Luxury hotel Cobblers Cove on the west coast of Barbados is celebrating its recent refurbishment and 50 years of Independence for the island by sending Andrea Power, a cheesemaker for Hatchman’s Premium Cheeses, to judge the 29th annual World Cheese Awards in San Sebastián.
The awards are part of the International Cheese Festival on November 16th, and are organised by the Guild of Fine Food. Hatchman’s Premium Cheeses is the only cheesemaker in the whole of Barbados and Andrea is the first judge to be announced for 2016, with other judges from all over the world to be announced over the following weeks.
Taught by her father, Andrea began making cheese just four years ago in response to concerns from the island’s dairy farmers about milk quotas and poor sales. In 2014, Andrea established Hatchman’s Premium Cheeses, having developed methods to overcome the natural challenges of cheesemaking in a country that stays hot all year round, harnessing solar power to help with the costs of temperature control.
Andrea explained: “It’s a huge honour to be representing Barbados at the World Cheese Awards in San Sebastián and such a great opportunity to promote our cheesemaking on a global stage. I can’t say it’s a dream come true, because I never even conceived of something like this ever happening to me, but I’m extremely excited and will probably be giddy-headed for a little while yet! I believe that the future of Barbadian cheesemaking will begin with the World Cheese Awards, when we show the world that a tiny dot half way around the globe, with less than 300,000 people, has got super yummy cow and goat’s milk that can make cheeses that are sought after by the most discerning of palates. It’s extra special to begin this journey during the 50th anniversary of our independence, which will be officially marked in Barbados on 30 November, just a few days after I return.”
John Farrand, Managing Director of the Guild of Fine Food, added: “We are thrilled to have Andrea joining us this year in San Sebastián, bringing yet another country into the fold, and would like to offer our sincere thanks to Cobblers Cove for helping to make this happen. The World Cheese Awards already attracts more cheeses and judges from more countries than any other competition, so we’re delighted to be extending its reach still further as we head to Europe’s unofficial culinary capital. This event represents a huge opportunity for small producers across the world to put the fruits of their labour in front of food professionals, journalists, buyers, retailers, consumers and tourists, while also bringing together the global cheese community each year to share ideas, inspire each other and celebrate excellence in cheese. Having had the pleasure of meeting Andrea on a trip to Barbados last year, we know she’s a passionate producer with a huge character, and have no doubt that she will bring a lot to our wonderful cheese community.”
Will Oakley, General Manager at Cobblers Cove, the only Relais & Châteaux hotel in Barbados, has taken time out of recent refurbishments and a grand re-launch for the hotel to help plan Andrea’s trip to Spain. Among the recent changes at the hotel are new coral stone floors, completely redesigned bathrooms and suites, enlarged windows and new fittings, fabrics and furniture.
Artwork by local artist Hilary Armstrong now features throughout the hotel and its award-winning restaurant, Camelot, now features redesigned menus created by head chef Jason Joseph, using leading local suppliers and served on new bespoke bone china by William Edwards of Stoke.
Oakley said: “We are delighted to have an opportunity to sponsor Andrea to attend the 2016 World Cheese Awards is San Sebastián. We are proud to promote a 100% locally produced cheeseboard at Cobblers Cove and believe Hatchman’s Cheeses now deserve recognition on a world stage. In the year of Barbados’ celebration of 50 Years of Independence, nothing could make us prouder than to support a local artisan food producer from this tiny island, to demonstrate the quality of the Barbados food offering.”
During San Sebastián’s tenure as European Capital of Culture, when the city shines a spotlight on its cultural richness and world class cuisine, on Wednesday 16 November the World Cheese Awards will add a stage for cheese-making excellence. Forming part of the International Cheese Festival between 16-18 November 2016, the world’s largest cheese only awards scheme will bring together 3,000 of the world’s finest artisan cheeses in the Kursaal Congress Centre, as 250 expert judges gather from every corner of the globe.
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