CHEESEBOARDS: Pick & Cheese
Pick & Cheese
Photo credit: J Howard
Opened in 2019 by the guys behind The Cheese Bar, Pick & Cheese is the world’s first cheese conveyor belt restaurant. Located on the ground floor of Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden, Pick & Cheese is “like YO! Sushi for cheese”. It’s basically a cheese fan’s wonderland, with a stellar selection of British artisan beauties spinning around the bar, accompanied by. pairings ranging from fudge and fruitcake to kimchi and Turkish delight.
Founder, Mathew Carver says:
“The idea is to throw on its head what a cheese and wine bar can be, introducing a fun and interactive element. We were inspired by Yoshaiki Shiraishi, who first instigated a conveyor belt to move away from the traditional, very formal and expensive sushi restaurants of the time. He wanted to offer sushi quicker and cheaper to attract a new audience. This felt exactly like what we wanted to do for British cheese!”
General manager, Hero Hirsh, takes us through some highlights on the conveyor belt right now…
Yoredale with Piccalilli, Curlew Dairy
Wensleydale has seen such a resurgence in recent years and Curlew Dairy are doing amazing work. We knew we would want this on the menu for Christmas and it felt right to choose a traditional pairing. Rosebud Piccalilli is outstanding - chunky, perfectly salted, looks incredible and can perfectly compliment the savoury character of the Yoredale.
Pevensey Blue with Pickled Grapes, Pevensey Cheese Company
We introduced a cheese strength guide this year, moving from mild to strong, or in this case going straight in at the deep end! Pevensey is rich and complex, ranging from creamy to spicy to roasted hazelnut. We wanted a pairing that would be refreshing but stand its ground. These lightly pickled red grapes are a perfect counterpoint to the hefty cheese.
Cremet with Roasted Mushrooms, Sharpham Dairy
A roasted mushroom is ideal for autumn/winter, but as many white rinded cheeses have mushroom notes anyway, it can be a balancing act to ensure that the overall pairing isn't just bitter. Cremet has that mushroom character, but with a full pour of double cream and the incredible savoury character of goat’s milk, there is a real journey of flavours on this plate.
Visit: Pick & Cheese, Seven Dials Market, Short’s Gardens, London WC2H 9AT