Craving Stilton - where are all the French blue cheeses?

Regarding your recent request for comments about English cheese overtaking French in terms of variety, I heard the same story some 20 years ago visiting the specialist cheese shop in Covent Garden, London, with my (then) new French wife.

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I recall my wife pointing out somewhat defensively at the time that “many English ones are just variations of Cheddar” (with apricot, cognac, or whatever).

While the story may be true, it is certainly my observation that there is generally a greater selection of cheeses available in a French supermarket than an English one.

This is possibly because many of the English varieties are too low a production and without a sufficient customer base to be taken up by the big chains.

However, the place where I feel the French are sadly lacking is in the blue cheese arena.

They have nothing like a good Stilton or Shropshire Blue.

I recall my wife being shocked when I searched for ‘blue brie’ in France.

I was sure I had bought it in England.

Later I discovered it is more often called Cambozola and is usually from Bavaria.

Michael TURNER-SAMUELS, by email

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