Wednesday, December 5, 2012


World Cheese Awards Results

We are celebrating these great results from the World Cheese Awards in Birmingham England. Further proof that our artisan dairy industry is producing some of the worlds best cheese.  We are very proud to represent these wonderful producers.

Gold Medal


Locheilan Triple Cream Brie Ring
Cows MilkThis triple cream brie is formed in the ring shape and is packed in a domed container designed to allow the delicate white mould to develop. The ring shape aids maturation but also looks fantastic and is easy portioned for both food service or retail. The cheese is buttery, rich and savoury.


Silver Medals


Milawa Blue
Cows Milk
A soft blue cheese with a mild flavour enhanced by the restrained growth of delicate green/white mould. Originally based on a Gorgonzola Dolce style, the cheese has evolved in to an Australian classic.


Old Telegraph Road 'Fire Engine Red'
Cows Milk
Named in honour of the fire engines driven by the firemen who fought tirelessly to defend the Jindi Cheese factory in February 2009, Fire Engine Red, like the fire is powerful and at times challenging. The beige and white powdery rind that becomes orange as it matures is formed from the regular scrubbing of the cheese rind with Brevi bacterium linens. The cheese is matured in cool, dark and damp cellars where airborne yeast and natural flora contribute an extra flavour dimension to the cheese as it ripens.


Bronze Medals


Richmond Camembert
Cows Milk
Richmond Camembert is a traditional cheese made just outside Hobart. Starting life a little chalky, slightly salty and with a hint of mushroom flavour, this cheese will transform as it matures to a gorgeous gooey texture. There is milk, rennet and culture in Richmond camembert, and no stabilisers.


Milawa Goats Milk Tomme
Goats Milk
Milawa developed this cheese based on the European mountain cheese, Tomme de Chevre. It is made in a small barrel shape and aged in the Milawa cellars alongside washed rind, blue and white mould cheeses.Aging in proximity to the other cheeses causes the Tomme to develop a natural farm house rind. The semi hard interior is pale white in colour with a rich, nutty and savoury taste.


Milawa Mt Buffalo Blue
Goats Milk
This goats milk blue has a soft creamy texture and a mild restrained blue flavour. It is seasonally produced in small batches in the Spring and early Summer.

Milawa Capricornia
Goats Milk
Made from spring goat’s milk in a large 10kg wheel, the curds are cooked in the whey to produce a hard cheese. Aged in cellars along side the Blues, Capricornia develops a colourful array of moulds on it's rind while maturing for up to 24 mths.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Brisbane Cheese Awards

On Sunday 9 September a number of our cheese producers took part in the Brisbane Cheese Awards.  I am pleased to say that they did very well.






GOLD MEDAL WINNERS 2012

Locheilan Farmhouse Cheese
Fresh Curd Textured Category Locheilan Fetta
White Mould Category Locheilan Triple

By Eleni
Fresh Curd – Marinated Category Yoghurt Cheese Chilli
Fresh Curd – Marinated Category Yoghurt Cheese Oregano

Milawa Cheese Company
Washed Rind Category Milawa King River Gold
Semi Hard Cooked Style Category Milawa Tomme
Blue Mould Category Milawa Blue

La Vera Fine Cheese Producers
Cheddar Category Vintage Casalingo ‘Tasty’

Vannella Cheese Factory
Fresh Curd – Textured Buffalo Mozzarella

CUP WINNER 2012

By Eleni Yoghurt Cheese Lemon Pepper

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

New York Report - Russ and Daughters


This New York appetizing shop was one of my favourite food experiences in the city.  The store has been operating since 1914 and remains family owned.  You can read about the history of the Russ and Daughters and the traditions of "appetizing" stores on their website.
www.russanddaughters.com

A wonderful selection of smoked fish, creamed cheese and caviar.  All the smoked fish are hand sliced to order.
It's just down the road from the very famous Katz's delicatessen so you can compare the delicatessen and appetizing traditions side by side (although I am sure this is not kosher).  Interestingly the staff at Russ & Daughters are wonderfully helpful and friendly but at Katz's they are outright arse-holes.  It must have something to do with millions of tourists using the "I'll have what she's having" line from When Harry Met Sally.
Bagel with smoked sabel and salmon with creamed cheese.
Rye bagel with smoked salmon and creamed cheese.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

New York Report - Eleven Madison Park

A truly great meal at Eleven Madison Park.

Black and White Cookies to begin.  An upscale version of a NYC classic.








Bread, butter, salt.







Egg cream, another NYC classic.



Tuesday, July 3, 2012

New York Report - New York Pizza Pie

If you are a food nerd like me and you want to be with your own kind whilst in New York, I can highly recommend Scott's Pizza Tours.  Scott conducts the tours himself.  He has an incredible depth of knowledge and passion for the New York pizza pie.

In a short 3 hours we covered the history of this iconic food from it's first appearance direct from Naples in the coal fired ovens of Lombardi's to the modern deck ovens of Joe's Pizza in Greenwick Village.
Stops along the way included Bari where they still manufacture pizza ovens to this day, despite being in the heart of Manhattan.

Pizza is one of America's greatest cultural exports and this three hour tour got right to the heart of it.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

2012 EVOO Pressing Field Trip

Our annual field trip to the South Burnett Agricultural Company and Clovely Wines to press the first of the seasons EVOO.





























Beers on the bus back.