Culinary Trail - A match made in heaven - Cheese and cider pairing

1. Meet at the Star Inn at Harome

Your day begins at Andrew Pern's Star Inn at Harome, near Helmsley where you gather for refreshments and to meet your fellow travellers. We'll then set off - complete with a Yorkshire produce packed lunch from Andrew's kitchen - for the Shepherds Purse Creamery

2. Visit the Shepherds Purse Cheeses creamery

Shepherds Purse has been making award winning cheeses since the 1980's when Judy Bell realised that many people had a dairy intolerance - especially to cheese - Judy read up on the subject and discovered that sheep's milk was a delicious alternative. Now the creamery turns out a wide range of cheeses using milk from both cows and sheep.

From its small cottage industry beginnings Shepherds Purse has gone from strength to strength but is still a family business, with Judy's daughters Caroline and Katie now at the helm. You will spend 2.5 hours learning at first-hand how the award-winning cheeses are made and as a taste of your visit be given a selection to take away with you.

3. Ampleforth Abbey

From the creamery we'll take you to Ampleforth Abbey in the rolling Howardian Hills for a blossom-time tour of the orchards. Here, there are some 2,000 trees and more than 40 varieties of apples, including the Ribston Pippin, the oldest variety at Ampleforth and originating from a tree grown locally at Ribston Hall in the 17th century. Some of these apples are used to make juice and the increasingly popular monastic produce including Ampleforth cider, Ampleforth Amber - a mix of cider brandy and freshly crushed apple juice - and Ampleforth Cider brandy. The abbey also makes sloe and damson gin and its own beer has just gone on sale.

4. Three course gourmet dinner at the Star Inn

From Ampleforth you will return to The Star Inn for a three-course dinner specially created for you by chef Andrew and his kitchen brigade including elements featuring Shepherds Purse's cheese and Ampleforth Abbey cider. There will also be a pre-dinner tutoring in cheese and cider pairing led by Judy Bell.

Further information

• This culinary trail starts at 11.00 and concludes with dinner served at 18.00
• Your trail is escorted and includes transport between venues
• You will be asked to complete a self-certification health form before embarking on the cheese-making tour
• Drinks with dinner are not included

Details & Booking

Highlights

• Unique visit to award-winning Shepherd’s Purse Creamery
• Cheese-making and sampling
• Tour of Ampleforth orchard, cider presses and stills
• Themed dinner at The Star Inn, Harome
• Expert guide
• Private transport
• Picnic lunch
• Shepherd’s Purse Cheese Box
• Approximately 9 hours

Price

£160.00 per person

Wed, 15 May 2013

Gather at 11am