Local Hero Coal River Farm scoops Tasmanian and Perth Medals for Cheese and Chocolates
With the Olympics in full swing we are celebrating our local food heroes here in Tasmania by profiling medal winners in the 29th annual Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards.
Each year the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania hosts these awards, which bring together judges from all over Australia to find the country’s best produce.
Judging is across many different categories over several judging sessions throughout the year, with winners celebrated at a gala dinner in November.
In April the Cheese and Chocolate categories were judged, with one of our favourites, Coal River Farm, winning Reserve Champion for their Ashed Brie, as well as Gold Medals for their Leatherwood Honeycomb, Assorted Chocolate Box, Coconut and Raspberry Tablet and Gold Chocolate Hazelnuts.
Coal River Farm was established in 2015 by Daniel and Melanie Leesong and has made a name for itself in its artisanal cheese and chocolate-making ventures, farm shop, vineyard, restaurant and most recently, stand-alone retail outlets in Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Perth and Freemantle.
Coal River’s Ashed Brie is a triple cream brie rolled in activated carbon, which gives it a creamy, nutty flavour. Head Cheesemaker Tim Gadischke says it’s his favourite, and many cheese judges agree – winning multiple awards nationally and internationally, including a prized Bronze in the World Cheese Awards in Bergamo, Italy in 2019.
On the chocolate side, Master chocolatier David McKenzie and his team turn out delicious chocolatey confections from bark to bars, and bites to melts, as well as their delightful assorted boxes of jewel-like individual chocolates.
As well as winning Gold at the Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards this year for their Leatherwood Honeycomb, Assorted Chocolate Box, Coconut and Raspberry Tablet and Gold Chocolate Hazelnuts, they scooped the pool at the Perth Royal Food Awards in July achieving Champion status across three categories and Gold and Silver Medals in multiple categories. Here’s the full run-down:
- Champion: Overall Chocolate category – 25-piece Mixed Chocolate Box
- Champion: Milk Chocolate filled truffle category - Raspberry Champagne Chocolate Truffle
- Champion: Champion Boxed Chocolate category – 25-piece Mixed Chocolate Box
- Gold: White Chocolate Bar with Inclusions category - Caramelised Coconut and Raspberry White Chocolate Tablet
- Gold: Individual Dark Chocolate category - Strawberry Chocolate
- Silver: Individual Milk Chocolate category - Chilli Raspberry Chocolate and Red Berry Chamomile Chocolate
- Silver: Individual Dark Chocolate category - Gin and Orange Chocolate.
- Silver: White Chocolate-filled truffle category - Lychee Chocolate
Congratulations to all the talented makers at Coal River Farm!
Coal River Farm cheeses and chocolates are available at Hill Street stores across Tasmania. Check with your local Hill Street for availability of individual products.
