IT was the original fast food. Workers would chew on a chunk of cheese to keep them going.

But now cheese in all its vari-ous shapes, sizes and strengths is proving it deserves more of a place on the menu than just the cheese board. So much so, that there's now a cheese society who can bring you Stinking Bishop, Vintage Lincolnshire Poacher and Ribblesdale Buffalo direct to your door.

Kate O'Meara started the society after realising that many people interested in cheeses bemoaned the fact that without having to travel miles they couldn't find a particular item they required or a shop that stocked an adventurous range.

The concept of cheese by mail was born. At the lift of a telephone, The Cheese Society will dispatch cheese every weekday and, in many cases, offers a next day delivery service..

Kate said: " The British cheese industry is thriving to such an extent that new artisan cheeses seem to be appearing almost on a weekly basis - skilfully made and with bags of character and flavour - certainly giving their continental counterparts a run for their money!"

Regular seasonal "cheesey" recipe leaflets are available on request, using cheeses that are perhaps not generally widely known, but promoting the fact that cheese is the original "fast food", tasty, nutritious, and good for you!

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