**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!