Talk & Cheese
Russell Smith is Regional Food’s editor-at-large covering all things cheese and dairy, but as a respected food judge he also covers a wide range of Australian food topics for our readers.
Regional Food Australia was the only Australian food and travel magazine that featured an extensive artisan cheese section. (See the print issues menu) Russell Smith is a respected Australian (and International) cheese judge who will offer regular posts and video that covers our Australian cheese makers, and talk about new varieties and industry trends. We’ll also update this section with other cheese stories we’ve collected.
***We have copies for sale of Neil Willman’s ”The guide to making your own cheese’ see here for details
See all Talk & Cheese posts. See a sample Post below.
And we think you’ll also enjoy Russell’s occasional series on… Australian Cheese Industry heroes.
Part 1. Neil Willman
Part 2. Heidi Farm Cheese
RNA launches school cheesemaking pilot
Queensland teachers Dagmar Ryan (Maleny-SHS) and Caroline Lawson (Benarkin-SS) with Russell Smith. Photo courtesy of the RNA
It is exciting to be involved in the food revolution that has been sweeping Australia for some time. The awareness, interest, understanding and participation of Australians in our evolving food culture is evident in the number and diversity of ‘eateries’, food publications, popularity of T.V. programmes with a food focus and the ever widening retail availability and choices.
In February this year I ran the second in a series of cheese making workshops for science teachers in Queensland, fostering the next generations knowledge and appreciation of the food we eat.
The venue was the Royal National Association (RNA) showground in Brisbane, with teachers coming from as far away as schools in Mackay.
The program started last year and is run by the RNA with the students cheeses being judged as part of the Royal Queensland Cheese & Dairy Show.
The response to the program has been enthusiastic. In it’s first year we judged 94 camembert cheeses from 10 schools and this year the number judged is likely to be around 200. A total of 40 teachers from 24 schools attended this year’s workshops with 13 schools on the waiting list.
By popular demand this year also saw the introduction of a blue cheese making workshop attended by those teachers who made camembert in 2010.
This innovative program, a first for Australia, has been so engaging for the teachers, students and organizations involved that I have now been asked by Dairy Australia to run a pilot program in Victoria and NSW this year with the intention of an Australia wide roll out over the next few years.
This is a win/win for everybody, the importance and quality of dairy farmers’ practices is appreciated, helping to strengthen the bridge between our rural and suburban communities. The skill involved in the creation of the final product is recognized, opening students eyes to career possibilities. The marketing people of course are happy to expose a whole new generation of consumers to the benefits of Australian dairy products.
And the excitement shown by the students as they learn about cheese is so rewarding to watch.
(See our edit of the ABC Landline video of a typical cheese making class).
Teachers Jill Allen (Trinity College) and Caroline Lawson at RNA class. Photo courtesy of the RNA