Banon – cheap at twice the price

“Meadow, oyster, mushroom, butter!” my friend Bronwyn cried on tasting Banon, the small, mottled goats cheese that emerged from its rustic chestnut leaf and raffia wrappings on Saturday nights’ cheese board.  What a wonderful surprise for my guests that such a strange little package could hold so much taste and bring forth such a delighted response. Wrapped in chestnut leaves soaked in wine or eau de vie (Marc), Banon is a distinctive unpasturised AOC goats cheese from the infertile but sunny soils around the town of Banon in Provence. The chestnut leaves help it last the winter and as it … Continue reading Banon – cheap at twice the price

Wine and cheese tastings

Last night was the first time I added wine to my cheese board at Cheesy Bookclub and  the girls loved it! I’d tried a cheese and wine combo before inspired by Fiona Beckett’s post on her Cheeselover blog and wanted to share the revelation. Her pairing of Gewurtz, Munster and cumin seeds a) made me feel like a true cheese person, and b) was a sublime combination. A new turn on my journey as a cheese nerd – wine and cheese. But if I had a strong cheese to eat at the end of a cheese tasting, what would go … Continue reading Wine and cheese tastings

Goat versus cow – Over the moon

I was in the garden today when my friend Jenny bought in a pressie – two Over the Moon camemberts – one goat, one Jersey cow. And like me last week, she’d had a great cheese tasting experience. She’d been traveling down from Auckland and had stopped in at Over the Moon’s shop in Putararu. Over the Moon is boutique cheesemaking company in the heart of the Waikato.  Jenny ended up in their tasting room where, in her words, a lady sliced cheese after cheese for her to sample. She said she only went in to go to the bathroom! We … Continue reading Goat versus cow – Over the moon

Fresh goats cheese in the here and now

I’d read of fresh goats cheese in books but had never seen a New Zealand made one til I spied Over the Moon’s (OTM) offering yesterday at Moore Wilsons. Of course I had to try it. It’s plastic sachet didn’t inspire much excitement at first but it had won a 2011 Gold medal and came from Putararu-based OTM so I knew it would be good. And it was. Zingy with a definate bite, this is a simple cheese. I ate it spread on bread with a salad. It’s bright, white crumbly texture turned creamy on my tongue, and the lemony … Continue reading Fresh goats cheese in the here and now