Cardiff castle made of cheese! » Communities » 24dash.com

2,000 years of history in two cheesy minutes!

That is what is doing the rounds on global social networking sites You Tube  and Facebook, as a time lapse film showing a unique sculpture of Cardiff Castle being chiseled out of Welsh cheddar marks this month’s Great British Cheese Festival in the famous Welsh landmark for the first time on September 27-28.

In what is believed to be a world first castle made from cheese, the sculpture showcases the new home of the Great British Cheese Festival

Cardiff sculptors Ice2Art have been using their skills to chisel the detail of Cardiff Castle and its impressive clocktower from a huge 2m x 1.5m block of cheese, generously supplied by Carmarthenshire Cheese and Dairy Farmers of Great Britain, both appearing at this year’s festival.

The craftwork took 10 hours, and the whole creative process was filmed and condensed into a two minute long cheesy history of Cardiff Castle, which is now being passed around internet social network sites for cheese lovers across the world to enjoy.

Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture at Cardiff Council said: “This is a very novel way to highlight Cardiff Castle as the new home of the Great British Cheese Festival.

"The historic landmark recently reopened with a new Interpretation Centre that relates the extraordinary episodes in the 2,000 year history of the castle. Being sculpted from cheese and hosting the Great British Cheese Festival are just the latest of these.”   

The Carmarthenshire Cheese Company was founded in 2006 by co-owners Steve and Sian Elin Peace, who have 25 years each of senior experience in the UK dairy industry.

The Dairy Farmers of Great Britain produces the Cadog premium range of cheese at its specialist creamery in Llandyrnog, North Wales, using traditional, award-winning methods.

 The Great British Cheese Festival takes place at Cardiff Castle on 27-28 September, and is one of the most prestigious events in the foodie calendar, attracted by the opportunity to indulge in the very best of British food & drink - from the ripest Stilton to the maturest Cheddar, the finest chutneys to the sauciest pies, plus an impressive array of beers, ciders, Perry and wines.

There will be numerous markets to explore, the chance to take part in tutored tastings, and even the opportunity to watch cheese being made.

Festival attractions include:

•   Britain’s Biggest Cheese Market - over 450 cheeses to try and buy
•   True Taste of Wales – a selection of award winning produce from the host country
•   Best of British Market – a diverse range of artisan and unusual fine food & drinks
•   Rare Essentials – specialist ingredients that can not be produced in the UK
•   The Cardiff Arms – offering over 35 British beers, wine, cider and Perry   
•   Masterclasses and Demonstrations – throughout the weekend there will be a lively programme catering for everyone from novices to  experts – see www.thecheeseweb.com for details and booking
•    Cheese Tossing, Cheese Skittles and Live Music

The other attraction for visitors is, of course, the city of Cardiff itself. Cardiff Castle is a neo-gothic treasure with 2,000 years of history, and the city is in the top five most favoured travel and business destinations in the UK with more hours of sunlight than Milan.

Cardiff is a designated 'Centre of Culture', with a showpiece multi-arts venue, the Wales Millennium Centre, and is renowned for its shopping, with big high street names and atmospheric Edwardian arcades.

The city centre is linked by water taxi from the Castle to the restaurants and bars on the vibrant waterfront of the regenerated Cardiff Bay.

The Festival is open to the public on Saturday September 27 and Sunday 28, and on Friday buyers will descend on Cardiff for a trade day, followed by the British Cheese Awards Dinner at the world famous Millennium Stadium on Friday evening, where the winners of this year’s awards will be announced.
 
The Festival provides a focal point at the start of British Cheese Week, September 27 – October 5. For details on the Great British Cheese Festival, visit www.thecheeseweb.com