This article is from page 26 of the 2013-06-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
ST TOLA Goats Cheese in Inagh is officially the best cheese in Ireland – after it’s new Ash Log took the top award at the Irish Cheese Awards this weekend.
The award was the finale of a big week for the North Clare producers, who were already celebrating the opening of its first cheese shop in Inagh last week.
The development of the shop is a major milestone for St Tola and for the local eco-tourism community and will stock a number of locally roduced products alongside a full range of cheese.
“The shop is a big step for us. There is a growing demand for food tourism and a lot more people are becoming interested in food and how it is made,” said Grainne Casey from St Tola.
“When people come to our shop they can look in on the animals and see for themselves how well they are treated and the high standards of the farm. As well as cheese, we also stock a range of local products and we will have a lot of information about tourism and the local area. It is a real holistic approach to food and tourism.”
St Tola’s newest product, the Ash Log, won a Gold Medal and then was named the Supreme Champion of this weekend’s Irish Cheese Awards.
“The team in Inagh are dedicated and uniquely skilled and awards such as these motivate us to continue to develop high-quality products for our customers,” said Siobhán Ní Ghairbhith of St Tola.
“The St Tola Ash Log is rolled in vegetarian food grade charcoal by our experts in Inagh. Rolling the cheese log while its fresh preserves the unique citrus and slightly acidic flavours of the cheese. Consumers will particularly appreciate the smooth and creamy texture of the finished product which is encapsulated by the ash.”
The new shop is open from Monday to Saturday, 12am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 12 noon to 5pm.