Here’s a turn-up for the books. A few people told me this week that they actually look forward to my blog and they enjoy reading it (nobody was forced to say this, I promise), and - brace yourself - I even had a couple of new visitors to the shop; they had read my blog and just popped in to say hello. Imagine that! Fame at last. I’ll try not to let it go to my head, but if you see me wearing sunglasses behind the counter, well, you’ll know why!

Naturally, this outpouring of goodwill has inspired me to keep going. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even finish that novel I started 15 years ago. (Then again, maybe I’ll just start another one and not finish that either. We all have our talents.)

Now, onto important matters: Cheese. Last week’s Saturday tasting seemed to go down well – who’d have thought that giving away amazing tasters of local ‘Waterloo’ cheese would be popular? This week, we’ve got something almost as special: ‘Green Thunder’ from the Snowdonia Cheese Company.

What is ‘Green Thunder’ I hear you ask. Well, if you have ever had Black Bomber Cheddar; it’s that – but made with Garlic and herbs to add extra flavour. And if you haven’t ever had Black Bomber, you have really missed out. It is the most delicious, proper mature cheddar; fresh, smooth, creamy, sensationally savoury.

So, imagine your favourite Cheddar, infused with roasted garlic and garden herbs, wrapped in an emerald-coloured wax that makes it look like a precious jewel (if precious jewels were edible and delicious melted on toast). Also, it goes brilliantly with a dry sparkling wine or a good Malbec (or any red with tannins that cut through the sharpness of a good cheddar). 

Anyway, free tasters will be available on Saturday all day, and honestly, what’s better than free cheese? (Answer: very little. Maybe a lie-in. Or discovering a tenner in an old coat pocket. But even then, it’s close.)

Other Important News: Free Stuff and Festivities

Speaking of free, there’s a Lunar New Year celebration happening on Sunday 9th in Market Place. There’ll be performers, singers, and a dancing lion bringing good fortune and chasing away evil spirits (though I can’t promise they’ll be able to do much bout that strange neighbour of yours). Plus, you’ll find traditional Chinese calligraphy, artists, and lots of other activities relating to the New Year.

Oh, and free parking in the Council car parks. That’s right - FREE PARKING (I’d put that in flashing neon if I could.)

If you’re in town, Phil’s Good Food will be open from 11am to 3pm, so pop in and say hi. Maybe even grab some cheese. You know you deserve it.

Romance and Responsibility

February also brings us Valentine’s Day, which offers you two opportunities:

1/ A chance to impress your significant other (or potential significant other).

2/ A chance to completely forget about it and be in the dog-house all week.

Avoid the second scenario by getting ahead of the game: come and see us, make up a hamper with their favourite things, or grab a romantic ready-made hamper, a bottle of wine, chocolates, some local beers, or a lovely bottle of local gin. Then, nip next door to Wild Card for, well, a card. It’s so easy, and you’ll make Romeo (or Juliet) look like they weren’t even trying.

If free cheese, free parking, lunar celebrations, and not being in the dog-house aren’t enough of reason to come to town, then here is the next reason in my series ‘Why Shopping Locally is not just a Good Thing, but a Necessary Thing’

Reason 2 for Shopping Locally: The Local Multiplier Effect and Fiscal Localism:

Sounds complicated, but it’s basically this - when you spend money locally, it stays local. Studies show that for every £1 spent at an independent shop, around 50p is recirculated within the local community. That’s money supporting other local businesses, local jobs, and your town as a whole. The more we do locally, the better things get.

When you spend online, that money doesn’t just leave the local community - it packs its bags and heads off to the City, or worse, it hops on a plane, and sets up a new life somewhere far, far away. Probably with a hedge-fund manager in the US, or in a Chinese factory, or in a huge villa in a tax-haven. It’s gone. It’s not coming back. Meanwhile, your local shops are here, keeping the lights on, waiting for you to pop in and say hello. ‘Nuff said!

 That’s All for This Week

Until next time - here’s to cheese, love, and finding a free parking space on the first try.

Oh, and let’s hope we can enjoy the rugby this weekend – C’mon England!

Take care and Have a great week !

Cheers!

Phil

Phil’s Good Food in Wokingham, 2-4 Broad Street, offers a range of high-quality, ethically sourced products, from local honey to world-class cheeses, indie beers, wines, chocolates and much more. Our beautifully curated hampers make the perfect gift, or you can handpick your favourites, and we’ll create a bespoke hamper just for you!

We don’t deal in mass-produced plastic nonsense!

www.philsgoodfood.co.uk

#shoplocal

www.philsgoodfood.co.uk