If you are an online visitor to our shop that stays in the USA or Canada, then please visit the Cheese Making Shop at https://Cheesemaking.Shop to buy local cheese ingredients and other supplies.
Browse the site for rennet, cheese cultures, yoghurt cultures, cheese cloth, calcium chloride and more!
Thank you to another wonderfully varied group of people! We had representation from Thailand, Zambia and Zimbabwe, besides locals traveling from as far as Johannesburg!
If you are interested in attending a cheese making course, please contact Elaine on info@cheesemaking.co.za for upcoming dates and venues in South Africa.
LEON
“THE MILKMAN” AND ELAINE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN’S CHEESE COURSE
On the 4th March
2019 Elaine mailed the following:
“From
this year it seems that people are inundated with too much info. We get people
commenting that the course seems too difficult for them or that it seems too
simplistic and they do not think that they will learn anything….”
I
attended this cheese course. I had never made cheese before. The urge to make
cheese was induced by 4 glasses of wine and it seemed a pretty good idea at the
time! I immediately did nothing. Talked about it. Thought about it. Did
nothing. Basically, I was afraid I would embarrass myself. I envisaged a room
of cheese making fundi’s all talking cheese techno and having fun. At the
expense of my ignorance. My wife had just about enough and enrolled me on their
course.
ABOUT
THE COURSE…
Yes
– 2 days of fun and friendly people. Nobody laughed at my silly questions or
sometimes lofty, opinions. The course manual is 92 pages long and I defy anyone
to memorise it in 2 days!
The
course is subtitled “CREATING THINKING CHEESE
MAKERS”. So the challenge is to think. The manual has 2 facets. Facts about
making cheese, milk, cows, components etc and then practical recipes, which you
do along with Leon in class. So think when you attend – you can swot as much of
the facts about cheesemaking AFTER the course. Pay particular attention to the
practical side because your teachers will not be there in person when you make
your fist cheese! This approach clears your head and allows you to leave
properly informed and reasonable confident.
ADVANTAGES
OF DOING THE COURSE WITH LEON AND ELAINE
You
are immediately included on a WhatsApp group with Elaine and your peers. You
can ask questions from Elaine which are answered lightning quick and you can
see how your group peers are fairing – share their successes and learn from
their failures
You
have access to Leon’s vast knowledge too
Your
cultures and equipment can all be purchased on – line from their site.
Deliveries are charged at reasonable rates and super quick – 2 days!
Your
manual is an incredible tool and gives far more in depth help and information
than most “recipe books”
If
you purchase the starter kit, along with the manual you are off to a good start
DISADVANTAGES
OF DOING THE COURSE WITH LEON AND ELAINE
Frankly,
I can’t think of any…
OKAY
– WHAT TRANSPIRED WITH ME AFTER COMPLETING MY COURSE…
I
made my 1st cheese, Feta, which I flavoured with coriander and red
chili – an unmitigated success that gave me a huge rush of pride and
enthusiasm! You simply have no idea how good it felt!
I
made my second batch and created rubber that Goodyear would have given me a
medal for. I stored the self pity and self rejection and Mailed Elaine. She not
only told me what I had done wrong but how to fix it. Enthusiasm back on track.
I learned my most valuable lesson as a cheesemaker – THINK!
Within
3 months my creamery, Kokerboom Kaas was born and I had Yoghurt waxed along
with 17 different cheeses. No Cheddar, no Gouda. My milk costs R8-50 a liter so
10 liters yields 1kg of cheese. You can buy Cheddar for R70 / kg. The cheeses I
make are not easily found – in the style of Stilton, Camembert, Manchego,
Gruyere, Caerphilly to name a few. I have several signature cheeses that I
“invented” that are unique to me. I supply restaurants and walk in clients
wanting cheese tasting.
There
is no pretentious equipment in my cheese room, save for my fridge. I convert 15
liter batches of milk into various cheeses daily.
Reading
recipe books and watching You Tube demonstrations suddenly made sense. Using the “thinking” concept, a whole new
world of creativity has opened.
THE
BOTTOM LINE…
I
am a very average person. I listened to
both Leon and Elaine intently during the course – they are fantastic. If they
were not, how could I be doing what I am with cheese in a mere 3 months?
This
is your chance – subscribe to their course now!
Thanks to all participants – we had a great time with you all!
Richard came all the way from Zambia and Oom Jurie was our oldest attendant at 78. Thank you Braam for bringing your Dad for such a great Father’s Day gift 🙂
Thank you, Travelstart – for mentioning us in this very informative blog post. Just a lot of great food-related activities for visitors to Cape Town and the Western Cape of South Africa 🙂
So people – book a cheap flight with Travelstart and come make some cheese with us in the Cape! Looking forward to meeting you!
