The Cheese Board

[Roger Webb]

... sadly there is no Aldi convenient for us here (tho' on a non-cheese note, we found some excellent chocolate at Aldi (their 85% &c) - and I gather Lidl is good for chocolate too.)

But we have found that Asda is surprisingly good for cheese......

.

Yes you're right about Asda....so different from the rather scruffy stores that Asda were, say 30 years ago - unfortunately we don't have one conveniently placed.....but we do have both Aldi and Lidl, both being good for 'continental' fare...including the chocolate you found in Aldi (maybe 'Roth'?). I do, however, miss market shopping in France for things like cheese - we often stayed between Honfleur and Pont l'Éveque, and to buy from a stall is a revelation if one is used to supermarket shopping in this country. To be offered six or seven different Pont l'Éveques, all aux cru, and to be presented with a sliver of each on the end of a knife before your choice is made is real shopping!

[oddoneout]

Thank you for correcting my pronunciation . I was amused to read the story of how they decided to become cheesemakers: "First obtain a herd of French Monbéliarde cows." Several outlets very local to me sell it but I've always been too sniffy to buy an English Brie. Always happy to prove myself wrong ...

During my time at the Morrisons deli counter they started stocking Cornish brie, which attracted negative comment along from some customers who considered themselves knowledgeable, along the lines of "not proper Brie". The most vocal customers would then make a big show of asking for a wedge of President Brie and I would have to hide my amusement, knowing what a poor product that was. Over a period of time, helped by regular plates of samples,(and my recommendation I like to think on occasion), more people did start buying, and enjoying it.
Cheesemaking and choice in this country is of a very high standard now I think and British versions of European cheeses are likely to be perfectly acceptable alternatives.