Mummy Ask and I just returned from a weekend course in cheese making as part of the Tasting Australia Festival. As you may know we recently lost a loved one so it was great to have a road trip and learn a new skill.
The cheese making course was held at Patricks of Coonawarra winery and taught by cheese maker Matthew Allsopp from Limestone Coast Cheese. Matthew was an amazingly patient teacher, taking us through the making of quark, ricotta, fetta, haloumi, camembert, blue and a hard cheese!!! There were around 20 of us attending the course. We were a diverse group in terms of age and vocation; some people were local and the rest from the Riverland, Adelaide and other towns on the Limestone Coast. For those of you with no cheese making experience, there are lots of times where you must wait, watch and be ready for the next step. Matthew says that these times would be used for clean up in the factory but we were supplied generously with his cheese and lovely Patricks wine. When I say generous, I mean generous! Nothing like trying to suck in a new skill after a few glasses of delicious wine. We were the first group Matthew has taught this way but I believe more classes may be in the works. And if we get the hang of this at home, you can expect a tutorial in a few months.
Now I’m sure you would like to know what gourmet delights we indulged in whilst away but I can only tell you that after eating lovely Limestone Coast cheeses we headed to our cottage and sat on the porch with a bottle of Patricks Mother of Pearl bubbles and a Sauvignon Blanc. We had planned to dine at Hollicks (the menu looked great) but were too stuffed full after our cheese making.
We stayed in the town of Penola in the absolutely amazing Davidson Cottage, a National Trust cottage in Petticoat Lane. It was like being in a biscuit tin picture with every amenity you could want – perfect for a quiet lovers weekend. On arrival we found a loaf of homemade bread and fresh eggs from Leollas chooks. The artworks by Dagny Strand in the cottage are for sale and Mummy Ask purchased a large one that will be sent up to her in a few weeks. The cottage is run by the wonderfully kind Leolla and Jill. Heads up to vintage lovers, Jill runs a fascinating and very worthwhile vintage shop in the next cottage.
On our first night, we wandered over to the cottages opposite, which we open as historic exhibits. Mummy Ask had her little dog Fang in her arms and I had a glass of Kidman Sauvignon Blanc in hand as we wandered right through the cottages and into the National Trust herb garden. In the garden we found a true treasure in Kate Spencer and her friend Oscar the cat. She tireless works in the garden to provide herbs and vegetable for the public and asks a donation for the National Trust in return. We had long, warm conversations with Kate over our stay and she told me of the financial ruin facing the National trust and as I am an avid history buff, you will see a post on this soon.
I can say that every person I met was a wonderful, interesting and kind person and I cannot recommend it enough. And I can tell you the cheese and wine is out of this world!
2 Comments
Thanks Sarah, it was so nice to meet you both and the delightful ‘Fang’
Kind regards Leolla & Jill
It was a wonderful weekend! And I certainly enjoyed all the things you both enjoyed. I am glad you managed to meet Kate, she is an abolute treasure and I love her to bits. Next time you return to our region please make time for Hollicks (seeing as both my daughters work there)
I think I’m still recovering from all the cheese I ate and the wine I drank.