BBQ goes BB-Blue with Marco Pierre White's stilton burger

‘Perfect Stilton Burger’ brings pillar of British cuisine back from the brink.

Marco Pierre White has collaborated with Leicestershire's Long Clawson Dairy,

A legendary British chef is adding a twist to BBQs this summer with his viral ‘Perfect Stilton Burger’ that’s taken social media by storm and is reviving sales of the punch-packing cheese amongst Gen-Z shoppers.

Just over a year ago, the opinion-dividing cheeseboard staple was under threat due to declining sales, but now a series of Stilton-based recipes from Marco Pierre White that’s garnered almost one million hits on TikTok and Instagram is fuelling a blue cheese revival amongst younger shoppers who are experimenting with recipes that are going viral on social media.

Marco has collaborated with 1912 Stilton, from Long Clawson Dairy, based in Leicestershire and one of only five dairies in the UK allowed to make Stilton, which has a protected designation of origin (PDO). Named after the year the dairy started, Marco has developed recipes which also include a Stilton Butter for melting over steak, Cheese & Leek Gratin and Cheese Devils on Horseback. The artisan cheese maker is based in Melton Mowbray and is one of only five places licensed to produce Stilton in the UK.

His culinary creations prominently feature the brand’s heritage 1912 Stilton, which is named after the year the dairy was founded, and the company’s blue cheese sales have risen by 6% over the past year as young people discover its versatility in the kitchen and drive the social media craze to find new and innovative ways to enjoy it.

Marco’s shared passion for Stilton has also led him to feature the cheese in his restaurants and pubs, and his development of the range of delicious recipes showcasing 1912 have been created for food lovers to enjoy at home.

“Stilton is a pillar of British cuisine amongst the older generation who’ve grown up with it appearing on the Christmas or party cheeseboard, but it’s great to see younger food lovers appreciating the refined flavour of a great blue,” says Long Clawson Dairy MD Bill Mathieson. “The craze on TikTok and other social media platforms for recipes featuring Stilton is really driving sales; the King of British cheeses is having its moment again.”

1912 Stilton is made with the craft and care of master cheesemakers, with over 200 years of collective experience, and goes through a triple check process with the master cheese makers to ensure only the highest quality cheese.

Marco says: “What makes a burger delicious is what you put with it – the salad, the dressing, to make it that it little bit more special. I want the crunch and explosion of flavours in my mouth and that little zing of Stilton just takes it to another level, so don’t be afraid to experiment with it.”

TV food & drink influencer Aidy Smith recently used Long Clawson Dairy's 1912 Stilton in a series of savoury cocktails - another Gen Z trend that’s taken off on social media. Aidy, who co-founded the popular Three Drinkers show on Amazon Prime, is known for his multi-sensory mixology and created a blue cheese fat wash to update the classic Martini, Old Fashioned and Gin Sour. 

The dairy has also featured on the BBC’s Inside The Factory, when presenter Cherry Healey visited and worked alongside Master Cheesemaker Steve Smith to learn about the artisanal Stilton-making process.