Father and daughter duo have re-branded Lawsons deli in Aldeburgh and opened a brand new deli in Southwold.
Cheese, cheese and more cheese. That’s what’s high on the agenda for two brand new delis opening in Suffolk this weekend.
Clare Jackson and her dad John Omerod will on Saturday officially open the doors to Slate in Aldeburgh (formerly Lawson’s Deli) as well as introducing Slate Southwold.
“I’m very excited about it,” said cheeselover and all round foodie Clare, who revealed more about the Southwold deli just ahead of the opening.
“The cheese fridges arrived yesterday. We’ve covered one wall in these so we can create a vertical display of cheese. And everything is slate themed. We’ve got slate flooring and the cheeses are presented on slates.”
Around 30-40 cheeses, sourced from Neal’s Yard Dairy will be available at any time, with Clare keen to find out exactly which fromages tickle the tastebuds of Southwold residents and visitors.
“We have some wonderful varieties including some goats’ cheeses we love. Sinoden Hill and Doorstone. And we’re very lucky that on Saturday Julie Cheyney is coming in for a tasting with her St Jude’s cheese.
“Each month we’ll have a cheese of the month. For December it’s going to be a classic British stilton from Cropwell Bishop. It’s made in Stilton country with pasteurised cow’s milk and is very creamy in texture, with blue veins running through it, which are developed during maturation. It’s a wonderful cheese not only for Christmas with something like a fruit cheese, but also it’s fantastic in cooking, in winter soups or salads, or an amazing cheese toastie.”
The ‘cheese wall’ will feature big names in farmhouse varieties such as Montgomery cheddar, Lincolnshire Poacher, Appleby’s Cheshire, Cornish Yarg and award-winning gouda-style Kern cheese from Lynher Dairies.
In the Aldeburgh shop its gorgonzola that’s been flying off the cheese counter. “We’ve been bowled over with how much everyone loves the gorgonzola,” said Clare. “It’s by far and away every single week our most popular cheese and we get through massive rounds. We don’t slice or wedge it, it’s scooped out into tubs and everyone goes mad for it. We’ve had emails from people asking if we’ll have it in stock on our first day!”
Stock will be similar across the two delis, with both being fed with homemade frozen ready-meals from the kitchen in Aldeburgh, and making their own soups, salads, cakes and more.
And the shelves brim with carefully selected gourmand delights to pair alongside cheese.
There’s an “incredible” maple syrup butter. A new range of Suffolk honey has been delivered. Bread in Aldeburgh comes from Pump Street in Orford. And in Southwold is sourced from Two Magpies Bakery, who are working with Clare to come up with a Slate bread for the shop – currently it’s looking to be Slate’s homemade chilli jam mixed with Montgomery cheddar.
“It’s very exciting because we’re also working with The Breadwinner. He supplies us with breads on Mondays and Tuesdays from his very small bakery in Reydon and he’s made the most fabulous rye and spelt seeded crackers and salt digestives for us. We stock his granola too.”
At Slate Aldeburgh customers can warm-up this winter with takeaway barista-made Monmouth coffee. While over in Southwold the deli will sell ground-to-order coffee by Monmouth and Butterworths of Bury St Edmunds, with a different ‘coffee of the moment’ to try every month.
Most excitingly of all, at this time of year perhaps, is the fact both delis will be offering fondue and raclette sets to hire, with all the cheese and dipping bread you need to get started available in store so you can relive memories of Alpine holidays and apre-ski!
“I have to mention as well, Sue Allen in Thorpeness just made us 100 Christmas puddings. We’ve had people ringing in worrying they wouldn’t get their Christmas pudding from her while we’ve been closed. They are amazing so don’t worry, we’ve got those in stock, and Christmas cakes, mince pies and hampers too.”
Bespoke hampers can be made up. Or how about giving away membership to the Slate cheese club this Christmas? A three month subscription of three cheeses with crackers every month starts at £75.
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