::| BRISBANE'S BIG CHEESE BITE |::

Australia’s most comprehensive two-day cheese extravaganza began
with the third Brisbane Cheese Awards on Saturday, June 14.

The 2008 awards recognised cheese excellence for cheese producers and Brisbane’s Big Cheese Bite the next day (Sunday June 15) celebrated
the outcome of the awards, showcasing their cheeses to a cheese-loving audience who can taste and compare an array of gold medal-winning cheeses.

At the awards, Master Judge, Ian Roberton,
from the Australian Specialty Cheesemakers’ Association presided over a panel of 25 judges at Royal on the Park where they tasted around 300 cheeses in 10 categories.

The 2008 winners are:

GOLD MEDALS

> Fresh Curd - Soft (Mascarpone, Cream Cheese)
Milawa Goat Curd, Meredith Ashed Chevre

> Fresh Curd - Textured (Fetta, Bocconcini)
Udder Delights Chevre, Olympus Fetta

> Fresh Curd - Matured (Crottin, Cabecou)
Woodside Edith, Woodside Masquerade

> Fresh Curd - Marinated (Sample will be judged on the cheese, not the marinade)
Yarra Valley Goats Medallions, Meredith Goat Cheese

> White Mould (We are looking for ripening through the action of the white mould)
Locheilan Kaarimba Soft, National Foods - Heritage Signature Camembert, King Island Loorana Brie

> Blue Mould (Blue mould presence will be critical for judging)
Udder Delights Adelaide Hills Blue, King Island Endeavour Blue, Gallo Dairy - Gallozola

> Washed Rind
Woodside Vigneron, Woodside Pompeii, Witches Chase - LI Washed Rind

> Cheddar (Cheddar, Red Leicester Cheshire Style)
King Island Cloth Matured, Witches Chase Caerphilly

> Semi Hard Cooked Style (Gruyere, Tilsit)
Fromart Appenzell, Hunter Belle Belleyere

> Hard Cooked Style (Parmesan, Romano)
Milawa Capricornia, Dairy Farmers - Mil Lel Parmesan

TROPHIES

> Primary Industries Cup for Champion Cheese
Fromart Appenzell

> Department of Tourism Regional Development and Industry Cup
for Best Queensland Cheese
Fromart Appenzell

> Palatable Partners Cup for Best Blue Vein Cheese
Bangalow Cheese Byron Bay Blue

> Black Pearl Epicure Cup for Best White Mould
Hunter Belle Camembelle

> Rosalie Gourmet Market Cup for Best Cheddar
King Island Dairy Black Label Cloth Matured

"Queensland's cheese industry has matured, with state entries collecting the top trophies and gold medals at the Brisbane Cheese Awards."
David Costello, The Courier-Mail, 15 June 2008

Click here to see the full article.

The 2008 judges were:

Alison Alexander Food Consultant

Russell Armstrong Sea Salt @ Armstrongs

John Arnold Dept Tourism, Regional Development and Industry

Christine Ashby AB Cheesemaking (UK)

Jim Buhr Black Pearl Epicure

David Costello The Courier-Mail Good Life

Colin Cunningham Colin James Fine Foods

Jean Cunningham Colin James Fine Foods

Fiona Donnelly The Courier-Mail Good Life Editor

Jane Green Black Pearl Epicure

Babak Hadi Black Pearl Epicure