Off we trotted to the Brewery Tap on Wednesday as they were hosting the Homage2Fromage event.
I’ve seen it before, but hadn’t actually had time to join in and book. So I purchased my tickets on Eventbrite for me and my husband to go along… This one in particular because it was Italian cheeses this time and we were intrigued to see what would be on offer. (Italian husband)
You can get a drink beforehand as you wait, then when the event opens at 7pm you are welcomed and ticket checked by Elly, taken to your table by Gareth in your group (couples, friends and singles on our table) before the introduction. You can also grab a drink during the event from the private little bar inside the event room. P.S. Thanks to the bar staff (Emily).
There was a long table with eight different cheeses laid out among grapes, crackers, chutney, olives, chilli jam, honey, onions, and finally a table on the side included crackers, French baguette bread, celery and margarine spread.
On your table is a plate with numbers and a form to fill out if you want to. This form includes your perception of each cheese that you taste; its texture, its aroma, its flavour, and you can give it a score, as well as trying to guess what the cheese is.
Your first round is the blind tasting – you are invited up to take a thumb-sized piece of cheese so you can get the taste. Add the accomplishments if you want, or save them until everyone has been – as you can go for more of your favourite picks once everyone has collected their tasting pieces. ( clever, no wastage)
We enjoyed the evening working our way through the cheese tasting and discussing it with those on your table to see whether you are able to guess what it is. After everyone is finished and just before 9 o’clock, Gareth read out the tasting notes to see whether anybody guessed what it was, whether they liked it, what they thought about it and its tasting notes. Tonight was an extra funny description because of the names; which may occur, whether they are Italian or German or French and you don’t know the pronunciation, but the good thing is we had a laugh in a good company of people we didn’t know. You are given a copy of the tasting notes to take away with you.
First up was Tomaso Maccagna from Piedmont, followed by soft Gorgonzola Dolce, Camembert di Buffala made from buffalo milk, Raschera from Piedmont with both goat’s and sheep’s milk added, Teleggio from Lombardy, Occelli al Barolo from Piedmont made in in vineyards, Nero Fume from Oderzo crused with Lapsang Souchong Black Tea and finally, CacioCavallo a stretched curd cheese from Puglia.
Out of all the eight cheeses on the tasting table tonight we managed to get just one right (hahahaha). We had never heard of some of the others. Some were bland, some were exceptional – a very nice mix of mild, strong, veined, hard and soft cheeses, so you get a great variety.
The next events are on the 1st of October and the 3rd of December and it is limited seating. So if you’re interested, book now.
See you at the next cheese event.
