Chiswick Cheese Market – Sunday November 16

It’s World Cheese Award time

Over 5,000 cheeses from all over the world are making their way to Bern, Switzerland for The World Cheese Awards 2025, hosted by @guildoffinefoods.

With over 250 international judges and tables laden with every sort of cheese imaginable, it is far and away the most extraordinary cheese event of the year.

Chiswick Cheese Market is proud sponsor of ‘The Best Female Cheesemaker’ trophy so good luck to all entrants and may the best woman win! We have our own @franwarde in Bern judging this year so she will keep us up to date on results – watch this space!

Time for warm fires and melted cheese

November is traditionally a chilly and dark month and with the shortest day of the year fast approaching it’s the time for roaring fires, warming soups and of course melted cheese aplenty.  As a belated celebration of Guy Fawkes Night, we have joined forces with @londonsmokeandcure to showcase some of their expertly smoked cheeses.

I have recently become a convert to smoked cheese after visiting their smokehouse in Bermondsey. They are accomplished smokers of meat and fish and in recent times they have added cheese to their portfolio. In my mind it takes an expert smoker to smoke food successfully – it is an art.

The nuances of how long and when to smoke to enhance not disguise the original flavour is a skill that takes time and patience to acquire. This is exactly how Ross, founder of London Smoke and cure works –   each cheese is tasted, it is then decided how and when to smoke it – the temperature and length of smoke are critical.

I believe that they have cracked it but don’t take my word for it, come along on Sunday and taste for yourself. They are bringing Cropwell Bishop Stilton, Gubbeen and Montgomery Cheddar all perfectly smoked for you to try free on HQ.

They will also have some other smoked cheeses and their usual array of smoked meats and fish for sale.

Images: Gubbeen Cheddar and Cropwell Bishop stilton in the smoker

Heads up- if you have never tried their 200g pack of very thickly sliced smoked salmon I suggest you try it this market and you will surely want to have it on your menu for Christmas!

‘Cheesemas’

Talking of Christmas (or ‘Cheesemas’ as we like to call it), the market will be on the 21 December – WOW that close to the big day? Yes, but let me tell you to be able to collect cheese, ripe just in time for your festivities is the perfect thing to do.

Our traders are offering the ability to order at this market to ensure that your favourite cheeses and accompaniments are packed and ready for you to collect on the 21st. at the ‘Cheesemas’ market we will have live festive music, a cheese charity tombola, family treasure hunt and party food and drinks on HQ.

Get the date in your diary and soak up some festive joy whilst you shop for those last-minute Christmas gifts, build your perfect cheeseboard and buy chutney to match the best very leftover turkey.

Free tours

A full list of traders is found at www.chiswickcheesemarket.uk and why not think about joining Steve Parker at 9.45 for a 30 minute tour of the market –  taste his favourite cheeses of the market on the day, learn some fascinating cheesy facts and he’ll be giving a few tips on a festive cheeseboard – its free! Just meet at HQ at 9.45am.

Cheese market donations

Our next donation to The Upper Room charity, Hammersmith takes place this month and this will push the total that our market has given away in charitable donations and sponsorship to a whopping £62,500 since we started the market in 2021.

The team works for free, in our spare time after our full-time jobs, making the market happen, each and every month. We thank you all for your support because without you, the customers, this market cannot take place.

It is that continued support that allows us to offer finances to those less fortunate, to help fledgling artisan cheesemakers move out of their kitchens and to support education within the British Artisan Cheese industry.

We hope that you enjoy coming to the market as much as we love running it and will continue to support the market into 2026 and beyond. Thank you.

I am sad as I will not be at the next market – I will be busy working in the French Alps. Don’t panic as there will be plenty of cheese where I am going and I will think of you all whilst I am gorging on my favourite Beaufort, melting a Mont d’Or and enjoying home-made tartiflette – its tough life!

Enjoy @chiswickcheesemarket and see you for the very special ‘Cheesemas’ edition in December.

Lucy

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