The Wallace and Gromit Cracking Free Cook Book
Feb 27, 2011
TV favourites Wallace and Gromit have become the latest “celebrity chefs” with the launch of a cracking new recipe book featuring their favourite cheese dishes. The book will be free to cheese lovers who purchase the new 200g pack of Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese from the end of February.
It is packed full of recipes that show the versatility of Wallace’s favourite cheese. Contributors to the cookbook include ‘Ladette to Lady’ celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager as well as Wensleydale’s own head chef, Danny Dixon.
The Wallace and Gromit cook book has been launched to mark the duo’s 15-year relationship with The Wensleydale Creamery in the Yorkshire Dales. Wallace and Gromit became synonymous with Wensleydale cheese in 1989 when, during the Oscar-nominated film ‘A Grand Day Out’, they land on the moon which is made of cheese but, much to Wallace's disappointment, not his favourite Wensleydale. In the next film, ‘A Close Shave’, Wallace’s new friend Wendolene adds to his disappointment by explaining she doesn't like cheese, ‘not even Wensleydale’.
Nick Park, the creative genius behind Wallace and Gromit, did not realise at the time that his innocent references to Wensleydale cheese would help save The Wensleydale Creamery and help turn it into one of the most important employers in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. In 1992, The Creamery's owners, Dairy Crest, signalled its closure, but then agreed to sell the business back to managers at the dairy. The new owners turned around the fortunes of the dairy and Wallace and Gromit helped make Wensleydale cheese a staple Yorkshire product for chees-lovers nationwide.
Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese is now in the final stages of an application to the European Union for protected food status, to ensure the provenance of the cheese can be guaranteed and that shoppers know that the Wensleydale they buy is produced in Yorkshire by Yorkshire people. The Wensleydale Creamery now produces over 2,000 tons of Wensleydale cheese each year and, when the farmers, tanker drivers and people employed at its factory and visitor centre are included, the company accounts for over 1,000 rural jobs in North Yorkshire.
David Hartley, Managing Director of Wensleydale Dairy Products, said: 'Wallace and Gromit's recipes prove that Real Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese is a versatile, tasty and nutritious product which can be used as a snack, main course or pudding”.
“They played a key role in helping save The Creamery that produces the iconic British cheese. Its Yorkshire heritage dates back more than 1,000 years and the association with Wallace and Gromit has contributed significantly to its success in more recent times.”
Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit said: “It’s wonderful that Wallace & Gromit’s association with The Wensleydale Creamery has flourished for so many years and I’m delighted they’ve at last joined the exclusive list of celebrity chefs with their own cookbook. It’s grate!”
The new 200g packs also herald a completely new design of pack as part of the £1m brand relaunch. Mr Hartley said: “The introduction of the specially designed recipe book that can be redeemed against a pack of our Real Yorkshire Wensleydale is a great way to launch the new style of packs to our loyal customers and to many new ones too.”
Click here to watch the launch video
