BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner

Subject: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Emma B
Date: 27 May 09 - 02:12 PM

Britain's Smelliest Cheese Championships were held at The Royal Bath and West Show in Shepton Mallet, Somerset and the winner was......

'The Stinking Bishop, made by Charles Martell of Martell and Son in Gloucestershire, described as smelling like a rugby club changing room.

The panel's chairman, Tim Rowcliffe of Antony Rowcliffe speciality cheeses, said: "The cheeses were all fantastically smelly but Stinking Bishop absolutely knocked us out."

Stinking Bishop is washed in a Gloucestershire perry made from a pear variety called Stinking Bishop.
The pear was named after a reprobate farmer with an appalling reputation as a drunkard, who famously shot his kettle when it took too long to boil.'

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 27 May 09 - 02:59 PM

Wallace and Gromit effect

My step daughter found a remarkably smelly cheese in Wales called Stinky Feet or something like.

She and her father are big cheese fans.

Love that whole shot the kettle thing. Brilliant.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: mandotim
Date: 27 May 09 - 05:30 PM

British cheeses have a long way to go before challenging the mighty Pont L'Eveque. (or Pongs like Heck, as it's known in our house).

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: The Barden of England
Date: 27 May 09 - 06:09 PM

Had some 'Stinking Bishop' here the week before St. Georges Day. It's something to stay upwind of no doubt, but it tastes glorious.
John Barden

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 May 09 - 06:27 PM

The French have long been the yardstick here, from Roquefort and Crotte du Diable upwards.

Last Deal fest I found a rather good cheese shop (much to my surprise) at the north end of Deal, and I think they were a bit surprised at a folkie rolling in with some idea of their wares - so JB and I had fun with the port and cheese that night and bad heads and guts the following day.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: michaelr
Date: 27 May 09 - 06:30 PM

As a US cheese lover, I have heard of the Stinking Bishop, and I'd love to taste it. Who will volunteer to mail me a wedge?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: bobad
Date: 27 May 09 - 06:54 PM

'World's smelliest cheese' named

Scientists at a Bedfordshire university have found what could be the smelliest cheese in the world.

Vieux Boulogne, a soft cheese from northern France, beat 14 other whiffy varieties in tests.

Experts at Cranfield University - who led the research - used an "electronic nose" to analyse the cheese odours, along with a panel of 19 human testers.

English Cheddar, aged between six and 24 months, was one of the least smelly cheeses tested, along with Parmesan.

Senior research officer at Cranfield University, Dr Stephen White, said: "The smelliest cheeses were washed rind cheeses.
        
Love it or loathe it, the sign of a fine cheese is often its characteristic smell as well as its flavour and texture
Sally Clarke of Fine Cheeses from France
"There was no obvious correlation between the age of the selected cheeses and smelliness, nor type of milk origin, although cows' milk cheeses did dominate the smell chart."

The particularly pungent smell of the Vieux Boulogne is created by the beer reacting with enzymes in the cheese.

It even beat Epoisses de Bourgogne, a cheese so smelly it is banned from being taken on public transport in its native France.

The electronic nose is a machine equipped with sensors to detect different chemical aromas. It is connected to a computer which analyses the different smells.

The experiment was commissioned by Fine Cheeses from France, a body that promotes French cheese in the UK.

Sally Clarke, of Fine Cheeses from France, said: "Love it or loathe it, the sign of a fine cheese is often its characteristic smell as well as its flavour and texture and we wanted to find out if France's reputation for producing smelly cheeses was true."

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: bobad
Date: 27 May 09 - 06:55 PM

Link to source of above post: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4044703.stm

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Anne Lister
Date: 27 May 09 - 07:33 PM

I've encountered Stinking Bishop at close quarters in a friend's cottage and by common consent it was exiled to the end of the garden. I personally couldn't get close enough to it to try it. But I still treasure the memory of one trip home from my then home in Lyon, carrying a maturing Camembert made with unpasteurised milk. As I boarded a crowded train, I found that people made way for me and I was able to find a seat remarkably easily as all the neighbouring places were vacated rapidly.   My parents came home from an evening out after my arrival at their house, and said they knew before reaching the front door that I was there and had brought them the cheese ...it was kept in the garden shed, only being put in the house for meal times.
But it did taste exquisite.

Anne

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: The Barden of England
Date: 27 May 09 - 08:08 PM

I've got to say that 'The Stinking Bishop' was a new one to me, but then again I could hear it coming from a not too inconsiderable distance!!
Richard mentions a certain establishment in Deal, Kent, UK. One of the better Emporia in my mind (although the Port helped too)
John Barden

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: olddude
Date: 27 May 09 - 08:13 PM

I dunno, my brother would take a local Limburger cheese and would eat it with wild leeks. My gosh, his house would be so bad you could smell it outside

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Bill D
Date: 27 May 09 - 08:21 PM

My father told me many years ago, that there was a guy in their work group..(people who put up telegraph poles).. who was 'bothered' by smelly cheeses, so a game developed to try to get some (usually Limberger) into his room where he couldn't find it. I remember 'under the dirt in a flower pot', and 'inside a bedpost with a removable brass top'.

    I, personally, cannot comprehend why anyone would WANT to eat something that smelled that bad....

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: olddude
Date: 27 May 09 - 08:46 PM

Many years ago my friend Garry rubbed Lindburger cheese on the engine manifold of his brothers car when his brother got married. He and his new wife could not figure out what smelled so bad when the engine heated up while driving to their honeymoon..
that was cruel ....funny but cruel

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: bobad
Date: 27 May 09 - 09:14 PM

I love limburger cheese, it may smell strong but it is really quite mild and very flavoursome tasting. Try it with a good rye bread, strong mustard and raw onion washed down with a nice, cold beer - can't be beat.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 May 09 - 02:27 AM

I'm with you BillD... we're 'programmed' to avoid eating stinky stuff that might make us ill, just as babies are 'programmed' not to eat stuff they don't recognise for the first few months of their lives (this little trigger goes away after about 8 months and they start experimenting with other stuff. There are a tiny number of children for whom this trigger never quite goes and they're the ones labelled 'picky eaters').

I'm not a cheese fan anyway, but to actively put something that smells that bad into my mouth - no way!!!

Manitas on the other hand is a cheese lover. We were staying with friends a while ago and he bought some debatable cheese... when we left (the friends were staying on a few more days) he was asked to please take it with him as they couldn't stand it any longer!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Raggytash
Date: 28 May 09 - 06:37 AM

Stinking Bishop is a fine cheese and doesn't taste anything like it smells, however by far the smelliest cheese I have ever come across is Weisslacker (not necessarily the correct spelling)which I belive comes from Bavaria, despite being wrapped in several layers of clingfilm it still stank the whole of my house out, and the house at the time was quite large, it hit you when you came through the front door, that too was confined to the garden she after that.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 May 09 - 04:14 PM

I can't fathom it either, Bill. I will not eat cheeses that smell awful.

Ripe durians are said to have a dreadful smell, but a marvelous taste. They are a fruit found in Southeast Asia.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 28 May 09 - 05:37 PM

I remember the hotels in Thailand would have a no durian sign
(a picture of a durian with a circle around and slash through it)

But my favorite smelly cheese is Czech syrecky - smellier than Limburger
and often has a layer of slime on it. It is to die for.

the first time I was back I bought some to eat on the overnight train to Frankfurt and the American lady that shared the room commented about someone having really stinky socks. I had to explain it was the cheese..

I never thought English made smelly cheeses but would love to try that Stinking Bishop.

here in Canada - because of the pasteurization regulations you can only find the really smelly tasty cheeses in specialty shops..

Oka isnt bad though.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 28 May 09 - 05:48 PM

Stinking Bishop is our favourite "blue" cheese! I still rate Stilton higher, but Nessie wont touch it, whereas she can go for a bit of SB.

Blue cheeses don't smell "bad" to me, Stilton and Stinking Bishop smell wonderful - strong, I'll grant you, but heavenly.

Whereas I can't abide the smell of Camembert.

And Vanessa won't let me keep "proper" goat's cheese (not the wishy-washy namby-pamby stuff you find in the shops and restaurants, but the real thing, harder, yellow and holey), or indeed goat's butter, in our fridge (*sob*).

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Joe_F
Date: 28 May 09 - 08:41 PM

And then a mug of Smoking Bishop to clear your palate.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Peace
Date: 29 May 09 - 02:01 AM

The 'runners up'.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 29 May 09 - 02:28 AM

Sounds interesting, must give it a try.

I seem to have varied in my cheese tastes over the years but am quite happy with strong flavours as well as mild.

At the moment, my main choices are Roquefort and I'm quite enjoying a Cheshire/Lancashire, etc. type with salad on sandwiches.

BTW, one thing Cheshire or similar always wins for me on is on toast with a Welsh Rarebit mix. Also, I find a bit of feta in with the Cheshire can sort of liven it up a little.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 29 May 09 - 02:43 AM

electronic nose

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 29 May 09 - 05:50 AM

Cheese-pudding comparisons:
I think of Roquefort as the "creme brulee" of the blue cheeses: smooth and (comparatively) mild - the perfect introduction to blue. It was indeed the first one I tasted, must have been 4 or 5 then, and was a favourite throughout my youth. Whereas Stinky Bishop is more like beautifully crusted apple pie with cinnamon.

And Stilton is the Spotted Dick of cheeses.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 29 May 09 - 05:55 AM

I think the smelliest cheese will be the sheeps cheese we brought back in our luggage from Menorca about 20 years ago. It was OK when we left but by the time they found our lost case three weeks later is certainly hummed a bit.

I think thats how they located the case.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 29 May 09 - 08:03 AM

Aye George, Roquefort just sort of melts in your mouth. For me, it was a late discovery - I doubt I tried it until I was 40+.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: mandotim
Date: 29 May 09 - 09:03 AM

Blue cheese...mmmmm. Hartington Stilton is a prince of blues, sadly soon to disappear as the creamery there closes. They also make the sensational Dovedale Blue, a rich, strong, creamy soft blue cheese. it makes Sant Agur, Bleu d'Auvergne, Roquefort etc look cissy (and I'm a Roquefort fan till I die!).
For the adventurous near Christmas, try warming a rich, home-made mince pie, lift the lid and slip a wedge of ripe Blue Stilton underneath. Have a glass of Port handy. Worry about gout later. It's a more powerful version of the traditional Yorkshire Christmas cake/ Wensleydale experience.
Tim (feeling hungry, wonder if we've got any crackers...)

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: robomatic
Date: 29 May 09 - 04:32 PM

one used to be able to purchase a small cardboard box of german cheese in the California supermarkets chill section when I was a student in the Bay Area: Liederkranz. Once it had gained room temperature it out-curdled limburger. It had a rich, satiny texture and taste. I've never had much skill at smells and would love to sample stinking bishop.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 May 09 - 05:26 PM

Okay.....I admit it.........I've never met a smelly cheese I didn't like.   I'm sure this surprises not a one of you. Fock off.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 May 09 - 06:25 PM

It doesn't surprise me one bit, Spaw. Your taste in cheeses is just as lamentable as your taste in dogs and cartoon characters. ;-)

I like mild pale yellow hard cheeses with a very mild odor. Examples: edam, swiss, and others along that line. I also like that Philadelphia Cream Cheese stuff. It might not be haute coutoure, but it goes great on bagels.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 29 May 09 - 07:04 PM

I like cream cheese as well as smelly cheese, etc. Borsin do a couple nice ones.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 29 May 09 - 07:10 PM

Oh, and I like cottage cheese too.

I suppose a boring cheese to me would be (at least what I've tasted of which has always been rubbery and bland) double gloucester.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 May 09 - 11:24 PM

Havarti is good. That's another mild cheese.

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: michaelr
Date: 30 May 09 - 08:26 PM

OK, British cousins -- Spaw and I have a great hankering for the Stinking Bishop. Who will mail us some, please?

Subject: RE: BS: Smelliest Cheese Championships - winner
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 May 09 - 08:30 PM

I'm not sure we can?