Eating the blues . . .

A NEW Lancashire cheese is set to hit the supermarket shelves after its official launch later this month.

The blue regional delicacy, as yet unnamed, is produced by Dewlay's Dairy, in Garstang and is due to be unveiled at the International Food and Drink Exhibition in London.

Visitors to the Lancashire Food Festival at Accrington Town Hall were given a sneak preview and tasters of the cheese last week, which is expected to go down a treat with food lovers.

A selection of suggested names that have cropped up for the cheese, include Churchtown Blue Lancashire, Garstang Blue Lancashire, Blue Moon, Lancaster Blue Lancashire and Barnacre Blue Lancashire.

Lancashire cheese is traditionally known for its strong tangy flavour and creamy texture and makes a delicious alternative to cheddar.

The traditional variety is ideal for those who prefer a stronger sharper, full-bodied flavour while the young Lancashire would suit those who like a lighter, milder and more crumbly cheese. The calcium-filled delicacy plays an essential part of people's diets and helps fight against diseases such as osteoporosis, that now affects one in three women and one in 12 men.

Dew-Lay Products have been making cheese in Garstang since 1957 and have won major awards in the top national cheese competitions and established a strong reputation for the flavour and quality of its UK cheeses.

The company, which was set up by George Kenyon, is recognised as the brand leader in the standard and production of Lancashire cheese and has recently built a new dairy and installed a new £1million automatic plant designed for the production of crumbly English territorial and other cheeses. A spokesman for Dew-Lay's said the company had high hopes for the future of their new product: "People were going mad for it at the festival. They are really excited about it and we have been inundated with requests for it.

"It is a creamy and mild cheese which is different from the traditional blue Stilton which has a bitter taste to it.

"For the Lancashire cheese eaters we are hoping to give them another option and for the blue cheese fans it will give them a regional cheese to eat."

The company could not confirm which shops will sell the cheese but said it would more than likely appear on deli counters as a speciality product.

If you would like confirmed details about which shops will sell the cheese, telephone Dew-Lay's on 01995 602335.

Say cheese . . .

HERE are a few appetising sugestions to spice up a traditional Lancashire cheese sandwich, in the run-up to the launch:

Lancashire cheese with pickle, tomato and mayonnaise

Lancashire cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms and roasted peppers

Lancashire cheese, sausages and tomato ketchup

Lancashire and peanut butter wwith a sprig of rosemary

Lancashire cheese, avocado and plum tomato with balsamic dressing

Lancashire cheese with pear and ginger