Cheese of the Moment:

‘Blue Shropshire’

Cropwell Bishop

Nottinghamshire, England

Blue Shropshire (or Shropshire Blue) is produced by the same dairies that make Stilton, of which there are only 6 dairies in the world licensed to do so.  

You may have noticed that Blue Shropshire is, in fact, orange.  This is because the cheese is dyed with annatto, a flavorless derivative of the seeds of the achiote tree often used as a natural colorant in food.

We are not exactly sure how or why it was decided to make Blue Shropshire orange, but it sure is fun to look at.  And, while the annatto does not change the flavor of the cheese, the taste is commonly described as a cross between Stilton and Cheshire (another popular British cheese that is usually orange and “cheddary”).  Could this be partially because we eat with our eyes first?  Either way, though it is a milder blue than Stilton, it still has the tangy, rich and earthy flavors we love to taste in our blues.

Aged 10-12 weeks and using microbial rennet (vegetarian), this celebrated cheese has won numerous medals including the silver at the 2014 World Cheese Awards.  It has also been named one of the ‘24 Best Cheeses on the Planet’ by Traveler Magazine as well as one of the top fifty foods in a recent Great Taste Awards.

Tasting and Pairing: Contrast the sharpness of the cheese with dried fruit or honey or melt it on top of a steak or burger for an umami punch.  Same goes for wine…try a Riesling for contrast or Pinot Noir for earthy depth.

Cheese Club 831

Cheese Club 831 comes with

3-5 very special cheeses, many of which are not available in the shop.  You can expect the small batch, rare, weird, wild and wonderful!

Boxes are ready to be picked up around the 15th of every month.  We do not offer shipping at this time.

Subscriptions are $50 per month and will include about 3/4lb of cheese, a detailed description of the cheese, and a cheese tasting book/guide to document your cheese journey.

You can look forward to experiencing cow, sheep, goat and water buffalo milk cheeses from near and far.  

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Come on in or give us a call at 831-515-7406 for more info.

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Click Here to Sign-Up!

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Come see us for:

• Free Tastings All Day

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• Gourmet Grilled Cheese (11:30-2:30, Tues-Sun) 

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• Custom Cheese boxes and Platters

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• Gift Baskets & Gift Cards

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• Private Events

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• "Cheese" Cakes

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• And Much More!

Cut-to-order Gourmet Cheese!
 

Cheese Shop 831 is an artisanal cheese shop located in Capitola, California. 

At over 100 different cheeses, we have many international cheeses, but strive to bring focus to local and regional cheesemakers and farmsteads.

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We also showcase many small batch and hard-to-come-by cheeses that you won't find anywhere else in town.

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At any point in time we carry at least 20 sheep, goat and water buffalo cheeses for those looking for a cow's milk alternative.

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Everything in the shop has been carefully and thoughtfully curated with the producers, our community and the environment in mind.

At Cheese Shop 831, we want you to find new cheeses to love... Come on in to find your new favorite!

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Fondue Kits!

Our Fondue kits come with:

• 1lb of our special blend of 3 Alpine cheeses (pre-grated for your pleasure and leisure)

• a seasoning/flour blend (to ensure a perfect melty consistency)

• detailed instructions including a list of fun stuff to dip.

Kits are $50 each and is plenty for 3-4 people.

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Please pre-order with at least 24 hours notice.

Come on in, email us at Cheeseshop831@gmail or call 831-515-7406 to place your order! 

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