Feeling blue? Happy to do so (From The Northern Echo)

Feeling blue? Happy to do so

9:10am Friday 28th March 2008 in Search

A LIFELONG dream was fulfilled when Simon Lacey opened his own cheese-making workshop.

Mr Lacey, 36, opened his workshop at The Station, Richmond, last week, and uses traditional production methods to make flavoured cheeses including beer, chilli and fruit.

Mr Lacey, who grew up in Catterick Garrison and now lives in North Cowton, trained as a chef and learned about cheese making while working for the Swaledale Cheese Company in Richmond.

His workshop, where he plans to produce 1kg of the semi-hard cheese each day, has a viewing hatch so that customers can see how their cheese is made.

"This is something I've always wanted to do," said Mr Lacey, whose two teenage daughters will also help out at the workshop. "I've had to sell just about everything I own to do it but I'm happier than I've ever been - I only wish I'd done it sooner.

"I'm using traditional methods as far as possible, simply because they produce the best results. Lacey's Cheese is a semi-hard cheese, made with both natural and wax rinds.

"I'm really excited about the viewing window we have in here too - I think it's great for people to be able to see where their food comes from rather than just having it appear on a supermarket shelf."

He added: "Small producers like me may not be able to compete with the supermarkets on their level. But we can offer a different experience, and of course a fantastic product."

For more details about Lacey's Cheese call 01325-378568.