Ireland is home to a range of cheeses whose excellence is recognised internationally. At the forefront are farmhouse cheesemakers whose world is explored here for the first time in a comprehensive guide to the producers and the cheeses they make. Each cheese is described in detail, its characteristics such as colour, texture, aroma and flavour. Cheese facts are presented with easy-to-read icons indicating the species/breed of animal milked, whether the milk is raw or pasteurised, if traditional or vegetarian rennet is used, and whether the cheese is produced under organic principles. Supporting information includes the history of cheesemaking in Ireland, how cheese is made and best conserved, and resources for cheese lovers. Derry Clarke, Ross Lewis, Catherine Fulvio, Clodagh McKenna, Denis Cotter, Darina Allen, Rachel Allen and others contribute Irish farmhouse cheese recipes. Lavish photography complements this exploration of the world of Irish cheeses.

It is no surprise that Ireland is home to a range of cheeses whose excellence is recognized internationally. At the forefront are the farmhouse cheesemakers whose world is explored in this comprehensive guide to the cheeses they make.

THE TOP 10 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Shortlisted for the André Simon Food and Drink Book Awards for 2019 'A beautifully textured tour around the cheeseboard' Simon Garfield 'Full of flavour' Sunday Times 'A delightful and informative romp' Bee Wilson, Guardian 'His encounters with modern-day practitioners fizz with infectious delight' John Walsh, Sunday Times 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 favourites 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. And 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.

'Palmer writes with pace and passion ... Full of flavour' Sunday Times A Cheesemonger's Compendium introduces 150 of the finest cheeses from across the British Isles. It is a perfect companion for all of us hooked by Ned Palmer's acclaimed Cheesemonger's History. Each cheese on Palmer's cheeseboard is accompanied by a morsel of history or a dash of folklore, a description of its flavours, and an enticing illustration. Palmer peppers his book with stories of eccentric and colourful cheesemakers and celebrates both traditional farmhouse and modern artisanal cheeses - fresh, mould-ripened, washed-rind, blue and hard. He explains how to buy your cheese like a monger, how to cut and store it, and how best to match it with drinks. The guide is completed by a brilliantly illustrated gazetteer.

Winner of BEST COOKBOOK, IRELAND, at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards Kevin and Seamus Sheridan first started selling cheese from a market stall in Galway over twenty years ago. As passionate advocates of local farming and champions of high quality food production, the brothers soon developed a reputation for selling the very best cheeses from around the world. Today, the award-winning Sheridans Cheesemongers has become something of a byword for cheese, sourcing and selling the world’s best cheeses to customers across the globe. In their first book, The Sheridans’ Guide to Cheese, Kevin and Seamus share their expert knowledge and invite you on a journey through the vast array of cheeses that adorn their shelves. From the cheese peninsulas of West Cork and the cheddar caves of Somerset to the hills of Reggia Emilia, the brothers introduce us to some of the best cheesemakers in the world, revealing how their favourite cheeses are made, whilst offering heaps of practical advice on selecting, buying, aging and storing each variety of cheese. An indispensable handbook for both novice cheeselovers and mature connoisseurs alike, The Sheridans’ Guide to Cheese is a complete guide to the cheeses of the world, featuring tasting notes, wine- and flavour-pairings and delicious recipes to help you appreciate every cheese you try.

This is an exceptional insight into the running of a traditional farm, from how to look after your animals (poultry, pigs and cows) to cheese-making, smoking meats and growing your own fruit and veg. Gubbeen is a 250-acre, traditional farm on the most south-westerly tip of Ireland and is renowned for its award-winning cheese (called Gubbeen) and its smoked meats. The Ferguson family produces more than 50 types of food from the farm and nothing is wasted so that the circle of life sustains the family whilst creating the highest quality products for speciality shops around the world. Gubbeen: The story of a working farm and its foods is an exceptional insight into the running of this traditional farm, and encompasses the four voices of the family who runs it Giana, Tom, Fingal and Clovisse and what they do. Tom has worked the land all his life, following the old farming ways of his forbearers; Giana controls the dairy as well as keeping a keen eye on the poultry; their son Fingal uses the pigs to make bacon and smoked goods from the Smokehouse (and has a side-line in creating beautiful knives for famous chefs); and their daughter Clovisse grows chemical-free vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers in the Kitchen Garden. Recipes are included in every section to illustrate and celebrate the farm produce, resulting in a truly inspirational read. Try Spring Lamb, Butter Beans and Dulse from the Gubbeen kitchen, or prepare the sumptuous Roast Crown of Goose, inspired by the farmyard. Gubbeen is undoubtedly most renowned for its dairy and you can have a go at creating your own Home-made Farm Cheese, or using it in recipes such as Mattie s Cauliflower and Gubbeen Ravioli or try the gorgeously gooey Gubbeen Meltdown, Gubbeen cheese baked with garlic, rosemary and thyme and served with toasted sourdough.

**Wine and Spirits Book of the Year 2017** A fascinating look into the world of cheese and its creators. In little more than a century, the drive towards industrial and intensive farming has altered every aspect of the cheesemaking process, from the bodies of the animals that provide the milk to the science behind the microbial strains that ferment it. Reinventing the Wheel explores what has been lost as expressive, artisanal cheeses that convey a sense of place have given way to the juggernaut of homogeneous factory production. While Bronwen and Francis Percival lament the decline of farmhouse cheese and reject the consequences of industrialisation, this book's message is one of optimism. Scientists have only recently begun to reveal the significance of the healthy microbial communities that contribute to the flavour and safety of cheese, while local producers are returning to the cheese-making methods of their parents and grandparents. This smart, engaging book sheds light on the surprising truths and science behind the dairy industry. Discover how, one experiment at a time, these dynamic communities of researchers and cheesemakers are reinventing the wheel.