5 cheese pairing ideas with Jordan Thomson, Love Cheese

What’s on your dream cheeseboard?
My dream cheeseboard would definitely start with either Delice de Bourgogne or Pexommier (Yorkshires take at Colloumier). Next I would have something crumbly, my personal favourite is Swaledale Traditional – the younger the batch the better.

Then Cerney Ash for an alternative milk cheese, followed by Doddington cheese. For Doddington we always ask for the oldest batch possible, it makes a world of difference to the flavour. And Hebridean Blue to finish off. It is lovely and salty but also had the most stunning blue veins running through it.

What’s your all-time favourite cheese pairing?
It’s so hard to choose, Love Cheese is probably on its 50th virtual tasting at this point and there have been so many good ones. If I had to pick a personal favourite it is probably one from our in-house cheese and wine tasting… Gallus (a Swiss alpine cheese) paired with Arbouses Cotes du Rhone. It’s a wintery flavour combination, the cheese is sweet and marmitey and it pairs with the gentle spice and warmth from the wine. Lovely.

Any unusual pairings you’d recommend?
We recently joined the York chocolate trail, which caused a great deal of confusion as to why a cheese shop would be involved. But once people got to Love Cheese they got to discover that Delice de Bourgogne with Colombian Dark Chocolate from York Cocoa Works worked surprisingly well. And another favourite from our Halloween themed “Ghoulish Spirits with Cheese” virtual tasting was Wyngaard Goat Gouda with Yorkshire Rhubarb Tequila.

What do you love to drink with cheese?
Wine! I have been really enjoying Koshu Kayagatake (a Japanese dry white wine) with Flower Marie recently.

What must-have cheese kit would you recommend?
It is not specifically for cheese, but I find a Victorinox pastry knife a very handy tool in just about every scenario at home-  including cheeseboards. We use our trusty Handee wires at the shop though!