**Tailor made Cheese and Wine evenings**

Here at La Cave a Fromage we are known not only for our vast range of Europes finest cheeses and great selection of breads, but also for our fantastic fortnightly Cheese and Wine functions. We are please to announce that we are now available for private functions. Whether it be for a birthday, wedding celebrations, or an end of year Christmas wrap up party, we are happy to tailor the perfect event to suit your needs.

For more information or to book an event please contact us either on 0845-10-88-222 or via email at angiem@cheese.biz.

Chef Raymond Blanc visits La Cave a Fromage!

We recently had the pleasure of hosting a Cheese and Wine evening with the renowned Chef Raymond Blanc. Best known for his Michelin starred restaurant "Le Manoir aus Quat 'Saisons" and his chain of brasseries, 'Brasserie Blanc', of which there are 8 in the UK.

Mr Blanc is currently in the process of filming his next BBC series and was kind enough to choose our shop for the part relating to cheese. It was a delight to meet him and be a part of the whole process. Keep an eye out for us in his upcoming series!! We will let you know when we have a 'go to air' date.

Cheeses to warm up with this winter

The warm weather is over, its time to get the fireplace going, pull out those winter duvets and head down to La Cave a Fromage to warm up with our fabulous range of 'winter' warm cheeses.
What better way to warm up than with a hot Raclette served on a bed of baby potatoes with a selection of charcuterie and cornichons (we do have raclette machines for sale and to hire..)?
Or perhaps a Reblochon, a cheese with a soft nutty flavour that melts in your mouth as you taste it?
Here is a little taste of some of our favourite winter cheeses, all of which are available here at La Cave. For enquiries, recipe suggestions or if you have any recipe suggestions (we are open to ideas) please contact us here at the shop.

COMTE: Arguably one of France's most sought after cheeses, Comte is the product of over a thousand years of tradition. Generally produced in the mountains of the Jura, Comte is a versatile cheese with a strong nutty flavour and firm pate. At the moment we have three types of Comte at La Cave. Comte Fruitiere (12 months affinage), Comte Reserve (18 months), and Comte Grand Reserve (24 months). Come in and taste the difference!!

REBLOCHON: 'Reblocher' translates to "to pinch a cows udder again", and refers to the rich milk the Reblochon is made from. Originating from the Savoie this cheese has a moist, smooth and velvety pate. The flavour continues after the first taste and lingers with a warm nutty aftertaste. Reblochon is commonly used to make a dish that is very well known in France called Tartiflette. Layers of potato, onion, bacon and creme fraiche baked with strips of Reblochon lying on top... Need I say more? VACHERIN MONT D'OR: This highly sought after cheese is generally only available in the heart of the winter season. Popular for its creamy, light and buttery texture, and distinguished by the wooden box in which it lies, Vacherin Mont D'or is made in the Franch-Comte. Although for some years there were disagreements over the origins as the Swiss also lay claim to it. It can be served simply with a baguette, heated in the oven and served with potatoes and crunchy bread, or with a glass of wine poured over the top and cooked in the oven for 15 minutes...
RACLETTE: 'Racler' means to 'scrape' in French, which is exactly what tradition calls for. Served melted over a bed of hot seasoned baby potatoes and cornichons, alongside a plate of charcuterie, Raclette is a great dish for the whole family to enjoy. Whilst the cheese itself is silky and full of flavour it is definitely best known served up hot.. Come in and try it out!!
STILTON in PORT: Made in Nottinghamshire here in England, Stilton is definitely one of Britains most popular cheeses. This particular Stilton is made by Cropwell Bishop and is washed and injected with Port wine. Normally made as a christmas specialty we endeavour to have it year round but it is certainly at its best this time of year. It also makes for a fantastic gift!

It's (almost) that time of year again...

'Tis (almost) the season to be Jolly, and here at La Cave we think the best way to acheive Jollyness is with a platter of perfectly ripened and selected cheeses teamed with a nice big glass of wine.

As you can imagine we tend to get very busy around the Christmas season so I'd like to remind you that we can take orders in advance to avoid you missing out!! Whether it be cheese platters, gift hampers, whole cheeses or wines we are taking orders early to help ease the last minute rush. So if you have any queries or requests please contact us so we can arrange your orders for you.

Our contact details are as follows:

0845 10 88 222

angiem@cheese.biz

***LAST CHEESE and WINE FUNCTIONS OF THE YEAR***

The year is drawing to a close which means we only have a handfull of Cheese and Wine evenings left. From Cheese and Chocolate to the best 'Chirstmas' cheeses we are sure to have the right tasting for you. We know your social calendar fills up quickly this time of year so we are giving you early notice, and we suggest booking in as early as possible as they are filling up fast.

If you are interested in having a private function here at the shop please take a peek at the 'Tailor Made Functions' page. Whether it be for a birthday, wedding or end of year Christmas wrap up we look forward to creating the perfect private function to suit your needs.
8th October - La Cave Favourites

16th October (Friday evening) - Cheese and Chocolate

22nd October - Washed Rind Cheeses

5th November - Winter Cheese

19th November - Early Christmas special

17th December - The years greatest cheeses at La Cave (final for 2009)

Tis the Season to eat Goat cheese..

The sun is out, the parks are crowded, the water is soothing and the air is crisp. Its the season for sun, picnics in the park, holidays with family and friends and....... Goat Cheese!

Its that time of year when the weather allows for greener pastures and subsequently a much richer, and fuller milk, especially from Goats.

We have a great range of goat cheeses in store at the moment that will only be available through till around late October so come in soon to take full advantage! Here are two of our favourites:

GALETTE des TEMPLIERS

This is an incredibly intricate cheese, loved not only for its unique texture and flavour but for the visual aspect that it brings to any cheeseboard. The Galette des Templiers is an 8 cornered, flat, unpasteurised cheese from Provence, in the South of France.

During the 'affinage' (maturing process) the rind is rubbed with a mix of paprika, olive oil and Marc de Provence, a typical Provencial mix.
This process goes on for two to three weeks, when the cheese will acquire an appetising, reddish rind and the paste will become soft and smooth, the taste intense.

THYM TAMARE

Another of our special goat cheeses, the Thym Tamare comes from the milk of a herd known as the 'Chevre de Rove', a herd that produces a rich and smooth goat milk that creates a perfectly buttery cheese.

From the Alps of Provence, this cheese has a white clean exterior with a soft and creamy pate. It is easily distinguishable by the sprig of thyme that rests through the middle of the cheese, leaving a slight hint of flavour that blends perfectly with the rich goat flavour.

Both cheeses would be fantastic served with a cold White or Rose wine!

Slow Down, Eat Local, Enjoy Food

In this era of 'Organic', Whole food', 'Slow food' and 'Artisan is best', it's difficult to know what's what. It's no wonder that sometimes we give it all up out of frustration, confusion and outright irritation and choose the supermarkets against the small stand alone suppliers, the pre-packed organised stuff in the bright packaging just seems easier.
All these 'foodie' movements with their ideals and anti corporate ethos, hoping to preserve the local food chain (I read about this in Fine food digest) it all seems a bit out of touch with simply eating good food. I suppose it's just one of those human nature things, we love to complicate everything to the point of forgetting the initial purpose.
I have been a chef for 20 years, now I sell good, wholesome (mostly small producers) cheese and I often have the same discussion with our clients and we usually arrive at the same conclusion. That discussion centers around getting good, value for money products from small specialist suppliers.
There are loads of really good, small retailers out there be they fishmongers, butchers, veg suppliers or like us, cheese shops. They take good care of their produce and their
customers. They are knowledgeable and guarantee their quality,don't take it at face value, try their products while you stand there, they'll be happy to let you come to your own decision ( you won't get that at any supermarket! and what makes them so super any way?) and small producers, proud of their produce have nothing to fear when it comes to quality. I know it's difficult, times are hard, money is scarce, time even scarcer.
But we've all got to at least try to get to know our local food suppliers, and try to get some of our food there, not just what you would consider a treat, but everyday bread, meat and cheese, it's worth the little extra time it takes.
We can support our community and at the same time give our bodies the good food it deserves. Shopping for food should be a fun experience, not a chore, so get out there and have some fun!

NEW La Cave A Fromage custom made Cheese Cakes!!

We are happy to announce that we are now creating our very own 'Cheese cakes'. Layers of whole cheese, chosen and decorated to suit your tastes, perfect for any cheese lovers celebration.

From Birthdays and Weddings to Private Parties and Work Functions you are sure to amaze and satisfy your guests with a truly unique and tailored Cheese cake!

Whatever your needs, whether they be dietary, lifestyle or taste wise we can create the perfect cake for your special function. Prices start at £50, and will vary according to the amount of people being catered for and the cheeses specified. Delivery can also be made available in the Greater London Area!

Below are just some examples of our Custom made cakes, if you have any enquiries or would like a quote please contact us so we can help you with your request.

Bastille Day at La Cave

On the 14^th of July we celebrated Bastille Day the way any respected Frenchmen would. With wine and cheese of course!

On the night we hosted a function to celebrate la crème de la crème of French cheeses.

We took 8 of the best French cheeses that we have to offer and paired them with four wines, from our collection.

It was a great night, the love for great food and wine being the ideal back drop for the perfect evening. Thanks to all those who attended for making it such a memorable night!

Bienvenue chez la Cave a Fromage!

Welcome to La Cave a Fromage, a wonderful cheese shop offering over 200 of the best artisan cheeses Europe and Great Britain has to offer. Based in South Kensington, London, our shop aims to provide our guests with the best cheese selection of farmhouse cheeses available. Whether it be a ripe buttery Epoisse, a nutty and smooth Beaufort, or a delicate Fourme d'Ambert injected and washed with Sauterne wine, we aspire to assist each of our guests to create their perfect cheese board.

The shop also has a small seating area where customers are encouraged to relax and enjoy a selection of cheese bread and wine. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand to design a selection to suit your tastes.

The idea for this blog came when we were trying to think of a way to keep all of our guests up to speed with what is happening at La Cave. We are constantly getting in new cheeses and wines, especially as the seasons change. We are also hosting wine and cheese evenings every two weeks, and all information regarding these evenings will now be made available on this page. Regular updates and articles will mean our guests will have as much information as possible about what is happening at the shop.

We plan to update our page frequently with articles about different products, upcoming events and what is new in the shop. Please let me know if you have any specific requests!

Thank you and enjoy!

For more information about our shop please visit our website www.la-cave.co.uk or call us on 08451088222

NEW GAILLAC WINES

After a lot of research and decision making our 'narize', Amnon, has brought in a new range of fantastic Gaillac wines from Tarn, in the south of France.

Tarn is an incredible department, known for its luscious country side, rolling green hills and abundance of vineyards. It is believed that the ‘Gaillac’ vineyard particularly is amongst the oldest in France, rumoured to have been seeded during the roman ages.

Coming from Lisle sur Tarn, just 20 minutes from Gaillac, the first of our new wines is a Parfum de Raisin 2008. Deliciously velvet and smooth to taste, it has an incredibly fruity aroma and leaves a sweet taste that lingers on the palate. It is just the right desert wine to accompany one of our robust blue cheeses. A Fourme d’Ambert (creamy medium blue cheese from Auvergne in the south of France) or Barkham Chase (firm hearty blue cheese from the Berkshire in England) would pair perfectly leaving a pleasant combination of flavours on your palate.

The second is the Larme de Raisin ‘Doux’ 2007. Also made by Cave les Trois Clochers in Lisle sur Tarn, this, too, is a desert wine although a touch less sweet, and slightly more fluid in consistency. The term ‘Doux’, meaning soft in French, suggests this wine will be gentle to taste and slightly more supple in flavours. While it would also pair perfectly with a range of our Blue cheeses we have found that it blends perfectly with many other cheeses, such as Beaufort (a nutty mountain cheese from the Savoie) or Lord of the Hundreds (a ewes milk pecorino style cheese from East Sussex).

As with all our wines both are very reasonably priced, making it the perfect accompaniment to your wine list, or even a great gift (the bottles look fantastic!).

Keep an eye out for our next wine update, we are due to get a delicious red Gaillac very shortly.

We look forward to seeing you in the shop!

THURLOE SQUARE GARDEN PARTY

On July 2nd La Cave was invited to take part in the annual Thurloe Square Garden Party. Once a year the impeccably maintained gardens are transformed into an event that showcases the best of the local gastronomies teamed with a jumping castle and numerous forms of entertainment for young and old.

We jumped at the opportunity to play a part in what was sure to be a fantastic evening. And fantastic it was. The weather was perfect, the guests numerous and the band was in fine form.

It was a great occasion to meet more people in our local area, and to see some of our regular customers in such an enjoyable setting.

It was also a great oppurtunity to showcase some of our delicious products. We teamed up with Richard, from the Wine Bear in Chelsea, to create the perfect cheese and wine combination.

The evening was, as always, a great success and we look forward to participating next year.