner will ensure 250 people sample a gourmet menu sourced from leading producers in the North West and celebrates the best of the region. This is on Tuesday April 10 2007.
Chester’s Food and Drink Festival is organised on behalf of Chester City Council with support from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Visit Chester & Cheshire; the tourism board for Cheshire and Warrington, Cheshire County Council, Made in Cheshire, North West Fine Foods and the Rural Recovery Fund.
2006 Visitor Survey 16,000 people visited the Taste Marquee and £90,000 was spent there over the three days. 51 per cent of visitors came from a distance of more than 25 miles, making a total of 8,000 people brought into the City. 78 per cent of people surveyed said the event was good or excellent. 87 per cent of people surveyed said they were likely to return. Nearly 100 producers and exhibitors were on show in the Taste Marquee, bringing their own skills and produce from Cheshire and around the world to be part of the Festival. There were seminars and competitions in micro brewing, wines, sausages and cheeses and the opportunity to taste local paté, black pudding, bread, cereals, oils, pies, meat, fish, cheeses, chocolates, liqueurs and even a juice bar.
Festival brochures will be available across the City from March. Phone 01244 351609 for more details. For further information on the region go to www.visitchester.com. More general information at www.chesterfoodanddrink.com
Press Contacts: Jane Harrad-Roberts Mob: 07785 395705 Phil Brotherhood Mob: 07884 493370 Tel: 01244 330000 MARKETING PROJECTS Email: info@marketingprojects.co.uk
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