The prize for the Champion Cheese of 2024 has been awarded to a Portuguese cheese, Queijo de Ovelha Amanteigado which is produced by a small farm in northern Portugal Quinta do Pomar. A family run business, the farm employs ten persons. The cheese competition was organised by the London based Guild of Fine Foods, with a panel of 240 international expert judges and the winner this year was chosen from 4,786 cheeses from 47 countries around the world.
Queijo de Ovelha Amanteigado is a soft raw ewes’ milk cheese made with vegetarian rennet created from thistles. It is described as gooey and buttery, with a herby bitterness. It is served by slicing off the top and spooning out the centre, and is delicious on Scottish oatcakes, fresh baguette or Italian pizza croccantina. Fortunately for cheese aficionados Queijo de Ovelha Amanteigado is available in Belgium at “Le Portugesh” a speciality shop selling Portuguese fine foods and wines in Wezembeek Oppem. Le Portuguesh serves a fabulous breakfast on Saturday mornings with pastel de nata, bica and Portuguese delicacies.
