SHOP TALK: Jordan Thomson, Love Cheese

We’re in the northeast for our latest Shop Talk, chatting with Jordan Thomson from York-based cheese and wine store, Love Cheese.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE VISIT YOUR SHOP?

I just hope that people will choose to go to any cheesemonger, as the whole production chain, right down to the farmer who produced the milk, gets a fair price for their product. Why Love Cheese? We are a lovely bunch, always up for a cheesy chat. We really like to keep things as informal as possible. We have a wide range of cheeses covering a broad price range - so there should be something for everyone!

WHO IS YOUR BRITISH CHEESE HERO?

Maggie Maxwell at Doddington Cheese. I feel like we share a similar outlook to life, we like a joke and a good bit of cheese…

WHAT IS THE MOST ESSENTIAL TOOL IN THE MONGERING BUSINESS?

It’s not so much a tool as a receptacle… a decent sized Tupperware - to keep (what looks like) a lifetime supply of Handee Cheese Cutter Wires in. We always have loads of them at the shop, you never know when you could run out!

HOW MUCH CHEESE DO YOU EAT A WEEK?

At the shop… a lot. I remember Patrick McGuigan recommending to always sample cheese alongside the customer. I think we have all taken that to heart a little too much! At home… I tend to cook with cheese rather than having a cheeseboard. With two young children, it’s a case of sneaking lots of cheese into dishes. Hebridean Blue Mac & Cheese is a big hit.

IF YOU COULD EAT ONLY ONE BRITISH CHEESE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHICH WOULD IT BE?

That is a tough one. There are so many fantastic cheeses to choose from… I feel like my go-to cheese is probably Yoredale Wensleydale. Ben and Sam have created such a fantastic product, it’s the perfect snacking cheese and also works well in a toastie.

WHAT’S THE MOST UNUSUAL REQUEST YOU’VE HAD FROM A CUSTOMER?

We have had that many unusual requests, I don’t think that there is anything that would surprise us any longer… We are getting more and more customers looking for organic cheese. It’s not unusual – but definitely something we would like to try and push in 2025.

WHAT’S HOT IN CHEESE RIGHT NOW?

I am really looking forward to trying Raedwald. As the sibling of Baron Bigod, I’m sure it will fly out of the counter. I think it will be particularly popular in York. The branding would fit in perfectly with the city’s history.

Visit: Love Cheese, 16 Gillygate, York YO31 7EQ / lovecheese.co.uk