Seaside rugged mature English cheddar (fantastic)

Whole Foods in River Forest was offering "Seaside rugged mature English cheddar" this week for $5.99 / lb*, and I imagine it's carried at other locations as well. This is a remarkable cow's milk cheese. It combines the creamy sharpness of some of my favorite cheddars with the crumble and tang of a pamigiano, and the flavor is somewhere in between. Intriguingly, the cheese crunches on the back teeth because the aging process and conditions cause little pockets of calcium and sodium crystals to form.

I can't find much on this cheese or the cheesemaker behind it, but I encourage you to explore it; I think it's a very rewarding buy. Here is a recent mention:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/pleasanton/ci_8487518

A page featuring the stunning Dorset countryside setting of the dairy estate, Ashley Chase:

http://www.farmhousecheesemakers.com/ch ... se_estate/


*that's what the sign said; my packet was .55 lb and initially rang up as $5.99, but when I called them on it they gave it to me by weight. Whether the sign or the cashier was in error, I'm not sure. Worth it either way as far as I'm concerned.

I had some of this a couple months ago from the Cicero-Peterson Whole Foods. It was as Santander describes, very sharp with a nice crystalline crunch. It's a very good cheddar.

stevez wrote:It was as Santander describes, very sharp with a nice crystalline crunch. It's a very good cheddar.

Picked up Seaside Cheddar this afternoon at Whole Foods, creamy mouth feel with flavor popping points of protein crystal at room temp, delicious eaten out of hand or on a grilled burger.

Burger (25% bison, 75% chuck) w/Seaside Cheddar, grilled asparagus and KimChi Fried Rice w/hot dog option


Thanks for the heads up on Seaside Santander.

Enjoy,
Gary