Speciality Spotlight with Cheeses of Muswell Hill

We’re pleased to share the next edition of this year’s Speciality Spotlight series, highlighting some of our trade customers from across the country.

In our latest edition, we spoke to Morgan McGlynn, owner of Cheeses of Muswell Hill, an award-winning independent cheese shop in North London. At just 21 Morgan was Britain’s youngest female cheesemonger and is currently the resident Cheese Expert on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch. She is also cheese consultant for leading retailers and in 2017 launched her cheese wholesale business which now supplies some of the UK’s best delicatessens, farm shops, Michelin star restaurants and cheese shops.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your involvement with Cheeses of Muswell Hill?

At the age of 19 and for the last 15 years I have sought, cared for and loved hand-made cheese. I have been dedicated to bringing the best cheeses to as many people as possible and champion incredible cheese makers – we champion British producers but our love of cheese extends beyond these shores. We also import artisan cheeses from France, Italy, Spain and Holland. We source the best of the best and bring them directly to Muswell hill.

What does a typical day for you involve?

I will typically drop my puppy at day care and head straight up to the cheese shop, to get all the orders ready for shipping. Then, the cheese is delivered at about 9 o’clock so I will sort these out and make sure the shop is sorted and stocked for when the girls arrive. Then I will head to my office at the back of the shop and start the socials for the day – Tik Tok, Instagram and our blog. The afternoons are normally spent in meetings then serving in the shop before close.

Tell us a bit more about your recent book, The Modern Cheeseboard & the inspiration behind it.

For many years I have been creating cheese boards for parties and family and friends alongside the cheese shop. When Covid hit I found myself for the first time at home, on a to do list, being away from the shop for the longest time since I’ve had it and cheese boards were a creative outlet for me to keep busy doing something I really loved. I then turned this into a book with 45 boards, along with pairings and a how to guide to create the perfect board.

In the run up to Christmas, what are your top tips for creating the ultimate cheese board?

Christmas is a time to go all out with an impressive cheese boards full of amazing cheeses and sensational pairings. Start with your cheese – it is the star of the show after all. My cheese boards always start with a soft, hard, blue and a goats cheese. This covers all bases. Add a smoked in for good measure too. Then fill in the gaps with stunning charcuterie and amazing accompaniments like chutneys and pickles. Don’t forget crackers and bread and finish off with a beautiful garnish like rosemary to add colour and fragrance.

We would love to know what is your favourite cheese/topping with Peter’s Yard crackers?

At the moment, figs are incredible! So an Original sourdough cracker topped with Baron Bigod, fresh fig and honey! There is nothing better.

At Peter’s Yard, our ethos is all about taking time for the simple pleasures in life – tell us, what are your favourite pastimes?

I recently got married and I think more than ever having 150 people in one room that I love so much, eating good cheese, drinking wine and dancing! My heart was full.

Finally, what’s next for you in 2022 and beyond?

So we have some very exciting things in the pipe line for next year, but in the shop we are just getting ready for Cheesemas! Cheesemas is the best season of the year! Christmas in the cheese shop is so lovely as our shop is so little the queues go up to the top of the road, so we have dedicated staff that go up and down the queue while customers wait handing out cheese samples and mulled wine! It is my favourite time of year at Cheeses of Muswell Hill.

Find out more about Cheeses Of Muswell Hill here. Visit the shop at 13 Fortis Green Rd, Muswell Hill, London N10 3HP.