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Say cheese

Photo: K. Ananthan

Delicious Cheese varieties

It was an interesting evening at the Cha Bar in Oxford Bookstore. Tina and Mansoor Khan were there to do some cheese talk generally, and about their brand Acres Wild, that is homemade by them in Coonoor.

The event was extra special because it was not all talk (lively as that was). The Khans had brought along a selection of their cheese for everyone to sample and it went down really well. Tina makes hard cheese like Gruyere, Gouda, Caerphilly, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Parmesan and a delicious smoked Gouda. The were served with crackers, croutons and a selection of fruits. She had also brought along some truly inspiring soft cheese — Indian Summer, caraway cheese, celery, herb and garlic and pepper top.

The Khans were at pains to point out that theirs was a small set up and their aim was to make just that much that could be sustainable. They had absolutely no intention of turning their labour of love into a big business venture. In fact Tina made it a point to explain how cheese making for her was part science and part art and she was usually unable to predict how her cheese would turn out! So, if one batch of her Gouda tasted different from another, then it was to be accepted.

That was spoken like a true cheese aficionado as cheese masters the world over say that it would be a tragic day if the cheese was made to taste exactly the same every time!

The herbs that flavour the Acres Wild cheese is grown on their farm. And, efforts are underway to make the entire operation completely organic. The Khans have their own cows that are allowed to roam and graze freely on their farm.

And they are milked and the milk turned into cheese the old fashioned way mostly, with some innovative help from Mansoor in using technology without taking away from the home-grown characteristic of the cheese. They had only just begun to experiment a bit. The batch of smoked Gouda they had brought along was one of their delicious experiments. Tina swears she couldn’t have done it without her cheese-loving cyber friends, from whom she got a lot of invaluable tips and encouragement. For the cheese lovers present it was an opportunity to share their experience with cheese and also a chance to exchange notes and recipes and the best serving ideas. Quiches, dips, cheesecakes, pizzas, bakes and fondues figured prominently in the conversation!

For cheese lovers in the city, Acres Wild cheese will be available at the Oxford Bookstore. For details call 0422-4204804. It is also available at the R.S Puram outlet of Nilgiris

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