Simeon Hudson-Evans, one of our cheese experts, joined the great and the good of the cheese world last week in Viseu, Northern Portugal (the base of Portugese cheese production) for the 36th edition of the World Cheese Awards. Simeon has over 50 years of experience in cheese mongering and judges at the British Cheese Awards and World Cheese Awards each year.
“I have judged many times at these awards and each year they just get better and better. Organised by the Guild of Fine Food, the world cheese family (cheese aficionados like myself) come together from all corners of the world to seek out the best of the best. Over 4500 cheeses are judged by 240 judges and after much deliberation just 14 cheeses make it through to the final round. Then 14 of the finest cheese palates in the world vote on 14 of the finest cheeses. Not for the first time the trophy was awarded to a cheese from the host country.
The winning cheese
Queijo de Ovelha Amanteigado made by Quinta do Pomar came out on top. Made with raw sheeps’ milk and vegetarian thistle rennet (known as cardoon), the winning cheese is normally eaten by cutting off the top and spooning out its almost liquid paste. The cheese whose name comes from the municipality where it is made – literally (and conveniently) translates as “Buttery Sheep’s Cheese” although it is more generally known as Serra da Estrela.
Unfortunately, from a UK point of view, there were no British or Irish cheeses in the final 14. The competition is intense and we should not be too disappointed that we didn’t get to the final round. If some of the UK cheeses that were entered had not be stalled at customs we may have been in with more of a chance of glory. It was not until later that evening that I understood the reason for some of the empty places on my judging table.
Cheeses from Switzerland and Italy fared particularly well this year. Next year’s event will be held in Bern, the Swiss capital, and there is a very good chance that the host nation will be triumphant again!”
The fourteen finalist cheeses can be found here
Update from The Guild of Fine Foods
After the disappointment of several UK cheeses being unable to get through the administrative process at customs in Portugal and therefore missing out on being judged alongside over 4000 cheeses from all over the world, the Guild of Fine Food have racked their brains and come up with a brilliant plan!
On Thursday 5th December the Guild of Fine Food will be hosting a special judging of the British cheeses that were denied their chance to shine in Portugal. All the disappointed cheese makers are sending their cheeses to GFF HQ in Dorset where a group of World Cheese judges will gather to give their verdict on the cheeses.
Simeon is thrilled to be included in this judging – “I don’t yet know how many cheeses we will be judging or how the guild will arrange the day but doubtless it will be run with the customary seamless efficiency at which the guild excels.”
You can read more about our meat and our cheese here.
