From Rock Star to Gentleman Farmer & Cheesemaker: Alex James (Blur)

While Damon Albarn keeps himself busy with Gorillaz and other projects, fellow Blur member Alex James has reinvented himself as a gentleman farmer and cheese maker. It was brought to my attention by Polly Vernon entertaining piece How Alex James became a very big cheese in the country in the November Edition of Observer Food Monthly, one of my favorite food related reads for the quality of its writing and sense of humor.

After moving to a farm in the Cotswolds and settling down, he counts around 400 sheep on the property and a year ago while renovating one of his barns met a local cheesemaker, Roger Crudge. From the encounter came the idea of turning the renovated barn into a 'fromagerie'.

They are currently putting the finishing touches to their first release, Geronimo a soft cheese named after our rock star's oldest child.

Will the cheese be also distributed in record stores?

I do not know if the cheese's name has anything to do with the Geronimo Stilton kids book series.

In any case, it shows that there is always hope!