London’s cheesiest food festival, We Love Cheese, is back in Ealing this Sunday (22 April).
Stalls packed with local produce will be gathered at Dickens Yard in central Ealing (W5 2XA) from 11am until 4pm.
It is free to turn up and visitors will find the likes of Raclette Brothers with their traditional alpine fare, Mac to the Future dishing up mac ‘n’ cheese, Muffin Man & Co’s halloumi or Ogleshield topped breakfast muffins and The Good Slice’s seasonal Italian pizzas.
And, of course, there will be an extensive selection of cheese producers and importers, all vying to win a We Love Cheese Cup. Returning champions Capo Caccia will be joined by the likes of Heritage Cheese, Somerset Ploughman, Bath Soft Cheese and The French Comte – and the public decides who wins. Voting cards cost £8 if you buy in advance (or £10 on the day) and include tasters of all the cheeses in the competition and a complimentary drink.
Celebrity host, prizes and more
Guests can also visit an ‘Ealing Bites Live’ talks tent, hosted by the nationally renowned food critic Grace Dent. Ealing-based brewery Weird Beard Brew Co and Acton wine experts Park & Bridge will join Heritage Cheese to host pairing sessions to help you find the perfect beverage to partner with any cheese.
There will also be a Wheel of Cheese to spin to win prizes, live music, and a ‘Little Artisans’ cheese-themed craft tent.
Keep it Local scheme
The festival is run by Eat Me Drink Me, with support from Ealing Council. The company’s Keep it Local scheme is sponsored by the council and offers practical support to help local independent businesses to start market trading. Traders selected for the scheme benefit from advice and are able to borrow a council-owned gazebo for their first four markets, as well as reduced pitch fees during this time.
At the We Love Cheese festival one of the beneficiaries is Gu Choki Pan – a Japanese micro bakery set up by an Ealing-based mum who bakes at home.
If you are interested, why not find out more about Keep it Local?