Having grown up on her family’s fourth-generation farm in South Canterbury, New Zealand, Louise Talbot, founder of Cutting the Curd Cheesemaking Classes, always had a natural affinity with the land. “We lived in a beautiful old timbered homestead on a hill, looking out over the Pacific Ocean,” she says. “Some of my happiest childhood memories include seeing Japanese squid boats lit up along the coastline in the evenings; taking huge trays of delicious home-cooked teas across to the shearing shed; helping in the sheep yards; and playing in Grandad Alexander’s milking parlour – walking patiently behind the cows as they returned to their field.”
Her passion for cheese was born in her home country: “New Zealand is a very rural country and we are a nation of home cooks,” says Louise. “Not long after I married my husband, almost 36 years ago, we decided to convert the farm into a dairy unit. It was very early in the days of conversions and the beginning of the incredible dairy boom to take over New Zealand. It is now almost one big dairy farm!”
As a trained teacher and self-confessed foodie, Louise has been making cheese for more than 20 years – after her sister arranged for a visiting cheesemaker to take a class and she was hooked.
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Hampshire Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Hampshire Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Southampton's first Michelin star?
Newly opened southeast Asian restaurant, Blue Jasmine, could have all the right ingredients to claim the coveted title
This GIRL CAN
Tracy Edwards MBE paved the way for women in sport with her boat Maiden. Now, 30 years on, she’s showing women around the world that they can do something amazing too
The good ship LIBERTY
A call out on Instagram saw this Overton artist being included in the iconic Liberty Book
For KING & country
Can someone be born into greatness? We share the story of one of Britain’s most underrated monarchs, Henry III
Doing it for THEMSELVES
Multi-tasking sisters Iman and Yasmine El Sheik have just launched their new haircare brand Divinely Made, set to transform curly locks across the country
The Bear Ladies
Julie Tatchel and Amanda Middleditch from Bear It In Mind in Hythe regularly have viewers in tears with their bear restorations on the BBC hit show, The Repair Shop
A walk in Wonderland
A New Forest walk in the footsteps of Alice Hargreaves, the inspiration behind Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland
Creature comfort
From growing up with Hampshire racehorses to caring for dogs and cats at home, Clare Balding’s love of animals has seen her through good times and bad
A rare find
Hampshire’s diverse habitats attract all of Britain’s six native species of reptiles
A friend in need
Margot has met a kindred spirit to share her renovation horror stories