Tangy, robust, earthy, mellow, silky, smooth. This is Irish cheese.

To celebrate the diversity of Irish cheeses, the Irish food board Bord Bia organized a wonderful event held at Cafe W in Media One Hotel, Dubai.

Each cheese is an expression of its own particular part of Ireland – Milleens offers a taste of the wild, salty winds of the Atlantic; Coolea conjures soft rain on mountain slopes; Cashel Blue is the expression of lush sweet grasses in hills and valleys; whilst St Tola is redolent of wild herbs in rocky limestone fields.

Irish Cheese Platter

Irish farmhouse cheese is not just about flavor, it is also about people

Each Irish artisan cheese is unique to its cheesemaker, and each cheesemaker has a different story to tell. In less than 40 years, Irish artisan cheesemakers have managed to produce cheeses which are the equal of any in the world.

Utilizing Irish cheese in daily consumption

A nifty workshop with Chef Girish from Media One Hotel showcased the diversity of Irish cheeses. Optimizing the buttery, acidic flavor of Cashel Blue Cheese, Chef Girish used this pungent cheese in a salad alongside freshly cut figs, apples, and pears.

Preparing a salad to go with Cashel Blue Cheese

Discovering my favorite Irish cheese – Milleens

My favorite cheese of the night was a soft cows milk cheese called Milleens; an exciting, complicated “washed-rind” cheese made by Norman & Veronica Steele. This cheese is available in the UAE, and I highly recommend you to display it on your next cheese board.

Here is the profile of Milleens cheese:

Made from pasteurized cow’s milk
Country of origin: Ireland
Region: Beara Peninsula, Co. Cork
Type: semi-soft, artisan
Fat content: 45-50%
Texture: creamy, firm and smooth
Rind: washed
Colour: pale yellow
Flavor: floral, herbaceous, mushroomy, sweet
Aroma: aromatic, earthy, pungent

The Irish cheese extravaganza takes place every day during happy hour from 6PM to 8PM at Café W throughout December and January. You can sample 11 distinctly different varieties from every corner of Ireland, along with a range of special offers on food and beverage available during this time.

This event was organized by Bord Bia, the Irish Cheese Board. Visit their website to learn more about Irish Cheese.