LINKS: British Cheese Awards

By Kara

It was judgment day for British cheesemongerers. The 17th annual British Cheese Awards - known, apparently, as "the 'Oscars' of the cheese world" - began today in Kingham, Oxfordshire. (Can you imagine a more aptly-name venue for this sort of event?)

According to The Cheese Web, "In 16 years the number of British cheesemakers has more than doubled and there are now over 600 unique British cheeses made from cow, goat, ewe and even buffalo milk."

Categories include "Best English (Patrick Rance Trophy)," "Best Welsh (Douglas Campbell Trophy)," "Best Scottish," and "Best Irish (Eugene Burns Trophy)" - the best Scotts are apparently anonymous. Personally, I'm interested to see the results for "Cheese Person of the Year" (is this the British equivalent of "Miss Congeniality"?), and to learn more about the difference between "Best Modern British Cheese" and "Best Traditional British Cheese."

Judging will continue on Friday, September 24th - "Trade Day" - where judges will turn their attention to cheese exports for the first time in the history of the awards. That is also the day that the winners in all categories will be revealed - so check back then!