Father's Day Hampers for Brie-illiant Dads!
We love good cheese at the Fine Food Hamper, and judging by the popularity of our cheese hampers, so do you. Perfect for an alfresco lunch or simple evening supper throughout the year.
Cheese-making dates back several millennia, possibly as a means of creating a longer-lasting product from milk - not only from cows but also goats, sheep and even buffalo. The base liquid is curdled, separated, and pressed; the flavour and texture can be influenced by many factors: age, temperature, environment and added seasonings.
So far, so factual. But why do some people like cheese so much?
It’s all in the chemistry. Salty foods cause the brain to release the feel-good chemical dopamine, making us want more. There are health benefits to your cheese addiction though. As a whole food cheese is a great source of calcium, essential healthy fats and protein. The best cheese to eat is made from grass-fed dairy as it contains much higher levels of omega-6, omega-3 fatty acids and the healthy fats which are great for preventing obesity, heart disease and reducing inflammation. Grass-fed dairy is also far better for the environment and animal welfare.
We’ve picked out some of our favourites to include in our ever-popular Cheese Hampers and our Cheese & Charcuterie Hampers. These cheeses all come from fantastic artisan producers, so you know whomever you choose to send a gift hamper will be delighted with the quality of the cheeses.
Whalesborough Cheese Based in Marhamchurch near Bude, Sue Proudfoot and her family have been winning awards for their small-batch cheeses for almost a quarter-century. Best-sellers include traditional Cornish farmhouse cheese Trelawny and Miss Muffet, a continental-style washed curd cheese with a nutty, creamy flavour – both boast a pink/grey natural mould rind, unique to the Whalesborough maturing room. You will smell Keltic Gold coming – this washed rind cheese is dipped thrice weekly in local cider for a full, sweet flavour, and is so pungent it has its own maturing room. All three have been showered with praise, from the Great Taste Awards to the Nantwich International Cheese Show.
Cornish Blue The first blue cheese to be made in Cornwall, this award-winner was created as a new revenue stream for Phillip and Carol Stansfield, who had identified a gap in the market for a British-made blue cheese milder than the existing corkers on the market. Their hunch was correct: Cornish Blue was named World Champion Cheese, 2010. The Liskeard dairy now produces a goat’s milk alternative (Cornish Nanny) and recently branched out into Brie.
Cornish Gouda Authentic Dutch cheese, made in Lanreath. You read that right - the Spierings family moved from the Netherlands to Cornwall in 1998 and started a small dairy farm, but almost shut up shop in 2012 due to poor milk prices. Youngest son Giel pledged to make the farm viable by diversifying into cheese production, using traditional Gouda techniques. Now parents Joost and Annemarie farm, Giel makes the cheese and brother Jan manages the crops to feed their pedigree herd. Choose from semi-mature, mature and extra-mature varieties, as well as flavourings including fenugreek.
Lynher Dairies This small dairy in Ponsanooth has some cheeses of impressive pedigree in its stable. Distinctive nettle-wrapped Yarg was first produced in the 1980s when Bodmin Moor farmer Alan Gray found a 17th-century recipe in his attic and named it after himself (spell it backwards!). It now comes in original Cornish and Wild Garlic varieties. Kern, meanwhile, means “round” in Kernewek (Cornish); this mature farmhouse cheese achieved global superstar status when it won Supreme Champion at the World Cheese Awards in 2017. All are handmade by Catherine Mead and her team, using creamy Ayrshire milk.
Curds & Croust Martin Gaylard in East Taphouse has been making soft cheeses since he was in short trousers, and knows from experience that the secret lies in using the best ingredients to produce a really good curd. He takes inspiration from across the Channel: Miss Wenna is a mellow Cornish Brie, Boy Laity a rich, bold Camembert. We also stock Nanny Florrie, a decadent, sweet and nutty soft goat’s cheese. As for the name: Curd is self-explanatory, but did you know Croust is a Cornish term for a simple tasty snack mid-morning or afternoon.
Our foodie gift hampers are the perfect present to send for those hard to buy for people. If they are a real cheese lover, our Cheese Hampers will go down a treat. They are the perfect gift for Father’s Day, birthdays, or for any celebration.
Our cheese and deli hampers are even better value this Father’s Day with a delicious 10% off. Starting from just £31.50 our Cheese & Chutney Hamper features the award-winning cheeses including Cornish Blue alongside Boddington’s Apple Chutney and rich parmesan thins from Popti biscuits.
If you are looking to send the perfect alfresco treat to share, then our Luxury Cheese & Charcuterie Hamper makes a delicious and luxurious gift. Combining artisan cheeses with the finest cured meats and all the accompaniments you’ll need, this hamper for foodies is even better value than normal.
All our hampers include free UK delivery and handwritten greetings cards.
Order online at thefinefoodhamper.com