The world of cheese can be a beguiling place at times; where knowledge is power and the wrong choice can result in nasty shock to the palette. While millions of Britons regularly pay homage to the fromage, finding fantastic cheese that suits your taste buds can often be like the search for the Holy Grail.
That search recently came to an end for me, when I visited La Cava a Fromage, a Brighton based cheese shop and tasting café, stocking over 300 different of varieties of cheese at any one time, served by staff so knowledgeable they should have letters after their name.
As well as a mouth-watering array of cow, goat and sheep’s milk cheeses, La Cave also offers a stunning selection of charcuterie, fine wines and all the requisite accoutrement needed to take cheese eating to an orgasmic level.
Here they stock cheeses from around the world, including many ‘World Cheese Award’ winners, as well paying homage to Sussex, stocking around 15 varies of the county’s finest.
La Cave is owned by Premier Cheese, a small independent cheese distributor which actually supplies 95% of the UK’s Michelin Star restaurants. What’s more, Premier Cheese also runs an esteemed ‘Cheese Academy’ – where restaurant staff and La Cave’s own, are trained in the ways of cheese, wine and charcuterie to Jedi like levels.
At the Cheese Academy, students spend years acquiring vast knowledge not just about the different cheese variants and varieties, but also which meats and cheeses go together and with which wines. This enables La Cave staff to provide an unrivalled level knowledge and service, taking customers on a complete gastronomic journey.
That was certainly my experience when I recently visited La Cave to sample one of its revered cheese tasting platters (£10), which feature six different varieties, with easily enough cheese for two. Sliced white and fruit breads were available on tap.
When the cheese arrived – attractively portioned and served on a slate, I was joined at my table by Manager David Deaves and General Manager Nicolas Broche, who offered up their vast knowledge, providing me with fascinating information and anecdotes about each cheese.
Over the top for some cheese you might think – but think again. The cheeses on offer here each have an amazing story to tell, often undergoing highly complex fermentation processes in a bid to achieve their unique flavour.
The cheese on my tasting platter had been organised so that each cheese would best complement the next. The six cheeses in the platter included gems such as:
- Goats cheese wrapped in a banana leaf
- Admiral Nelson’s favourite – the Bath Soft, drizzled with truffle honey at saffron
- Sister Sarah – a Sussex goats milk cheese
- Pom Calva – a French cows milk cheese washed in Calvados
With the cheese all present, correct and formally introduced, with a glass of delicious crisp white wine to hand it was time to get amongst it. Each cheese without fail lit up my taste buds, with notes and flavours accentuated by additional elements such as honeys and herbs. The Bath Soft and accompanying truffle honey was a particular high point, along with the Pom Calva – which David described as an ideal Christmas cheese.
Delighted to be schooling me in the ways of cheese, David and Nicolas brought over a blur of other cheeses for me to sample, many of which were made exclusively for La Cave using animal rennet. One of these additional cheeses which really stood out was a port and stilton, which was rich, sweet and pungent – another cheese destined for my festive cheeseboard.
I didn’t order a plate of charcuterie, but was able to sample enough smoked duck and delicately flavoured sliced venison to understand that the meat here is on an equal level to the cheese and wine.
In the colder months, La Cave also offers serves Raclette (melted cheese on bed of roasted potatoes), baked Camembert, Fondue and baked Vacherin Mont d'Or, and runs various events such as a wine and truffle tastings.
Summary
Despite stocking some of the finest cheese, meat and wine available in this country, La Cave offers a completely friendly and unpretentious environment where customer satisfaction is paramount.
What really struck me about La Cave is the genuine passion the staff has for their stock, which really comes across. These guys would be happy to let you sample a dozen cheeses, just so you could walk out of the door with one which you really liked.
At just £10 for a cheese or meat tasting platter, La Cave offers one of the most exciting, and best value gastronomic experiences in Sussex. I was blown away with how the flavours we experienced all came together, and once my nostrils had adjusted to the pungent cheese aromas – I couldn’t believe it had taken me so long to visit La Cave.
If you love cheese I cannot urge you enough to book a table or simply walk in, to begin one of the most exciting experiences your taste buds have ever had. Bring your friends, bring your family, bring anyone – this place needs to be experienced.
For more information or bookings:
La Cave
34-35 Western Road
Hove
Brighton
BN3 1AF
Tel: 01273 725500
http://www.la-cave.co.uk
Or check out La Cave’s ‘Guide to the ultimate Christmas cheeseboard’ - http://www.devoursussex.com/content/la-cave-fromages-ultimate-christmas-cheese-board-guide