Melton Mowbray
Britain's "Rural Capital of Food."
Key words
- Manor: a large old house in the country with land belonging to it, especially in Europe
The Lord of the manor went fox hunting.
- Characteristic: a typical or noticeable quality of someone or something
Unfortunately a big nose is a family characteristic.
- Source: to get something from a particular place
Where possible the produce used in our restaurant is sourced locally.
- Creamery: a business that produces or sells butter, cheese, or other products made from milk
The prison chaplain patiently listened to the prisoners complaints.
- Cure: to treat food, tobacco, etc. with smoke, salt, etc. in order to preserve it
Sodium nitrite is used to cure meat.
Read the article to find the answers
- What is Melton Mowbray home to?
- Who described Stilton as "the English Parmesan"?
- How are Melton Mowbray pork pies shaped?
- How are the pies eaten?
Britain's Rural Capital of Food
Melton Mowbray is a town in Leicestershire that promotes itself as Britain's "Rural Capital of Food". It has been a market town for over 1,000 years, and is the third oldest market in England. Melton Mowbray is home to the makers of Stilton cheese, fantastic annual food festivals, and the famous Melton Mowbray pork pie.
The name comes from the early English word Medeltone - meaning 'Middletown surrounded by small hamlets'. Mowbray is the Norman family name of early Lords of the Manor - namely Robert de Mowbray.
Stilton cheese
Stilton is a famous British blue cheese known for its strong flavor and creamy texture. Its characteristic blue veins come from piercings, which allow air to enter and promotes the growth of blue mold (Penicillium roqueforti). It is aged for a minimum of nine weeks, but some varieties can be aged for a longer period, leading to a more intense flavor and crumbly texture.
The first person to market Blue Stilton cheese was the owner of the Bell Inn on the Great North Road, in the village of Stilton, Cambridgeshire, but it was sourced from creameries in Melton Mowbray. The earliest reference to Stilton cheese was written by Daniel Defoe, who in 1724 called the cheese he ate in Stilton "the English Parmesan". Due to EU laws, cheese makers in Cambridgeshire cannot call their cheese Stilton, even if it is made in Stilton.
Pork Pies
The Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association ensures that pies labeled as Melton Mowbray Pork Pies adhere to specific standards, including the use of locally sourced ingredients and traditional production methods.
Authentic Melton Mowbray pork pies use uncured pork in the filling. This means that the pork is not pre-cooked or cured before being added to the pie, allowing for a distinct texture and flavor. Traditionally, they are handcrafted by skilled pastry chefs. The hot water crust pastry is shaped by hand which results in the unique, irregular shape of the pies.
The pies are served at room temperature and are usually eaten as a snack or with a salad as part of a meal such as a Ploughman's lunch.
Discussion questions
- Do you have any questions about any of the vocabulary or grammar in this article?
- Have you ever had Stilton or Melton Mowbray pork pies?
- What are your favorite cheeses and pies?
- What places in your country are famous for their food?
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