When Made for Drink were tasked by English Heritage to put their unique gastronomic spin on the time-honoured cheese & onion crisp, a light-to-bite stalwart of our island’s unrivalled fine crisp traditions, it was immediately clear that Dan and his team would be ripping up the rulebook to provide Cheese & Onion with the culinary reboot it so richly deserved.
Baron Bigod was quickly identified as the all-important fine cheese compatriot, a treasured food union that brought one of rural Suffolk’s most treasured foodie heroes into Made for Drink’s Thursday night fine snacking orbit. Baron Bigod is a proud squidgy cheese in the Brie-de-Meaux style, a small batch artisanal offering that uses only the freshest morning milk from its highly prized Montbeliarde herd, because ‘early hours’ milk is the perfect temperature for fine cheese production.
According to Made for Drink founder, Dan Featherstone, ‘Baron Bigod has become a regular Thursday night companion on the Featherstone cheeseboard, a newfound favourite among friends & family. Everyone in our fine snacking huddle adores this cheese’s deliciously distinct nutty rind and the fresh buttery yet earthy texture that comes complete with a discreet citrusy twang. When English Heritage challenged me to produce a cheese & onion crisp that celebrated England’s finest cheese wisdom, I knew precisely who to talk to!’
This perfect marriage of like-minded food heroes means that Made for Drink is aligned with a fine cheese luminary who will not only help Made for Drink press forwards within the Ontrade, indie wholesalers and discerning food halls ambitions but also grow their profile within the UK’s flourishing fine deli and cheese hall estates; establishments that once-upon-a-time might have been a tad sniffy about the rethinking of the ultimate cheese & onion treat.
‘When Dan from Made for Drinks got in touch with us, we were so pleased that they wanted to use our cheese to make crisps. We then got a sample back from Dan, which was the powder flavouring, before it was added to crisps – we were blown away! From that moment on we were all totally sold on the idea and can’t wait for you all to try them. They are a savoury, gourmet delight that combines the creamy and indulgent flavors of the cheese with the crispy, flavourful notes of caramelized onion, resulting in a rich and irresistibly fragrant treat.’ Iona – Sales Manager at Fen Farm Dairy
From an English Heritage perspective, this latest addition to their fine snacking stable hits all the right notes, adding an unmistakably gourmet twist to a ‘nation favourite’ whilst shining a light on yet another of our island’s inspiring small food producers.
Daring flavour profiles has never been an avenue that Made for Drink has been unwilling to head down, so when the opportunity came to team up with 007’s favourite hot buttered toast soulmate, Dan and his team of Thursday night snacking enthusiasts knew they had to jump at the chance.
The memorably named Gentleman’s Relish, otherwise known as Patum Peperium (pepper paste) is a cult accompaniment with an ardent following akin to Marmite, a stylish hot toast companion targeting gentlemen of standing born back in 1828 when John Osborn created the ultimate unami bomb; a heady blend of butter, anchovies (60%), herbs and spices.
According to Dan Featherstone, ‘We’ve long craved creating an unapologetic crisp that packs a real punch so jumped at the chance to work with such a noble flavour that to this day retains a devoted following within a number of the UK’s more discerning food aisles, delis and food halls. Putting aside the fact that Gentleman’s relish undoubtedly has one of the world’s most memorable straplines in UK foodiedom ‘the height of good paste,’ Made for Drink has an ongoing responsibility to unearth hidden foodie gems and take them to a wider, food appreciative audience. A like-minded alliance between English Heritage, Gentleman’s Relish and Made for Drink makes perfect sense to all parties.’
Available from June 23 this most lively of ‘flavour unions’ that will appeal to inquisitive taste buds of all ages will bring something truly distinct to Made for Drink fine snacking fraternity
The Gentleman’s Relish spokesman is also overjoyed with this adventurous food union!
‘We are extremely proud to be collaborating with the Made for Drink and English Heritage. It is an ideal partnership that celebrates our shared passion for flavour and product quality. Together, we believe we have created the perfect crisp, which is packed full of flavour…Prepare yourself for a snack adventure like no other, where flavour takes centre stage, and every bite is a sensory revelation.’
Gentleman’s Relish is available in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Booth’s, Ocado, and Independent Farm Shops and Delis nationwide. Available in 42.5g (£2.00 RRP) & 71g (£3.00 RRP).
Available in 150g (£2.75) & 40g bags (£1.35)
