• Coinga Mahón-Menorca cheese wheels from Menorca, mature, semi-mature, and tender served at El Pirata tapas bar in Mayfair London

    BEST SPANISH CHEESE AT RESTAURANT MAYFAIR

BEST REGIONAL CHEESE AT EL PIRATA LONDON TAPAS BAR IN MAYFAIR

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We take great pride in our suppliers, and this week we celebrate regional cheesemakers, Coinga cheese, who supply us with our specialist Mahon cheese from Mernorca.

The coinga cooperative was founded in 1966 on the initiative of a group of small-scale dairy farmers who joined forces to produce Mahón-Menorca cheese under a single brand: COINGA (Cooperativa Insular Ganadera, Island Livestock Cooperative in English). Today, 50 years later, the Cooperative has around eighty associated estates (farms) throughout Minorca, providing around 150 direct and indirect jobs. Coinga are unique in that they are still firm believers in the value of supporting small, family run dairy farms, who have always been central to the Menorcan way of farming.

  • Close-up of Coinga semi-mature Mahón cheese showing smooth, shiny interior and buttery texture

    THE TRADITION OF MAHON CHEESE

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    It began almost a century ago in Menorca, when islanders would trade items in exchange they would for fresh cheeses that the farmers brought to their houses.

    To store the cheeses, the islanders kept them in caves where they would mature in a unique way, giving them a beautiful buttery, salty taste. Their careful techniques made famous Mahón cheese, and helped to make it a sought-after export- to this day, one of the biggest Spanish cheese exports continues to be Mahon cheese.

    Cheese Wine Tapas Bar Restaurant Mayfair London

    A firm favourite with families, Coinga’s semi-mature cheese is matured for between 90 and 120 days. Its lactic flavour is sophisticated and lingering, with hints of butter and toasted dried fruit and nuts. The buttery texture makes it easy to cut, revealing a smooth, complete and shiny surface. This is the most versatile of all the Mahón cheeses, and is perfect for tapas, grilling au gratin, serving on toasted bread with tomato or the classic Balearic Island speciality on toasted bread accompanied by sobrasada sausage and honey. An absolute must on any Spanish cheese platter.

    Why not purchase some from our online shop? Perfect paired with a Rose or our Gran Fabien.

    • Coinga cheese selection at El Pirata, best Spanish tapas restaurant in Mayfair London
      El Pirata serving the best Spanish tapas, a top tapas bar and Mediterranean restaurants in London since 1994 superb group party room Mayfair.
      CONTACT

      5 – 6 Down Street,
      Mayfair, London W1J 7AQ

      Get Directions

      020 7491 3810
      dine@elpirata.co.uk

      GETTING HERE

      Hyde Park Corner Station (5-minute walk)
      Piccadilly Line

      Green Park Station (5-minute walk)
      Piccadilly, Jubilee, and Victoria Lines

      Victoria Station (15-minute walk)
      Victoria, District, and Circle Lines / National Rail

      OPENING HOURS

      Tuesday to Saturday
      12pm – 10:45pm

      We are open for indoor
      and outdoor dining.

      Closed bank holidays.

      El Pirata serving the best Spanish tapas, a top tapas bar and Mediterranean restaurants in London since 1994 superb group party room Mayfair.
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      El Pirata serving the best Spanish tapas, a top tapas bar and Mediterranean restaurants in London since 1994 superb group party room Mayfair.
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