Some things get better and some things get worse. I first encountered David Jowett of
King Stone Dairy at theThame Food Festival in September 2016.He had a small stand selling a new cheese called Rollright. Production had commenced the month before and the cheese externally had the appearance of reblochon and the interior was somewhat rubbery and packed with eyes. He was back this year at the TFF and the cheese has really developed. Now wearing a spruce band and displaying the characteristics of a Vacherin Mont d’Or. Soft, unctuous and just about able to support itself. This is a sexy cheese
David is one of four Oxfordshire cheese makers making artisan cheese in Oxfordshire. See Artisan Cheeses from Oxfordshire for more details.
In contrast the food festival is not improving at least not for me. No longer in the town centre, the change of location has transformed a truly local integrated celebration of Thame and it food producers and suppliers into just another “vanilla” food fair. The local connection is all but severed. It could be anywhere, with the usual suspects flogging “street food”, cupcakes and chilli sauce. Maybe it was too successful in the centre of town and I understand that the economics of moving to the show ground.
