 |
Just a tiny snapshot of the lovely
selection available! |
Last week I had the rather exciting opportunity to sneak
into Paxton & Whitfield after hours for a Christmas tasting – in case
you’ve yet to discover it, this tiny little cheesemonger’s, tucked away on John
St, holds not only two Royal Warrants but also a venerable heritage dating back
to 1797. Behind the smart gold and navy frontage is a little shop that looks
more like an old-fashioned pantry; shelves laden with jars of conserve and
bottles of wine line the wooden-panelled walls, and open counters display the
cheeses - the whole shop is kept to a suitably cool temperature so that the
cheeses don’t have to be hidden away, in the usual misty-fronted chillers.
Picture the scene: it’s Christmas Day, about seven
o’clock, and in our house it’s just getting to the time when everyone’s finally
managed to get to their feet again after a huge roast lunch and is looking for
something to nibble on. This is exactly when you need a platter of fabulous
cheeses to pass around, and Paxton & Whitfield is as keen as mustard to
help you out. Martin Knapp, manager of the Bath branch, laid out a lovely selection
of his top picks for that perfect Christmas Day cheeseboard.
 |
Top centre: Montgomerys Cheddar, and
Monbazillac dessert wine,
bottom centre: Brie aux Truffes |
First up, Montgomerys Cheddar: according to Martin, the
best Cheddar to be found anywhere. This is a pretty bold claim, but once I’d
tried it I couldn’t disagree – this cheese is bursting with flavour, but has
none of the sourness you might notice in a supermarket mature cheddar, just
rich, smoky depth. Although this will please those who aren’t too adventurous
in their tastes, it’s not only for the faint‑hearted, because it is a truly
delicious cheese.
Next, something entirely different: Eve, a soft goat
cheese washed in cider brandy and wrapped in vine leaves, might be my favourite
out of all the cheese which I tried. I’m always a sucker for goat cheese, but
this was on another level altogether – smooth, creamy and totally moreish. If
you’re after something a little more filling, or looking for a light starter,
this would be gorgeous spread on a little granary toast and served with some
fresh watercress.
When putting together a Christmas cheeseboard you would,
of course, be a fool to forget the king of Christmas treats: Stilton. Although
it’s hardly an original choice, it definitely deserves to be included,
particularly when the Stilton in question is Paxton & Whitfield’s own
brand, made in Nottinghamshire, and when it’s washed down with a glass of port
– the perfect partner to such a strong cheese.
Finally, for something a little different but no less
fabulous, pick up a wedge of Brie aux Truffes – but beware, it’s dangerously
addictive stuff. In fact, while I was there, a customer who had bought some
earlier in the day popped his head around the door and begged Martin to sell
him some more… clearly, this is something you really need to try. Prepared by
hand, the brie is sliced in half horizontally, filled with a mixture of black
truffles and cream cheese, sandwiched back together and left to bind. The
result is a rich, gooey cheese that tastes like the very essence of indulgence.
 |
Gorgeous gooey Nuts about Figs -
how can you resist? |
To serve with all of these fabulous goodies, Martin
recommends a bottle of golden Monbazillac and a jar of Nuts about Figs, a
wonderfully sweet fig conserve that goes especially well with strong cheeses
like Paxton & Whitfield’s Stilton. Tuck these treats under your Christmas
tree and when that nibblish feeling starts to come over you, it’ll be the
perfect way to end a day of feasting. Happy Christmas!