Homage 2 Fromage

If there's one food I associate the most with Christmas, it's cheese. Sure, you can buy cheese all year round, but as soon as November comes knocking, supermarket fridges are suddenly stacked high with wax-sealed truckles and special varieties not otherwise available during the remainder of the year. (Unless your town is blessed with an independent cheesemonger, in which case I am truly envious.)

It therefore seemed fitting that I were recently invited to the London launch of Homage 2 Fromage, an all-you-can-eat cheese party perfect for the heartiest of turophiles. The premise is simple: eight tasty wheels of cheese following a monthly theme, albeit none are labelled, allowing guests to experience each cheese on senses alone. Later in the evening, the names and origins of the cheeses are then revealed to a satiated crowd.

The event was founded in Leeds in 2011, and has since become a popular club for cheese enthusiasts across the North of England. The launch night at The Bull in Westfield Shopping Centre was co-founders Nick Copland and Vickie Rogerson's first offering to a southern audience, who were just as eager to tuck into the mouthwatering selection of fine British cheeses, laid out like a banquet with accompanying breads, wines and chutneys.

Although I'm largely dairy intolerant and making efforts elsewhere to cut down on animal products, cheese is without question my kryptonite, and as such I returned to the table on several occasions to fill my plate with my favourites of the eight cheeses, including a black charcoal cheddar, a Brie-style Baron Bigod, and a Hebridean Blue which claims to be the bluest cheese in all of Great Britain.

Run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, Homage 2 Fromage lives up to its title. The atmosphere is friendly, informal and without pretension, in which the objective is to introduce guests to lesser-known cheeses they are almost guaranteed to enjoy. The monthly club nights commence properly in the new year, exploring all manner of European cheeses (Alpine, Irish, Portuguese and Scandinavian to name a few), culminating with the ultimate Christmas cheeseboard this time next year. If you love your cheese as much as I do, this event is certain to put a smile on your face - say cheese!

Tickets for upcoming Homage 2 Fromage events in London, Leeds, Manchester, Harrogate, Sheffield and York are available online, priced £14-£16 per person.

Disclaimer: Myself and a guest were generously invited to the launch night of Homage 2 Fromage by its organisers, however all opinions and love for cheese are entirely my own.

Exploring Bermondsey & London Bridge

When I lived in London, I had grand plans to visit all of its neighbourhoods and write blog posts about them. And indeed there were weekends when, provided I had my trusted camera and the British weather on my side, I would happily spend a day wandering idyllic streets, popping into pubs and shops, and taking photographs of the local architecture. But my idea never expanded beyond a few sporadic Instagram posts. So when Hotels.com challenged me last month to explore the London Bridge neighbourhood, it was the perfect excuse to kickstart my new Exploring series, where I seek out the most enjoyable spots to shop, eat, drink and visit in London, Surrey, and other beautiful destinations across the United Kingdom.

If you are visiting London for the day, or you find yourself staying at a London Bridge hotel, the heart and soul of the neighbourhood is without question Borough Market. Many sunny Saturdays have been spent strolling along South Bank, culminating in drinks and nibbles beneath the market's green girders and glass ceiling. Alas, the only day I was free for exploring was the Bank Holiday Sunday, when Borough Market would be closed, therefore it encouraged Maddy and I to amble in the direction of Bermondsey, of which we knew scarcely little.

Vinegar Yard

Following the railway line east on St Thomas Street, our first stop is Vinegar Yard. Formerly a private car park, the site is under review by the local planning authority for a proposed twenty-storey building; in the meantime it has been temporarily transformed by Benji Scrimgeour, founder of Flat Iron Square street food market, into a new public social space, featuring outdoor bars, street food vendors, art installations and independent traders.

If you don't fancy straying too far from London Bridge Station, then this is an ideal spot for after-work drinks, or even a chilled weekend afternoon, when there is also a pop-up flea market selling a variety of vintage clothing, vinyl records, books and antiques. The bright yellow hoarding is impossible to miss, and very few high rises to the south and south-west turn the site into a sun trap - perfect for a tipple from the Tanqueray Terrace, or any of Vinegar Yard's resident bars.

Vinegar Yard, 72-82 St Thomas Street, London, SE1 3QU | 10am - 9pm daily

Hawkes Cidery & Taproom

Continuing alongside the railway is the Bermondsey Beer Mile, where the arches are home to more than fifteen breweries and taprooms. If you love your pilsners, porters, stouts and ales, then this is the hoppiest bar crawl in all of London. Regrettably, Maddy and I don't enjoy beer unless served as lager shandies (which I suspect would be an affront to the artisinal quality of the local beer), therefore we opted instead for Hawkes Cidery & Taproom, whose preferred serve is - you guessed it - craft cider, produced on-site in London's first urban cidery.

After strolling in 30ºC afternoon sun, a glass of chilled cider in the shade of the railway arch was just the ticket to quench our thirst. Drinks are sold by bottle, can or draught, including several varieties of Hawkes' own ciders and ginger beer, plus a handful of favourites from other UK producers. Curiosity nudged us to order their newest Pineapple Punch, which combines ripe pineapple with pressed Braeburn apples for a very fruity still cider - think cloudy apple juice, but sexier. Afterwards I was kindly offered a behind-the-scenes look at the cidery itself, where stainless steel fermentation tanks gleam against the concrete wall and corrugated ceiling.

Hawkes Cidery & Taproom, 92 Druid Street, SE1 2HQ | Wednesday - Sunday

Maltby Street Market

Tucked away in a narrow passage between the railway line and Maltby Street is a weekend street food market that is the definition of a hidden gem. A canopy of world flags flies above hungry customers (Maddy and myself included), as they browse the stalls and railway arches of Maltby Street Market for a spot of lunch. While the size of the market is limited, the variety of its fare is extensive, in which Spanish wines meet British steak, small batch gins meet grilled cheese sandwiches, and vegan Mediterranean dishes meets traditional sausage sarnies. In the end, my sun and cider-soaked body couldn't deny a well-seasoned scotch egg from Finest Fayre, served with red cabbage slaw and triple-cooked chips.

Maltby Street Market, Ropewalk, SE1 3PA | Friday lunchtime, Saturday & Sunday



Bermondsey Distillery

At the easternmost end of Ropewalk, in yet another railway arch, is the home of Jensen's Gin. If you've had the pleasure of reading my previous interviews with local gin distillers, then you can imagine how excited I was to discover the Bermondsey Distillery and its tasty tipples, which currently include their traditional Bermondsey Dry Gin, an earthier Old Tom Gin, and a sweeter Honey Infused Gin.

At weekends the distillery opens its doors to the public for samples, sales and long drinks, otherwise you can source a bottle of Jensen's from London's favourite department stores, or online from The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt, where it retails less than £27 for 70cl. For the ginthusiasts, distillery tours may also be booked by dropping an e-mail to tours@jensensgin.com. Another bottle for my gin shelf? Maybe.

Bermondsey Distillery, 55 Stanworth Street, SE1 3NY | Saturday 10am-6pm & Sunday 11am-4pm

Flat Iron Square

Returning westward with the sun on our faces, Maddy and I poked our heads into Flat Iron Square, another street food market and social hub within walking distance of London Bridge Station. As alluded to previously, it's the elder and more permament sibiling to Vinegar Yard, having been launched by the same Benji Scrimgeour in the autumn of 2016, and has been a popular hangout space for Londoners ever since.

Located between Union Street, Southwark Street and Southwark Bridge Road, Flat Iron Square comprises an outdoor courtyard with Après London chalet themed bar (originally a winter pop-up, but now a year-round feature), a restored Grade II listed townhouse home to the cosy Tap & Bottle wine bar, several railway arches with more bars and food vendors, and live music venue Omeara founded by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons.

Flat Iron Square, 64 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU | Open daily

The Anchor

It being as beautiful a Sunday as it was, Maddy and I were compelled to search for one final outdoor space to soak up the afternoon's remaining sunshine, thus we ventured to more familiar territory on London's South Bank. Located on a busy pedestrian throughfare, The Anchor is hardly a hidden gem, but its riverside terrace with outdoor bar and deckchair seating were precisely what we needed to while away the rest of the day.

Historically, The Anchor served as a taproom for the now-demolished Anchor Brewery on Park Street, and it is the only surviving riverside inn from Shakespearean times, having been frequented by actors of the neighbouring Globe Theatre. Today it's owned by Greene King pubs, with a wide and varied selection of food and beverages, as well as fantastic views of the River Thames and St Paul's Cathedral. Finally, a space where Maddy and I could order a pint of lager shandy without risk of offending Bermondsey's craft brewers.

Anchor Bankside, 34 Park Street, SE1 9EF | Open until late daily  

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Disclaimer: This feature is a collaboration in which spending money was gifted by Hotels.com, however all views, photographs, and overall love for exploring are my own.  More from this series coming soon!

Sunday at Coast

On Sunday, my Dad and I drove down to Dorset to the visit my sister and her boyfriend. The journey along the A31 and A338 was a familiar one, having spent three formative years in Bournemouth training for a career that - little did I know - would stop short at an unpaid internship. Although where I departed these sandy shores for promise of a new life in the big city, my sister remained, and has since become the envy of my family with her summer snaps from the golden coastline and crisp afternoon walks in the New Forest. It was a pleasure to savour even a few hours of a life I hadn't realised I had missed.

Leanne and Jonny treated us to brunch at Coast, uniquely combining an independent café with surf, skate and moto shop in a celebration of beach culture. The contemporary frontage is inviting; woven lanterns linger above outdoor seating screened by bamboo, leading then into a naturally lit café space with timber décor and an olive green feature wall draped with the tendrils of invading plants. A classic motorbike pitched beside a row of sleek surfboards casts little doubt to the true passion behind the business.

As we await our choices from the locally sourced menu (mine a smoked salmon scotch egg with roasted beetroot, salad and wasabi mayonnaise), I escape my family for several minutes to explore the room beyond the café. Another motorcycle is stood proudly before me, and to the right, shelves of surf and biking books, a rail of light and summery garments, and a vintage pool table decked with beauty and home accessories to complement one's coastal lifestyle. At the very rear of the store is a workshop for all of your board and bike requirements.

After finishing up our brunch and fruit smoothies, we returned to Leanne's flat ahead of our stroll to the beach. Yet, as we passed a scene of paddleboarders and windsurfers metres from the shore, I had to wonder, having lived beside the sea for three years, why I hadn't embraced beach culture like my sister and so many others here. Perhaps if I had been a tad more adventurous, I might be eyeing up those surfboards in Coast with a yearning for the sea, as opposed to wondering how best I frame them for my camera.

Coast may be found at 91 Salterns Road, Poole, BH14 8BL.

International Cheese Awards Press Evening

Whenever my parents and I open the refrigerator lately, our noses are immediately assaulted by the potent and unmistakable aroma of cheese. Which isn't altogether surprising, having returned from the press evening for the International Cheese & Dairy Awards with two goodie bags laden with vintage Cheddars, crumbling Cheshires, and wheels of gooey Camembert.

Much like last year's event, the evening was a majestic all-you-can-eat banquet of award-winning cheeses, held in the Southwark studio space of Lumiere London. Following an informative talk from Charlie Turnball, Director of the Academy of Cheese (where do we enrol?!), and wine pairings with Bradburys' Richard Paul, Maddy and I hungrily navigated a tantalising selection of cheeses supplied by the world's most accomplished cheesemakers, twice as many as last summer's spread, while stubbornly ignoring the inconvenient reality that my gut has since developed an intolerance to dairy. Hedonism has its drawbacks.

In satisfying my turophile temptations, I discovered my palate has a particular penchance for flavoured cheeses, such as Bradburys' White Stilton with Mango & Ginger and Dragon's Vintage Cheddar & Leek. But the ultimate choice had to be "The Guru" by Orsom, a red Leicester infused with flavours of mango chutney, which myself and Maddy couldn't help returning to throughout the evening. Frustratingly, this awesome Orsom was the one brand that wasn't present in the goodie bag, and I can't bring myself to purchase myself a truckle until my family and I make a greater dent in our supplies! (Anybody fancy helping us out?)

Although held annually since 1897, the International Cheese & Dairy Awards remains little-known beyond the cheesemaking industry. Hence this intimate gathering of food bloggers and journalists, to encourage budding cheese connoisseurs to venture north for a slice or twenty of exceptionally good artisan cheese. Certainly I was tempted when they offered us all the chance to participate as judges.

This year's competition invites industry members to attend on Tuesday 30th July, when a panel of three-hundred cheese and dairy experts shall determine the 2019 winners from more than five-thousand global entries. The show then opens its doors to the wider public on Wednesday 31st, where ticket holders will be treated to more than fifty cheese exhibitors alongside cookery demonstrations from James Martin and other professional chefs. I admit a Wednesday seems a tad awkward for a food festival, but for those who can't attend this summer, fear not, organisers have announced the 2020 show shall be held over a weekend.

The International Cheese & Dairy Awards is held alongside The Nantwich Show, the UK's largest one-day agricultural gala, through whom you can purchase tickets.