Cheese and wine night? Been there, done that. Cheese and coffee morning? Now, that’s different.
The Australian Specialist Cheesemakers’ Association joins artisan drinks brands Mecca Coffee, Young Henrys, Four Pillars Gin and Cake Wines to bring Sydneysiders a new mini-festival called & Cheese (yes, ampersand-cheese), an entire week in June devoted to cheese tasting with a focus on drink pairings. Prepare to surprise your senses with seemingly disparate matches, like Pecora Dairy‘s washed-rind and a cup of joe.
Pecora’s Michael and Cressida McNamara will host the Coffee & Cheese event, pairing Mecca blends with five of their cheeses, from a nutty semi-hard pecorino to a young medium-bodied earthy blue.
“The fat and creaminess of cheese prepares your palate so that the oils and aromas of the coffee become more pronounced,” says Michael.
Cake Wines, meanwhile, will host a wine and cheese night, Young Henrys will pair beer and cheese, and Four Pillars will put on a Gin & Cheese evening.
Bookending the week are two cheeseboard masterclasses at Tramsheds on the secrets to creating the perfect cheeseboard. Finish the night with a glass of wine in one hand and a cheese knife in the other as you enjoy your masterpiece.
& Cheese, hosted by the Australian Specialist Cheesemakers’ Association, 31 May to 7 June. Tickets are on sale now.
