Treat yourself 3 indulgent food experiences The atmosphere is like eating at a good friend’s house
1Sublime English cheddar in Somerset
Is there a cheese lover in your life? If so, consider an experience with Cheese
Journeys. This specialist tour company offers dream escapes for fans of artisan cheeses, with itineraries in Italy, France, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and even the US, where the company is based. The cream of the crop is the ‘cheese odyssey’, a five-day extravaganza that starts at Neal’s Yard Dairy in London, then heads west to Somerset. Meet cheesemakers and go behind the scenes to learn the secrets of their craft, plus sample the finest of our country’s cheeses with fellow dairy lovers from around the world.
A highlight is a banquet and overnight stay at North Cadbury Court (northcadburycourt.com), the ancestral home of the Montgomery family. Entering this palatial Tudor mansion feels like stepping onto the set of Downton Abbey, so it’s no surprise the property is in high demand as a filming location. Reception rooms boast sweeping views of Cadbury Castle, which many believe to be the site of King Arthur’s Camelot.
The farm is where Montgomery Cheddar – regarded by many as the Holy Grail of cheddars – is produced. The process is minutely controlled, from the grass on which the cows graze to the maturation, which lasts for at least a year. Jamie Montgomery, the current cheesemaker, uses the same strains of starter culture as his grandfather did 100 years ago. Montgomery also produces Ogleshield, one of few cheeses made from Jersey cow’s milk, a breed that was once kept on the farm as pets. Orlando Murrin
How to do it
The next ‘cheese odyssey’ takes place 30 March-3 April 2020. Five-day tours from £2,400 per person, all-inclusive. cheesejourneys.com
2A chef’s table dinner with a difference in London
While the chef’s table concept is nothing new, what sets the experience at Mimo London apart is the amount of time and attention the chefs and sommelier dedicate to you. There’s room for two to 12 around the counter in this venue overlooking Borough Market, and the laidback, welcoming atmosphere is like eating at a good friend’s house.
Be as hands-on as you like – get involved in the cooking, ask about food sourcing and wine-matching, or just sit back and watch the chefs.
In terms of the menu, seasonality is key and dishes change to suit.
It’s all fresh and interesting, and paired with imaginative wine choices.
This innovative company (Mimo means both ‘indulgence’ and ‘theatre’ in Spanish) runs pintxos tours in San Sebastian, and has expanded to Seville, Mallorca and the Algarve. Now firmly established in London, it offers market tours, cooking classes and wine tastings as well. Christine Hayes
How to do it
Six-course chef’s table dinner with wine from £120 per person. mimofood.com
3Mobile fine dining in London or Paris
Afternoon tea tours on red buses are a common sight in the capital, but nothing holds a candle to Bustronome. Board a glass-roofed double-decker for a four-course lunch, or six-course dinner, with paired wines and sleek service. Genius design ensures there are no rattling plates or smashed glasses, just well-presented, quality food served while you tour the major sights. Don’t expect trend-led dishes; this is traditional stuff, and better for it – a good gift for the in-laws. A weekend lunch might kick off with butternut squash velouté before a fish and meat course, plus a rose and lychee macaron to finish. Wines are French, and the route offers plenty of photo ops. You can also enjoy the tour in Paris. Christine Hayes
How to do it
Lunch from £65 and dinner from £105 per person. Tours depart from Victoria Embankment in London seven days a week. bustronome.com