Overview
If you thought choosing between edam, colby and mild was exciting, then how about scrolling through more than 30 specialty cheeses? The Artisan Hub is a new boutique cheese shop based out of Auckland's North Shore that delivers the goods direct to your front door.
The venture is another positive offering to come out the other side of the country's COVID-19 lockdown. It was launched by cheese lover Dan Jennings after his lengthy career in the corporate world was cut short.
After working for a cheese retailer and hopping between local farmers markets, Jennings turned his attention to New Zealand artisan cheeses. He sources his gooey, stinky and creamy products from around the country, as far north as Kerikeri and as far south as Dunedin.
All the classics are there — only with more robust flavour profiles than your average supermarket selection — including a crumbly stilton-like blue, lightly smoked soft brie, cumin seed gouda, and an award-winning aged edam.
Boutique cheeses to enhance your summer platter might include the classic French-style brie de moutere, a creamy gouda infused with black perigold truffle, an ash-covered fresh goat's cheese, and a havarti-style cheese described like peanut butter on the roof of your mouth.
Platters, cheese towers and all the trimmings like fruit pastes, crackers and terrines can also be purchased from the store. Jennings says the hub currently only focuses on online sales, but can offer cheese tastings by appointment. It will be branching in to catering and private tasting experiences shortly.
For more information about The Artisan Hub, visit theartisanhub.co.nz.