32
FOOD
Say Cheese!
It's official - the cheese world
champion is a Le Gruyère AOP
Surchoix from Switzerland. The
2022 World Cheese Awards held
at the International Convention
Centre Wales in Newport saw the
cheese from Swiss cheesemaker
Vorderfultigen and affineur
Gourmino emerge victorious from a
record-breaking 4,434 entries from
around the globe.
The cheeses were scored on
aspects such as the appearance of
the rind and paste, as well as the
cheese's aroma, body, and texture,
with the majority of points awarded
for flavour and mouthfeel. The
16 finalists included a number of
English cheeses, notably Devon
Blue made by Ticklemore Cheese,
Devon; Spenwood from Village Maid
Cheese near Reading; Sinodun Hill
from Norton and Yarrow Cheese,
Tempeh,
tempeh!
UK food start-up Better Nature has
come up with Tempeh Pieces, enabling
you to cook up your favourite plantbased
meals in minutes. Made simply
from tempeh, a natural protein-
and fibre-packed Indonesian food
made from cultured soybeans and a
blend of natural oils and spices, the
new Marinated Tempeh Pieces are
available in three sizzling flavours -
Mediterranean, Curry and BBQ. They
can be pan fried or baked to create
tasty dishes from curries and stir fries
to tacos and wraps in around five
minutes.
They're 100% natural and glutenfree
and count as one of your five
a day. Dr Driando Ahnan-Winarno,
co-founder of Better Nature, which
specialises in tempeh-based products,
said: "For those new to tempeh, it's an
easy way to try this super versatile and
delicious food with twice the protein
of tofu. Thanks to the natural culturing
process, tempeh is also packed with
tummy-friendly prebiotics."
The folks at Better Nature point
out that Tempeh has a low carbon
footprint, verified by My Emissions'
farm-to-fork analysis and is plastic
neutral, aiming to remove as much
plastic from nature as is used in its
packaging. It also donates 1% of sales
to tackle malnutrition in Indonesia.
Better Nature Tempeh Pieces
(Mediterranean/Curry/BBQ), RRP
£3.29, are available to buy from Holland
& Barrett, Selfridges, Gopuff, Amazon
and online from Better Nature with
more stockists to follow.
www.betternaturetempeh.co
Drinking
chocolate?
Devon-based Salcombe Brewery
Co has launched Maya Chocolate
Stout. This chocolate stout (4.5%
ABV) is created by adding organic
cacao nibs during the brewing
process.
Head brewer Sam Beaman
explains, "For the ancient Maya
people, the cacao bean was
sacred. They were obsessed
with its rich, chocolate taste and
believed it was a gift from the
gods. This was our inspiration for
our new stout."
It is being marketed as a dark,
warming beer for colder nights
that pairs well with braised or
spiced meats and rich stews - or
can be drunk on its own.
Award-winning, Safe and
Local Supplier Approval (SALSA)
accredited Salcombe Brewery Co
produces a range of premium cask
ale and keg products at its Estuary
Oxfordshire; and Gorwydd Caerphilly
from Trethowan's Dairy Ltd in
North Somerset.
The World Champion Cheese
2022, Le Gruyère AOP Surchoix, is a
matured cheese made from raw cow's
milk. It is full-bodied with a slightly
crumbly texture. In second place was
a Gorgonzola Dolce DOP, made by
De' Magi from Italy.
The 2022 World Cheese Awards,
which took place last November,
were the 34th edition. The event was
originally due to be held in Kyiv.
www.worldcheeseawards.com
View brewery nestling in the Devon
countryside above the Salcombe
Estuary. The site also boasts a wellstocked
brewery shop and taproom.
Meanwhile, the company has recently
invested in an additional site in South
Devon which now houses its own
bottling and canning plant. In line
with its commitment to improving its
sustainability credentials, Salcombe
Brewery Co has recently eliminated
all plastic from its packaging.
Maya Chocolate Stout is available
in cans (330ml x 12 for £25) from
retail outlets, including the brewery
shop and online for nationwide
delivery.
www.salcombebrewery.com