It’s cheesy but it’s true - National Cheese Day is here for everyone
One thing that brings us all together: food. In Manchester, there's no reason it can't be vegan friendly - even cheese.
No need to mark the calendar, but June 4 is officially National Cheese Day.
Why has this smelly snack got so many days of celebration? Because cheese is more than just food. The process of making the golden glory is a delicious display of human ingenuity; not to mention it’s a huge part of culinary traditions all over the globe - and has been for centuries. In other words, cheese is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. “Life without cheese is just bland,” my neighbour insists. Thanks to the ever increasing dairy-free alternatives in shops, even vegans can take part in the festivities - there’s no obligation to eat the real deal.
Catering to the community
Manchester’s no stranger to conscious consumers - there are a number of places to grab dairy-free, ethically sourced, affordable cheese.
If you’re welcoming a vegan on National Cheese Day, look no further than Chorlton institution, Unicorn Groceries. Go there today and you can grab stock from The Walnut Gatherer - cheese cultured in South Manchester.
You can get handmade vegan cheese right in the city centre. The iconic plant-based grocery store Eighth Day Cafe - on Oxford Road - has been a local source for dairy alternatives since the 70s.
Manchester is also home to one of The ‘Times and Sunday Times “best cheese shops” - Chorlton Cheesemongers.
Sampling some nationally acclaimed cheese felt like the only way I could honour this day properly. Right on my doorstep, I had to see what all the fuss was about.
"Cheese is love, cheese is life."
Manchester City Council worker, Josh Mitchell
Manchester locals: thoughts on cheese.
“Brie, it’s the only cheese I’ll buy.”
With some of the UK’s best handmade, ethically sourced British and Irish cheese right by Chorlton shopping centre, locals told MM they’re fans of the artisanal stuff.
“I have a love, hate relationship with cheese.” Andrea Cervantes, 24 was in two minds, “I actually do like it, but if I have too much it makes me feel sick.”
Council worker Josh Mitchell, 32 from Stockport simply said: "Cheese is love, cheese is life."
Student Lucinda Walton, agreed: “Food is not complete without cheese in it.”
Twenty-seven year old Jeevan Nerwan, admitted: “I really love cheese but I’m quite specific on the cheeses I like - I’m quite basic.
“I don’t mind brie with a few crackers, but when it gets super smelly I go a bit off it.”
Waitress Tanya Mckenzie, said cheese is “essential” on her shopping list - she’ll eat it by the block.
She added: “Nothing’s better than a bit of cheese and wine at the end of the day.”
Unlike her South African friend, Irish cook, Deirdre Marron isn’t a fanatic. “Brie, it’s the only cheese I’ll buy,” she said. But, she is partial to a cheese board.
To brie or not to brie
Lately charcuterie has made a comeback - just without all the faff. Word is these edible arrangements seem to be quite popular with the millennial crowd.
Foregoing the posh picnic norm, rather than buying expensive picky bits, a lot of Brits have taken to curating their own platters - to spruce up dinner plans.
Pelumi Fatayo, 25 told MM: "I do like a cheese board.
"I think they're very classic and it just gives upper echelons in the best way possible"
Cheese platters, or charcuterie boards make up part of a formal full course dinner.
Originally a French appetizer, it made its way to British high society in the 18th century. Despite old-money roots, it’s a fairly simple dish.
A selection of deli meats and cheeses, on a wooden board. Some fruits - like grapes or olives - and crackers, paired with wine and that's it.
With a cost of living crisis in mind, retailers have even caught onto the trend - taking cheesy gifts to a whole new level.
Clearly cheese means a lot to people. This April, protesters even campaigned outside of Guernsey Dairy, after the plant decided to stop producing cheese.
Who farmed it first?
If you thought cheddar has nothing to do with ancient Chinese farmers, think again.
Cheese has come a long way - literally. It’s thought the food itself dates all way the way back to 8000 BC - long before records began. And some of the oldest cheese in the world can be found in the Xinjiang Province of northwest China.
The art of cheesemaking is believed to have been brought over to Europe by Asian travellers. Most pan-Asian dishes aren’t much known for cheese - probably due to high rates of lactose intolerance in that part of the world. But in the Taklamakan Desert, an area north of the Tibetan Autonomous Region - bordering India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgystan, Khazakstan, Mongolia, and a small part of Russia - a tomb was discovered as home to a 4,000-year-old cheese.
Made from a mix of cow, goat and sheep milk, the Muslim Uyghur minority living in the region today still make a similar cheese, known as kurut or kurt.
Over time, cheesemaking became part of European culture - the infamous Roman Empire at its height, produced quite a lot of cheese.
The practice was introduced to this country at some point and according to englishheritage.org.uk: “Every Roman legionary got an ounce of cheese in his daily ration.”
During Roman England, Cheddar in Somerset was pretty important - a palace was even built there. Despite only one dairy producer remaining in the small village, its namesake is a global phenomenon.
Although the iconic British staple is a far cry from anything produced in ancient China, it’s undeniable - cheese was practically an institution in societies across history.
Today, right here in Manchester you can taste the “oldest recorded cheese in the UK” according to Chorlton Cheesemongers manager, Chris Hallam.
Whether it’s paired with wine, loaded exclusively with macaroni or, melted over nachos; grated, sprinkled or spread across a board, there’s so many ways people eat cheese that speaks to their culture - take for example, the infamous Philly Cheese Steak or fried wagashi, popular in West Africa.
There’s so many interesting things about cheese, it brings people from all over to gather round a table.
You don't have to swap presents, but you can switch to vegetarian or vegan alternatives and alcohol-free drinks if you prefer. All you need is cheese.
So whether you’re in the mood for margherita pizza, fancy fondue, or a sprinkle of feta in your salad, you can celebrate National Cheese Day however you like.
How do you plan your cheese boards - on a budget or on a whim?
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