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 Christmas and New Year have traditionally been the time for British cheeses: smooth, stinking blocks of stilton at the centre of the table, or matured cheddar, almost strong enough to burn your mouth, eaten in thick wedges with chutney and oatcakes. Though these matured cheeses are particularly suitable over the bank holidays, when they can be wrapped and refrigerated without loosing their flavour and texture, soft cheeses are also becoming increasingly popular, with English goats cheeses, and the semi-liquid French winter cheese, Vacherin, a perfect end to a rich roast. All of the delicatessens previously mentioned in this article have a chiller cabinet of cheese, but if you want huge choice, and specialist advice, you're best advised to try one of London's increasing number of specialist fromageries as listed below...
 La Fromagerie 2 Moxon Street, W1U 4EW If you want to break out of your cheddar comfort-zone, but are bewildered by the choice available (and by the tendency of French cheeses to suddenly collapse into a foul-smelling goo that taints everything in your fridge), then you head to Patricia Michelson's La Fromagerie, where try-before-you-buy is the rule and the bustling cafe serves up all kinds of products from the shop. They have regular cheese tasting events throughout the year (click here to book)with special 'meet the producer' evenings. One such event takes place on Tuesday 1st December when you can meet Simon Hoggart, the wine correspondent for the Spectator and a columinst for the Guardian whose book, 'Life's Too Short To Drink Bad Wine', makes an excellent philosophy for wine consumption - as well as a handy stocking filler. But no matter when you visit, the expert staff at La Fromagerie are happy to advise you on how to construct the perfect cheeseboard to follow any meal, and the wines to go with it. There are branches in Marylebone (details below) and in Highbury. Address: 2 Moxon Street, W1U 4EW Phone: 020 7935 0341 Timing: Mon 10.30am-7.30pm, Tue to Fri 8am-7.30pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm Christmas Opening 2009: Early closing 24th December 4pm, Closed 25th-27th Dec | 29th & 30th Dec 9am-6pm, 31st Dec until 5pm | Closed 1st Jan Nearest Station: Baker Street Tube La Fromagerie - Information La Fromagerie, Highbury - Information   Neal's Yard Dairy Covent Garden17 Shorts Gardens, WC2H 9UP This most charming of central London cheese shops no longer has its own dairy on-site, though it is still particularly noted for the type of young, soft cheeses it used to make. There's also an impressive range of mature cheese, from their own dairy in Kent and micro-producers throughout Britain. At this time of year, they're offering a quite exceptional stilton-like British cheese, called Stichelton, as the perfect thing to accompany a glass of port after dinner. A tradition Stilton - in season at this time of year - also comes recommended and available at a discounted rate when you bulk buy a quarter of a kilo or above. Details below are for the branch in Covent Garden - which has the advantage of being right at the heart of London's best gift-shopping area. There's also a branch in Borough Market. Address: 17 Shorts Gardens, WC2H 9UP Phone: 020 7240 5700 Timing: Mon to Thu 11am-7pm, Sat & Sun 10am-7pm Nearest Station: Covent Garden Tube Neal's Yard Dairy Covent Garden - Information  Cheese at Leadenhall4-5 Leadenhall Market, EC3V 1LR The smelliest spot in Leadenhall Market is this delightful fromagerie, where around 100 varieties of cheese jostle for space with wine, biscuits and harassed City traders under STRICT orders from their wives to bring a Vacherin back to Hampshire for Christmas Day. Throughout November and December they are running Fondue Fridays in the cafe where you can sample the hot molten cheesy goo while quaffing down some fine wines. Leadenhall Market is well worth dropping in on if you're in the City during the festive season, as it also contains a fantastic fish stall (H S Linwood), and lots of formal wear and accessories shops to buy presents for the man in your life. Address: 4-5 Leadenhall Market, EC3V 1LR Phone: 020 7929 1697 Timing: Mon and Tue 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-6pm, Thu and Fri 9am-8pm | Closed weekends and Bank Holidays | Closed 25th & 26th December Nearest Station: Monument Tube Cheese at Leadenhall - Information |
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