Walk down Walcot St. in the charming city of Bath in the U.K. and you will stumble upon what is perhaps the most magical little cheese shop in all of Europe. When you come across this wonderful place simply look atop the teal-ish blue entrance and written in hand scripted letters are the words “The Fine Cheese Co.”
If that isn’t the first clue that you’ve arrived, peak inside the large front window to see the abundance of fresh breads and the wall of cheese, in all shapes and sizes, that stretches back the length of the shop.
Created by Ann Marie Dyas, the Fine Cheese Co. simply began as just that – a lovely little cheese shop packed to the brim with the finest matured cheeses and culinary jewels to tempt every taste bud. An international judge and maturer of artisanal cheeses, Ann-Marie had everything in her store except for a range of crackers that she could be proud of to pair with her cheeses. Unsatisfied with what was available on the market, off to the bakery she went and shortly after came out with a fantastic range of perfectly flavoured crackers to accompany the variety of different cheeses she so loved and stocked in her shop.
From Shop to Bakery, from Bakery back to Shop and now to the world market, The Fine Cheese Co. crackers are now featured in delicatessens, cheese shops, specialty food stores and upscale grocers in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the United States and of course, right here in Canada. To this day, The Fine Cheese Co. holds it’s position as the only cracker range specifically created with different flavours to be enjoyed with cheeses; whether Cheddars or Blues, Goudas or Pecorinos, fresh Goats Milk or pungent Wash-Rinds, The Fine Cheese Co. has truly taken the market by storm. Using only the finest naturally ingredients and small batch production techniques, The Fine Cheese Co. crackers are as beautiful in taste as they are in appearance and will add the most incredible point of difference to any cheese board. Two of my favourite crackers are the Olive Oil and Sea Salt, which, made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, has a beautiful texture to it, and the charcoal cracker which is made using vegetable ash. The Charcoal cracker is all black in colour and looks amazing when topped with a snowy white goats cheese and freshly chopped basil.
Also from The Fine Cheese Co. comes their revised range of Fine English Crackers, showcasing some traditional classics to pair with cheeses, patés or even as nice snack with a cup of piping hot tea. The Fine English Bath Oval cracker, pays homage to the original “Bath Oliver” that dates back to the 1750. Invented by a man name Dr. Oliver from Bath, this wonderful cracker is made from a simple combination of flour, butter, yeast and milk and is the perfect backdrop for any cheese.
Continuing her mission to find the best partners to highlight her cheeses, Ann-Marie has also created a beautiful range of fruits and pickles for cheeses. Once again holding true to her unwavering dedication for quality ingredients and artisanal production, these products are made with great love and care and once tried will be impossible to leave behind whenever cheese makes it’s way into your basket! The Lime and Chili fruit for Blue Cheeses is an incredible pairing with a hot citrusy note that has a soft sweetness behind it – perfect for creamy blue’s like a Ciel de Charlevoix or a Cornish Blue.
One thing is for certain, Ann-Marie and her team have not nearly finished their mission to help us continue to enjoy the finest experiences with cheeses. A brand new addition from The Fine Cheese Co. this year are the long awaited, “TOASTS” for Cheese. With premium dried fruits, whole roasted nuts and a lot of love and care, these wonderful products may not make it to the cheese before they are eaten right out of the box!