Little Yarns: Festive Fromage with Marcelle Barnett
Say Cheese – Adelaide, SA
In a special festive edition of Little Yarns, we’re simply chatting cheese. We sat down with longtime friend of LAF Marcelle Barnett, Purchasing Officer at Cheese Culture and Say Cheese (plus previous Little Yarn-er) to learn about the three kinds of cheese she’ll be stocking up on this holiday season, and what she loves to pair them with.
Image via Say Cheese.
The Cheese: Barossa Artisan La Dame Aged – 4kg
Marcelle says: This unique cheese is produced at Barossa Valley Cheese Co. in the heart of Angaston, using locally sourced goat milk. At around six months of age, we bring this cheese into our maturing room to continue the ripening for a few more months, resulting in a complex-flavoured cheese with a delicate floral aroma and creamy mouthfeel.
Serving suggestion: Fresh pear and a drizzle of honey.
Drink pairing: Sparkling wine.
Image via Barossa Valley Cheese Co.
The Cheese: Alexandrina Black Wax Cheddar – 5kg
Marcelle says: Located at Mount Jagged, family-run dairy and cheese factory Alexandrina Cheese Co. has been breeding their Jersey cows since 1973, and began making cheese in 2001. This vintage cheddar is aged for a minimum of 12 months, with the Jersey milk giving it a golden colour and rich buttery flavour, balanced by the signature sharpness of a well-aged traditional cheddar.
Serving suggestion: Little Acre Pork Rillettes and chutney.
Drink pairing: Chardonnay or a Summer Ale.
The Cheese: Coal River Farm Ashed Brie – 200g
Marcelle says: Coal River Farm is a family-run business in South-East Tasmania, producing hand-crafted cheese and chocolates. This brie contains a layer of ash in the centre as well as a coating on the outside, making it a striking addition to any cheeseboard. It has a mild mushroomy aroma, and an earthy, nutty finish.
Serving suggestion: Fresh grapes or Little Lenswood Flavour Co. Apple Paste.
Drink pairing: Crisp Pinot Gris or fruity cider.
Image via Coal River Farm.
When it comes to cheeseboard pairings, says Marcelle, it really comes down to personal preference. “This time of year is great because there is so much delicious seasonal fruit around – I will just pick whatever is fresh, ripe and in abundance,” she says.
She finishes with one final tip for serving cheeses when entertaining: “Everything should be at room temperature, however on hot days you probably only need to take cheeses out of the fridge 30 minutes beforehand.”
Thank you for your picks Marcelle – we can’t wait to tuck into some delicious cheeseboards this Christmas!
You can find all of the above cheeses, plus Little Acre pâtés, rillettes and terrines, at Say Cheese, stall 46 in the Adelaide Central Markets. You can also purchase other Little Acre accompaniments at the Willunga Farmers Market or your local stockist.
Feature image courtesy of Say Cheese.