Saturday 26 January 2008

Grandvewe Ewe Bewety

To celebrate Australia Day we'll be kicking back, watching the cricket and enjoying some good Australia Cheese and I found one that is just perfect for the day. Made by Tasmania's Grandvewe it is called...

grandvewe ewe bewety© by Haalo


Ewe Bewety!

grandvewe ewe bewety© by Haalo

When I saw the name I just cracked up - Australians and those that understand our vernacular should get a chuckle out of it - other people will just look at you strangely.


grandvewe ewe bewety© by Haalo

Ewe Bewety (You Beauty) is a vine wrapped sheep milk cheese - the sticker on the packet helpfully tells us that the moulds are normal and part of the maturation process. There's a pleasant smell of damp vine leaf - nothing overpowering in the aromas. It is about 9 days from peak maturation so I would imagine the moulding would envelope more of the external leaf as time passed.

grandvewe ewe bewety© by Haalo

To slice, it is a firm cheese, and you should be able to see a lighter coloured core around the centre of the cheese. This is a visually representation of the maturation process as cheese matures from the outside in.

We found the cheese to be quite creamy with a pleasant bite that you would associate with a blue or a vintage cheddar. It's best eaten without the vine leaf. We were most impressed with this cheese and it will certainly be on our cheese board again.

For those in Melbourne, this was found at Leo's Kew.

The details:
Cheese Maker: Grandvewe Cheese
Cheese Name: Ewe Bewety
Location: 59 Devlyns Road, Birchs Bay Tasmania
Open:
September - June: 10am-5pm, 7 days excluding Christmas day
July - August: 10am-4pm daily except Tuesdays
Web


Originally published here

Tuesday 15 January 2008

Barambah Organics Gold Hawk

My previous posting on Barambah Organics dealt with their butter, this time I've got hold of a very stinky cheese

Barambah Organics Gold Hawk Washed Rind© by Haalo


Cheese: Barambah Organics Gold Hawk Washed Rind

It's advisable to take heed of the message on the label
This cheese has a strong pungent aroma and is full of intense flavour.

The aroma is evident before you even open the package, breathe deeply and those mushroom notes will come flooding over your senses

Barambah Organics Gold Hawk Washed Rind© by Haalo


As you begin to unwrap it those scents start increasing

Barambah Organics Gold Hawk Washed Rind© by Haalo


Tinged with a saffron skin, this small rounds looks harmless enough but it one of the more potent washed rinds I've had

Barambah Organics Gold Hawk Washed Rind© by Haalo

As soon as you slice it and it begins to loose that chill from the fridge you are rewarded with a highly appealing oozing characteristic

Barambah Organics Gold Hawk Washed Rind© by Haalo

it's almost as if the cheese itself wants to escape it's heady skin

Barambah Organics Gold Hawk Washed Rind© by Haalo

Straight from the fridge there is quite a bit of ammonia on the nose so it will appreciate being allowed to come to temperature and these ammonia notes will dissipate over time.

If you are new to washed rinds, then I would advise against starting with this. If you like washed rinds but are unsure of this one, then take note that the more intense flavours are held within the rind and it's gloopy innards have a pleasant creamy bite to them.


Originally published here

Thursday 3 January 2008

King Island Discovery Blue Rolle

Way back in August (and boy does that feel like a long time ago) I posted about a cheese called Brie Rolle, today I feature its blue sibling.

King Island Discovery Blue Rolle© by Haalo


This is the King Island Discovery Blue Rolle

King Island Discovery Blue Rolle© by Haalo

The exterior is a little more furrier than the Brie, its skin was more papery. The main difference of course is inside.

King Island Discovery Blue Rolle© by Haalo

It's a firm blue without being crumbly and in the mouth, it is quite creamy with a pleasant blue bite. If I recall the blue rolle weighs in at around 110 grams - so even if no-one else but you eats blue it is small enough not to go to waste.

King Island Discovery Blue Rolle© by Haalo

It also sat very nicely on our Christmas Cheese Board!



Originally published here