Say Cheese To A Very Good Vintage! (Cathedral City Vintage 20 Cheddar)

Member Name: Machair1

Product:	Cathedral City Vintage 20 Cheddar
Date:	19/03/09 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Strong cheddar ideal by itself or cooked is perfection!

Disadvantages: High in fat and sadly cholesterol.

My son loves Cathedral City Cheddar and I always buy it for him. Personally I really love very strong Canadian Cheddar especially on my toasties, and so it was with great delight that I discovered this special variety of Cathedral City recently called Vintage 20.

Matured for 20 months this is a very strong and full flavoured cheese, and it won the gold award in the prestigious World Cheese Awards in 2007.

This is a full fat hard cheese, so it might be prudent to think of your cholesterol, and probably not one to indulge in too often, but at least 30g provides 28% of your calcium requirement for the day. Calcium is vital for bones and teeth. In there too is a lot of protein, ideal for vegetarians who need the protein meat eaters may get from other sources. It also contains B12, again another vital vitamin which keeps nerve and red blood cells functioning well and it is also needed to make DNA. Of course many experts in nutrition advise to choose these stronger cheeses so you are satisfied with less, so my advice is to use a grater so that you get the flavour without the quantity, if you are watching your cheese consumption with regards to your intake of cholesterol.

Presented in a rather sophisticated black packet it could certainly earn a place on any posh cheese board, but for today it only got as far as my sandwich. It is a beautiful yellow shade and the bag is resealable. Quite a handy little feature and it saves money on foil and other wrappings I buy to prevent the cheese going hard in the fridge. The cheese is sold in small 200g packs though, so it won't last long if you love it as much as I do.

The first time I opened it I wasn't sure I was going to be so complementary as the smell was intense, this intesity sometimes heralds a cheese I would only cook with but I shouldn't have worried. Soon it was sliced and ready to sample both on a cheese biscuit, and in my favourite- the cheese toasted sandwich. It sliced beautifully and was firm and fresh.

First the cheese and biscuits experience. I use Hovis Digestives for this. I love the rounded loaf shape they have and the salty crisp biscuit compliments the cheese so beautifully, but Jacobs cream crackers and all cheese biscuits do almost as well. Yes the flavour is intense just like mature Canadian Cheddar but it is not overpowering and you are left with a satisfying cheese, which would also benefit perfectly from the addition of a glass of red wine, and a bunch of ripe grapes or some fresh strawberries. You should not eat it straight from the fridge leave it out for a couple of hours for the best flavours to emerge.

The cheese toastie is also wonderful. It melts beautifully and the strong cheese gives this a delicious flavour and a substantial sandwich. This also benefits from a well chosen chutney or my good old friend the Branston!

My dear father loves nothing better than a cheese and onion sandwich and I have tried this using large Spanish onions and this delicious cheese -it's fantastic!

However you try it you will be left with a lovely cheesy taste in your mouth for ages afterwards.

Available in Tesco and Waitrose for the same price of £2.58 this is not a cheap option. It is however, vegetarian, so pretty good if you are like me into strong cheeses and often find they contain animal rennet.

I think this is a high quality cheese and is something rather special. One to try for sure, especially if you are fond of Canadian Cheddar. This is really the British version!

Summary: A very fine cheese!