By JO-MARIE BROWN
They say good things take time, and in the case of the largest unpasteurised cheese wheel ever seen in New Zealand, it has certainly been worth the wait.
The $700 Gruyere cheese, weighing a hefty 35kg, was imported from the small Swiss village of Gruyeres three weeks ago by Kapiti Cheeses, to help to celebrate the Festival of Europe.
Kapiti Cheeses managing director Ross McCallum believes it is the largest unpasteurised cheese wheel seen in New Zealand.
Also on display were two pieces of a $3500 Emmental cheese wheel for customers to sample.
"These are amongst the best cheeses you can buy in Europe so as part of the festival we wanted to give the New Zealand consumer the chance to try them."
Mr McCallum, who cut the Gruyere wheel down to size for Greenlane Foodtown customers to sample, said native Gruyere, made from unpasteurised milk, tasted quite different from its New Zealand-made counterpart.
"There's a difference and it's a difference we should celebrate.
"The raw milk gives this one a much greater depth of flavour."
The block took 17 months to mature and was made from 400 litres of cow's milk.
Gruyere has been imported from Switzerland for the past year following a change in food regulations - but Mr McCallum still believes that trying the traditional product is a novelty for many New Zealanders.
Customers such as Meadowbank's Anne Macmillan were so impressed with the Swiss version they promptly added it to their shopping lists.
"It's magnificent.
"To taste it fresh from a block like that is just a different taste experience.
"You don't get flavour like that out of the packets in the chiller."
The Festival of Europe continues. This three-week festival explores and promotes all things European, including business, art, cuisine, and fashion.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The HSBC European Catalogue Trade Show starts today with catalogues from organisations representing more than 10 European countries. The show runs until Friday at the NZ Trade Centre, Guardian Trust Building.
Netherlands NZ Business Assn networking meeting, Hyatt Regency Hotel, 5.30 pm.
The European Film Festival, Force Entertainment Centre, continues until Saturday.
Wheeling out the big cheese for Festival of Europe
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