A Cheesemonger's History of The British Isles

Shortlisted for the Andre Simon Food and Drink Book Awards for 2019, every cheese tells a story. Whether it's a fresh young goat's cheese or a big, beefy eighteen-month-old Cheddar, each variety holds the history of the people who first made it, from the builders of Stonehenge to medieval monks, from the Stilton-makers of the eighteenth century to the factory cheesemakers of the Second World War. Cheesemonger Ned Palmer takes us on a delicious journey across Britain and Ireland and through time to uncover the histories of beloved old favorites like Cheddar and Wensleydale and fresh innovations like the Irish Cashel Blue or the rambunctious Renegade Monk. Along the way, we learn the craft and culture of cheesemaking from the eccentric and engaging characters who have revived and reinvented farmhouse and artisan traditions. We get to know the major cheese styles - the blues, washed rinds, semi-softs, and, unique to the British Isles, the territorials - and discover how best to enjoy them, on a cheeseboard with a glass of Riesling, or as a Welsh rarebit alongside a pint of Pale Ale. This is a cheesemonger's odyssey, a celebration of history, innovation, and taste - and the book all cheese and history lovers will want to devour this Christmas.

Ned Palmer runs the Cheese Tasting Company, whose unique events pair cheese with wines, beers, whiskies, and history. After studying philosophy, theatre, and experimental psychology, he worked as a jazz pianist and hospital porter, before helping out on a stall at Borough Market led him into a life of cheesemongering.