News Archive

Eastleigh say Cheese!!

Students present cheese to CouncillorsEastleigh College cheese produceCouncillors with Jean Roberts and Alan Humphrey

Eastleigh College catering students have been busy developing cheese recipes for Eastleigh Borough Council to help honour the town's cheese roots in this weekend's Cheese Festival. The College have provided Councillors Chris Thomas and Peter Wall with cheese tartlets to take to the House of Commons in Westminster on Thursday morning, as they mirror the journey taken by the historical Eastleigh merchants from 1850. The tartlets are just one of the delicious recipes put together using Hampshire produced cheeses by the College catering students and their Lecturers Alan Humphrey and Robert Strachan.

Catering student James Bryant, pictured with fellow students Katie Lambe and Francis Plummer, who assisted in making the tartlets, said:
'This is a new dish that I've never made before. Chef Alan told me how it was going to be taken to the House of Commons, so I was really interested. I also think it's good to get involved with the community'.

The various cheese recipes dreamt up by the students are being served as part of the regular Red Carpet restaurant menu from Wednesday of this week. These dishes are all made from cheese from Loosehanger, a local cheese producer, and include both a savoury and a sweet cheesecake. In addition to this, customers will have the added extra of a Loosehanger Cheeseboard as part of their meal. This Friday an artisan cheese-maker from Loosehanger will be dining in the Restaurant, and will be on hand to discuss the company's award-wining cheeses with the diners.

College Chef Alan Humphrey said:
'I didn't know anything about Hampshire Cheeses at all. We discovered the company 'Loosehangar', whose cheeses have won all sorts of Gold and Silver Medals. It's been a great learning experience for the youngsters, as they get to discover, see, taste and cook new types of cheese. We are really grateful to Loosehanger for providing us with such a good deal.'

This has been a great opportunity for the College and it's students to get involved with the Eastleigh Cheese Festival, and make it an exciting community event.

Councillors Chris Thomas and Peter Wall added:
'Eastleigh is open for business! We're highlighting the skills and training of young people in Eastleigh. This is just a sample of the quality food produced by Eastleigh College. It's great for the College to get involved with the community'.

Release date 23/10/2008