NEWSLETTER 04/2010

A fox and her goats
"I have my favourite goats," says Marianne Hermes. "There's Barbie, Bessie and, of course, my baby Sadie. You get to know them and their different personalities when you hand-rear them."

We're at Marianne's farm, Foxenburg, in Wellington. The farm's main output is a range of artisanal goats'-milk cheeses, but she also grows oyster mushrooms and olives, and produces certified organic olive oil.

Marianne is not only the owner, but also the cheese-maker, mushroom grower, and sometime midwife to her herd. She explains, "I bought the farm 10 years ago; before that I was a nursing sister. My medical background helps when I need to deliver the kids!"

Marianne talks easily about her farm and business, "Each dairy is different. The climate, pasture conditions, quality of the milk ... all these factors affect recipe development. Each cheesery will have unique cheeses. It's similar to how terroir affects the wine-making process and wine."
Read more

Are you a fan of Parmesan?

Well-known foodie Phillipa Cheifitz shares some recipes with us, using this sharp and savoury cheese from her book South Africa Eats, (Quivertree). Try her grilled brinjal and smashed olive pasta and her parsley pancakes with fresh asparagus and cheese.

WIN

This year, SA Cheese Festival fans are invited to taste, eat, drink and play as they discover a world of tastes in one place. Enter here to win one of 4 double tickets for Monday or Tuesday.

Win a hamper filled with goodies from Foxenburg Estate. Inside there will be different types of cheese, olive oil and olives. Enter here

Win one of five cheeseboards from River Woods. Enter here

News

Hell's Kitchen SA
Okay, so there isn't really a South African version of Gordon Ramsay's wildly popular reality show in the pipeline, but from 13 to 16 May local fanatics will be treated to the next best thing, when the often controversial chef stars in Cape Town's Good Food and Wine Show.

Wine ratings made digital
We shop online, we make friends online, we even plan our holidays based on information we find on the Internet. Why not also make informed decisions about the wine we drink?

Sunday Market in Kalk Bay
Make sure you head to Kalk Bay every third Sunday of the month - especially if you want fresh ingredients to knock up a winner of a Sunday dinner.

The buzz on coffee
True to its vibey reputation, the international coffee scene is picking up on two new trends. The first is the use of new and innovative coffee products, and the second is the consumption of speciality coffees.
Home-made ricotta cheese

Ricotta is not really a cheese, but rather a creamy curd. The whey left over from the cheese-making process is recooked to produce it. This process is also where the cheese gets its name from - ricotta literally means "to cook again" in Italian. The versatility of this cheese is what makes it special; it can be used for savoury dishes such as ravioli, or even for desserts such as tiramisu. The good news is that you can make it at home, even without the whey.

Ingredients
• 2 litres whole milk (cow, sheep or goats' milk)
• 1 cup Greek-style yoghurt
• 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt

In a large pot, bring the ingredients to a gentle boil for one to two minutes. Once the milk has curdled, remove the pot from the heat. Line a strainer with cheesecloth and place it over a deep bowl. Pour the milk mixture into the strainer and allow to drain for 20 minutes. Loosely tie the ends of the cheesecloth together and squeeze gently to extract excess liquid. You will be left with the ricotta in the cheesecloth.

Events

Crush on Constantia 2010
18 April
Garden party anyone? Get all dressed up for this rather grand affair at the The Cricket Oval at Constantia Uitsig wine estate and sip on fine wines and sample dishes from some of Constantia's favourite chefs

2010 SA Cheese Festival
24-27 April, Bien Donné Farm, near Franschhoek
This festival brings together cheese-makers and food artisans from all over the country and gives visitors the chance to taste, eat, drink and play in a relaxed yet festive atmosphere.
Bring the whole family and treat yourself to a day in the country surrounded by the most sumptuous eats and treats.

Oyster, Wine and Food Festival in Jozi
1-2 May
The Brightwater Commons will be awash with thousands of oysters at this festival. There are 24 000 of the delicacies to get through at this year's Oyster, Wine & Food Festival.

The Good Food and Wine Show
3-16 May
Bring along your autograph books - this year's show is sure to be a kicker. Gordon Ramsay makes his first appearance at the Show, and the rest of the line-up's not too bad either. International celebrity chefs including Willie Harcourt-Cooze, Anjum Anand, Eric Lanlard and Giorgio Locatelli will all be in attendance. 
an Inxcom product