Artisanal cheese shops (Affineurs) in Oz

[Wimpy]

Hi guys-

I cover Australia for my company based in Singapore (venture capital) and typically spend a week a month in Oz, hitting at least Melbourne and Sydney with an occaisonal side trip to Brisbane.

Can you point me to any specialist cheese shops worth going to for artisanal Ozzie cheeses? I've been the to basemend of David Jones, but nowhere else.

Thanks!

[Adam Balic]

Will Studd is Australia's Cheese guru (well he's English, but that doesn't matter) and has several outlets, both wholesale and retail. For details see the following link:

Will Studd

There are several small shops that sell cheese in Melbourne, but this may be a pain to go to them all. I would suggest visiting "The French Shop" in the Queen Victoria Market. They have a small, but excellent range of cheese and it is a good excuse to go to the market!

[Wimpy]

Thanks Adam. I've always been curious about the Victoria Market, unfortunately business keeps getting in the way of visiting them.

Off topic, do you also know where to get (retail) what would be the equivalent of USDA prime beef in either Melbourne or Sydney? Btw, I've tried the Vlados steak house in Melbourne and quite enjoyed their grassfed porterhouse!

[Adam Balic]

Thanks Adam.  I've always been curious about the Victoria Market, unfortunately business keeps getting in the way of visiting them.

Off topic, do you also know where to get (retail) what would be the equivalent of USDA prime beef in either Melbourne or Sydney?  Btw, I've tried the Vlados steak house in Melbourne and quite enjoyed their grassfed porterhouse!

Sorry, I have not idea. Vlados has his/there own herd of cattle that they get there beef from.

Queen Victoria Market is a 'must see' in Melbourne. It is also in the centre of town, so a pretty easy trip.

[bourdain]

Richard Thomas, Cheesemaker and Consultant

0411 551 951

e-mail cheese@netspace.net.au

[Wimpy]

Anthony-

Thanks for that tip. Might give them a call when I'm there again in March.

Enjoyed your books btw, Kitchen Confidential most of all. Just too bad I dont' get the Food Network here in Singapore to watch your continued struggle between the riches of Mammon and artistic truth....

[Heather]

I second the recommendation of The French Shop at Queen Victoria Market. The owner gets some pretty sexy stuff in. My all-time favourite was an Italian truffle-infused cheese that we shaved onto scrambled eggs. Simply luxury. Be sure to ask for Julie. She's cool.

Queen Vic is fairly accessible is you're doing business in the Melbourne CBD. Market opening hours: Tuesday (7am-2pm), Thursday (7am-2pm), Friday (7am-6pm), Saturday (7am-2pm) and Sunday (9am-5pm, Market open but French Shop closed). Jump on any tram heading up Elizabeth Street away from Flinders Street Station, and Queen Vic is the first stop after you pass McDonalds, which you'll see on your left. Tram ride is 3-5 minutes from corner of Elizabeth and Collins.

While you're at Market, check out I Shed--great organic produce at three different stalls. Vic Market Organics is my favourite.

[Niall]

the GPO cheeseroom at Martin Place and Simon Johnson (piermont, Woolahra, Castlecrag) are pretty good places for cheese in Sydney.

[polly]

Just have to second the recommendation of Richard Thomas.

He is an aquaintance from both family and restaurant circles, and is a very cool, interesting, knowlegable person and an amazing cheesemaker.

[butterchik]

Would like to add the Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder to the list - I've been out of Melbourne for two years but believe it is still going...I always found a great selection there.

[Tim White]

Now that Roquefort's back!!!!! Its worth talking about cheese again...

French Cheese - yep The French Shop at Queen Vic Market is one of the best - Julie is a star; Richmond Hill Cafe & Larder has changed hands but the cheese room soldiers on - probably the best retail cheese set up around Melbourne and a great range

Italian Cheese - you'll have to hunt these out. Apart from Taleggio, Parmesan, Grana Padano & Dolce Latte - hard to find. Try Maria's in Nth Carlton, Mediterranean Wholesalers (esp Sthn Italian cheese)

Oz Cheeses - frustratingly sold in lots of places but rarely looked after -what is it with the ubiquitous gladwrap! Probably the best place is Curds & Whey at the Queen Vic Market. Milawa Cheese also have an outlet on Nicholson St in Nth Carlton which stocks a lot of different local cheeses. I think the owner David Brown is the president of the Australian Specialty Cheese association.

Yarra Valley Dairy (in the Yarra Valley) has a good range (Persian Fetta??) and farm shops at Tarago, Milawa are pretty good

British Cheeses - oddly enough the French Shop again!

Spanish Cheese - Casa Iberica - but they only have a few. To get the really good stuff you'll probably have to ring the embassy

Other European cheeses - hit & miss

There are whispers of new cheese vendors setting up in Melbourne but regardless of that.. Will Studd seems to bring it in - Calendar Cheese Co & Fromagent

My favourite local cheese at the moment is Holy Goat (from Bendigo whey...sorry couldn't help myself). A great range of goat cheeses ranging from crottins to fresh curd; lots of lovely flavour, plenty of pong and some great affinage often described as ooze

Another benchmark cheese for me is Pyengana Cheddar (Tasmania) which when fully aged is divine. Real cloth matured cheddar with the whiff of barnyard and the crumble in the mouth.

Can't wait for Xmas - cognac fruit cake & Pyengana Cheddar!

[loiosh]

The cheese room at Silo, a bakery in Canberra, is small, but well-stocked. A couple of different cheese plates are usually available on the menu for breakfast and lunch as well.

[PCL]

Silo occupies a special place in my heart whenever I visit Canberra. The cheeseroom ain't that small for a restaurant!!

[Shinboners]

There's also that annual cheese tasting that the Australian Cheesmakers Association (or whatever they call themselves) holds.

IIRC, it's $20 or so, you get about half a dozen refils on your wine and you get to sample as much cheese as you like. Mind you, I haven't been to one for a few years, and there are far worse ways to waste an afternoon.

[Shalmanese]

Hrmm... The Australian Cheese Association has a list of certified sellers. Don't know how useful that is to you.

[Shinboners]

Thanks to Shalmanese's link above, it's the Australian Specialist Cheese Show.

$30 gets you unlimited cheese tastings and 5 wine/beer tastings.

I assume that it's always on around August, so keep your eyes out for it next year.