It's that one day of the year Cheese Lovers can indulge in a feast of dairy. We've gathered up the troops in the form of Al and Elle and headed off to the Crown Casino.
For the last few years it's been held in the Palladium Room - it may seem a little empty at the moment but that changes very quickly. As part of the admission you are able to sample beers from Grand Ridge Brewery and Mt Langhi Ghiran wines - each ticket gives you 5 pours.
The photo above shows the Beer table and the Wine table is shown below.
But I'm not really here to drink - so lets get on to the cheese.
Hunter Belle
Hunter Belle from the Upper Hunter Valley produce cheese made only from the milk of Brown Swiss cows - you might recognise the cheese on the right as the Hunter Belle Goldenbelle I featured last month. On the left is the Camembelle and in the Middle is Bluebelle (Bluebelle is made from the Camembelles) - both are pleasant and quite mild.
This is Hunter Belle Belleyere their first hard cheese made in a gruyere style. After 5 months maturation they are only now being released on the market.
Also on tasting:
Hunter Belle Fetabelle
Hunter Belle Marinated Fetabelle
web: www.hunterbellecheese.com.au
Related Posts:
Hunter Belle Goldenbelle
By Eleni
Are a family operation based in South Hobart that use traditional techniques to produce a preservative free yoghurt cheese.
The range of Yoghurt Cheese in Olive oil comes in three varieties -
Chilli, Garlic and Rosemary
Oregano, Garlic and Peppercorns and
Lemon, Kaffir Lime leaves, cracked pepper and garlic.
This is the Lemon, kaffir lime leaves, cracked pepper and garlic version - I really like that flavour of the kaffir lime through this.
Yoghurt cheese is probably one of the easiest cheese to make and you can find out how to do it here.
Apostles Whey Cheese
Are located 15 minutes from the world famous 12 Apostles here in Victoria.
This is the Apostle Whey Grotto, a washed rind cheese. It may well have had it's lid removed but the rind is certainly very edible - the interior is deliciously creamy and just look at its wonderful butter colour.
Misty Moonlight Head (a blue) is offered in two ways - only one of which is for sale. A good bitey cheese according to Paalo.
Also on tasting:
Apostle Crumble - fresh cheese marinated in herbs and olive oil
web: www.apostlewheycheese.com.au
Woodside Cheese Wrights
This was one of the more popular tables, Woodside Cheese Wrights are based in the Adelaide Hills and produce both goat and cow milk cheese.
Woodside Cheese Wrights McLaren Camembert made from a mix of Friesian and Jersey milk - served on its side because it was extremely runny and perfectly ripe.
Woodside Cheese Wrights Edith is a French styled goat cheese that is first rolled in ash and then left to mature and form a white mould covering.
Woodside Cheese Wrights Blue Tongue uses a variety of moulds and yeasts to produce a semi-soft blue cheese - it's extremely creamy that balances nicely with the bite of the mould.
Woodside Cheese Wrights Figaro is a washed rind/smear ripened goat cheese that is wrapped in vine leaves. As it matures a rust coloured paste develops under the leaves.
Also on tasting:
Charleston - jersey milk brie style
Paisley Goat - semi hard goat with hints of blue mould
Related Posts:
Woodside Cheese Wrights Vigneron
Woodside Cheese Wrights Virgo
web: cheesewrights.com.au
Maffra Cheese Company
Maffra Cheese Company is located in Gippsland Victoria and makes cheese from its Holstein Friesian herd.
A pristine round of Maffra Glenmaggie Blue, it is made in a style of a young Stilton.
Maffra Cloth Aged Cheddar - probably its most known cheese, the cheese is ripened under its cloth wrapping. It is aged between 18 months to 2 years.
Maffra Farmhouse Brie is made in the Normandy style that breaks down to gives us that lovely runny characters.
Maffra Epicurean Fetta is marinated in a mix of garlic, chilli, peppercorns and canola oil.
Also on tasting:
Maffra Red Leicester
Maffra Wensleydale
web: www.maffracheese.com.au
Donnybrook Farmhouse Cheese
Donnybrook Farmhouse Cheese hails from Donnybrook in Victoria. They are a family concern that make traditional styled cheese from their own herd.
Donnybrook Pastorello is a blend of cow and ewes milk.
Donnybrook Chilli Cheese (shown at the front) is a chilli studded table cheese that has been matured for 2 months - it has quite the chilli kick to it. Behind it are wheelse of the Donnybrook Natural and Donnybrook Pepato.
Also on tasting:
Donnybrook Parmesan Cheese
Donnybrook Pecorino
Donnybrook Mascarpone
Donnybrook Baked Ricotta
web: www.donnybrookcheese.com.au
Alexandrina Cheese Company
Alexandrina is situated on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia and make cheese using the milk from their Jersey herd.
Encounter Bay Edam based on the Dutch cheese is nutty and sweet. It is aged between 6-9 months.
Mt Magnificient Gouda is available in plain and with caraway seeds.
Mt Jagged Mature Cheddar is cloth wrapped and aged between 9-12 months. It's creamy but with a good bite.
Alexandrina Vintage Cheddar is also cloth wrapped but aged between 15-18 months - it maintains that creamy texture but the flavour is wonderfully sharp.
Also on tasting:
Alexandrina James Flat Pepato - peppercorn studded Romano cheese
Jindi Cheese
A very popular stand and at one stage this is all I could take a photo of
Since we've all had copious amounts of Jindi cheese in the past we decided to taste their other entity - Top Paddock.
Top Paddock is located in Bena in Gippsland.
On the left, is Top Paddock Washed Rind Cheese and it is matured on seasoned timber and produces that characteristic orange rind while the Top Paddock Wine Washed Cheese is bathed in a mix of red wine and spices. It was quite interesting how strongly the grape flavour came through the cheese.
Top Paddock Jumbunna is quite a moist blue. They actually don't puncture the cheese but just allow the mould to form in the air pockets of this large curded cheese.
You don't really cut this cheese but rather spread it.
Also on tasting:
Jindi Brie
Jindi Classic Camembert
Jindi Triple Cream
Jindi Blue
Related Posts:
Jindi Supreme
web: www.jindi.com.au
Barambah Organics
Barambah Organics are based in Brisbane, Queensland and I mainly know the label from its range of Yoghurts and Cream.
Barambah Organics Fig Tree Paddock Double Cream Brie - it's thick rind houses a rich and creamy interior.
Barambah Organics Gold Hawk Washed Rind - pleasant and quite mild.
Also on tasting:
Barambah Organics Quark
Barambah Organics Feta
Barambah Organics Dumaresq River Cheddar
web: www.barambahorganics.com.au
Udder Delights
Udder Delights proved to be another popular stand but that wasn't too much of a problem as we know their goat cheese range quite well but took the opportunity to taste their cows milk brie.
Udder Delights Adelaide Hills Brie is made from Jersey milk - its rind has nicely developed mushroom notes covering a creamy interior.
Also on tasting:
Goat Curd
Marinated Chevre - marinated in fresh herbs and Adelaide Hills Olive oil
Goat Camembert
Oscar - aged ashed goat cheese pyramid
Related posts:
Udder Delights Chevre
Udder Delights Goats Camembert
web: www.udderdelights.com.au
Hunter Valley Cheese Company
I wasn't able to get individual pictures of cheese just this overview.
On tasting:
Branxton Brie - unstabilised cheese
Grape Vine Ashed Brie
Hunter Valley Gold Washed Rind
Pokolbin Smear Ripened
web: www.huntervalleycheese.com.au
Heidi Farm
Heidi Farm is now owned by National Foods but it still produces great cheese, most notably the Heidi Farm Gruyere which won this years award for Best Semi-Hard Eye Cheese and Heidi Farm Raclette which is this year's Grand Champion.
The best way to end our time here is with the wonderfully addictive grilled Raclette
There it is bubbling away...
As we take our leave, it's looking a lot more crowded
Other Cheese Makers at the Show:
Fresh Cheese Company
Mamma Lucia Mascarpone
Mamma Lucia Smooth Ricotta
Mamma Lucia Fresh Pecorino
Mamma Lucia Bocconcini
Mamma Lucia Fior Di Late
Mamma Lucia Pecorino
Mamma Lucia Pepato
Mamma Lucia Cilli
King Island Dairy
King Island Dairy Discover Ash Blue
King Island Dairy Stormy Washed Rind
related posts:
King Island Dairy Roaring Forties Blue
King Island Dairy Scrubbed Brie
web: www.kidairy.com.au
Tasmanian Heritage
Tasmanian Heritage Signature Camembert
Tasmanian Heritage Signature Blue
Maleny Cheese
Maleny Tilsit and Raclette
Maleny Brie, Camembert and Triple Cream Brie
Maleny Marinated Fetta
Maleny Club Cheddar
Maleny Le Blochon
web: www.malenycheese.com.au
Meredith Dairy
Meredith Dairy Goat Cheese in Extra Virgin Olive oil
Ashed Pyramids - goats milk cheese covered in ash
Caprini - baby goat cheese with white mould rind
Cargarie - younger version of the Caprini
Chevre - fresh goat cheese
Meredith Blue - available as a sheep or goat milk blue made in Roquefort style
Woodbourne - french farmhouse style ewe milk brie
Traditional Feta - made from sheep and goat milk
Fromage Frais and Fromage Blanc - creamy fresh curd
Pure Sheep Milk Yoghurt
web: www.meredithdairy.com
Milawa Cheese Company
Milawa Fresh Goats Curd
Milawa Marinated Chevre - marinated in a mix of chilli, garlic and herbs and grape seed oil
Milawa Blue - soft blue cheese
Milawa Gold - a full flavoured washed rind cheese
King River Gold - a mild washed rind cheese
Milawa Capricornia - hard goat cheese
Milawa Brie
Milawa Ceridwed - vine ashed and white mould fresh chevre, Loire Valley styled
Related Posts:
Milawa Goat Camembert
web: www.milawacheese.com.au
Red Hill Cheese
Misty Valley (Goat) - soft, white mould
Merricks Mist (Cow - Organic) - white mould
Bushranger Gold (Goat) - wine washed rind
Fingal Gold (Cow - Organic) - brine washed rind
Sensation (Goat) - wrinkled white mould, semi-matured
Arthurs Peak with Herb (Goat) - oregano coated goat curd pyramid
Related posts:
Red Hill Indulgence
Red Hill Sorrento Picnic
web: www.redhillcheese.com.au
Shaw River Buffalo Cheese
Buffalino
Smoked Buffalino
Buffetta - buffalo milk fetta style
Related posts:
Shaw River Lady Julia Cheddered Buffalo Cheese
web: www.shawriverbuffalo.com
Yarra Valley Dairy
Persian Fetta - cows milk fetta marinated in herbs garlic and oil
Chevre Medallions - goat cheese marinated in herbs and garlic
Yering - cows milk camembert style
Le Jack - white mould young goat cheese
Black Savourines - semi matured goat cheese in grapevine ash and white mould
Related posts:
Yarra Valley Dairy Gemello
Yarra Valley Dairy Grabbetto - Ashed and White Mould Goat Cheese
What an outstanding post! I absolutely loved every word and photo. Thank you for sharing it with us :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Truffle - it was a lot of fun to put together.
ReplyDeleteExcellent write up! And great shots. Now I know what you mean when you said that you had a cheesy weekend :-) I wish there was such a thing in Sydney...or maybe there is, but I'm not in the know.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nora - this show tours and starts off in Sydney then goes to Brisbane before finally coming here. The Sydney show is on in May and the Brisbane one in June so you'll have to mark your diary for next year.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good site to find out when the cheese shows are on
Australian Specialist Cheesemakers Association
Hi there Haalo. This is what I call a great cheesy weekend and some well explained post. I'll take one woodside cheese camembert please. I was melting with its picture. Have a great day Haalo.
ReplyDeleteH Rose, hope you are enjoying your day - oh yes, that woodside camembert was almost liquid, unbelievably good. You've picked well!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the amazing coverage of the range of food on offer in this wonderful food producing country, amazing quality.
ReplyDeleteWas there any cheese makers there? Be good to sense their pride in their product's being enjoyed?
Thanks Angus - just about every stall had cheesemakers or those associated with the production but it's not really an environment where you can chat to them - it's just way too crowded. They would be left in no doubt though that their cheese are enjoyed.
ReplyDelete