A smorgasbord of our favourite Cornish produce that will take your picnic lunches and picky teas to the next level.
Say Cheese!
A disused stable in Marhamchurch near Bude was where cheesemaking began for the Proudfoot family back in 1999, where milk from the Whalesborough Farm herd was transported in milk churns to the dairy before tractor weights were used to press the cheeses. Sadly in 2004, the family had to sell their cows, but that allowed them to focus solely on cheesemaking while continuing to use milk from local farms. Whalesborough Cheese is handmade in small batches using unique family recipes that have been developed over many years. Part Funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, a second cheese vat has recently been installed, allowing for the production of a range of goat’s cheese.
Whalesborough offers a range of five award-winning cow’s milk cheeses along with a washed curd goat’s cheese:
Keltic Gold – reminiscent of a French Alpine cheese, this has a creamy smooth texture and a round full sweet flavour. Three times a week, each cheese is dipped and scrubbed with local cider, which gives apple overtones and a distinctive edible orange rind.
Tasting note: try Keltic Gold melted down with a sprinkle nutmeg and enjoy as a dipping cheese with carrot and bread sticks.
Miss Muffet – this sweet washed curd cheese has a nutty creamy flavour and is delicious as a breakfast cheese served in a warm croissant with a slice of Cornish Charcuterie salami.
Trelawney – a delicious farmhouse cheese with a clean citrus flavour and creamy texture perfect for a lunchtime ploughman’s with a spicy chutney
Cornish Smuggler – with its distinct red marbling this is a cheddar-style cheese board favourite that looks tastes every bit as good as it looks.
Cornish Crumbly – a young Lancashire-style cheese that tastes amazing with a piece of fruit cake!
Miss Thymed – made using Cornish Sea Salt’s Lemon and Thyme blend this cheese has a nutty background with herby citrus overtones.
Nanny Muffet – using Whalesborough’s three-star Gold Miss Muffet recipe this subtle yet pliable goat’s cheese has a zingy fresh taste.
A Cornish Cure
When it comes to cured meats, pates and rillettes, Cornish Charcuterie is our go-to for picnic hampers and sharing platters. They produce high quality products using the finest ingredients, including pork from their own Cornish Lop pigs reared on the farm.
Award-winning and lovingly made by hand to an Italian recipe, these charcuterie sticks are a delicious addition to any picnic, charcuterie board or as an appetiser. The pork is mixed with a selection of herbs and spices and then left to mature from ten days up to eight weeks depending on size. Choose from a classic salami or chorizo or opt for a flavoured stick such as seaweed and cider, black olive, pink peppercorn or chilli.
The paté and rillette range are all produced on the farm in Bude, using locally sourced high-welfare meats, fish and poultry. With vegan and vegetarian options also available, and each variety served in a pretty glass kilner jar these make ideal presents….if you can resist eating them that is!
Gone Crackers!
No picnic or after-dinner cheeseboard is complete without a crumbly, crisp cracker. Our favourite crackers come from the Popti Bakehouse. Made in small batches and flavoured with herbs, spices and a bit of Cornish magic, these delicious biscuits and thins are free from artificial flavourings, colourings and preservatives and made from a secret recipe that keep them crispy!
All of the above products are available from selected delis in and around Bude or online from The Artisan Food Village.
If you find yourself in Widemouth, check out The Break for food, tunes and ocean views. Where possible they showcase sustainably sourced produce from their local food heroes!
With a wide selection of short breaks and longer stays available, discover Elite West Holidays’ wonderful portfolio of holiday homes.