Jason Tarrant is the NZ Champions of Cheese awards master judge. With the winners of the awards announced this week, Jason shares some of his at-home kitchen credentials.
My kitchen at home is ... my Kamado barbecue.
A change I'd like to make is to ... to enclose our outdoor area to allow year-round cooking.
Some things you'll always find in my fridge are ... Sawmill Beer, Good Fizz fermented drinks, sauerkraut, aged cheddar and blue cheese, free-range eggs, butter, carrots.
Some of my pantry staples are ... espresso coffee, barbecue spice rubs, pasta and red wine.
I cook ... once or twice a week when time and weather permit, as my kitchen is generally my barbecue and my wife cooks the majority of our family meals.
The kind of dishes I most love to make are ... low and slow barbecue, and pizzas using fresh ingredients.
My go-to meal in a hurry is ... tomahawk steaks.
And if friends stop by unexpectedly, I serve ... a large cheese, fruit, nut and cured meats platter.
My drink of choice is ... all Sawmill Brewery Beers – currently Blake Hazy as not only is it a fantastic brew but supports a great cause as well.
https://www.cheeseloversnz.co.nz/cheese-awards
My favourite place to eat right now is... Cheek & Chong in Ōrewa.
The kitchen gadget everyone should own is ... a stovetop espresso. And a good thermometer.
My food philosophy is ... quality over quantity, fresh and seasonal wherever. Spray-free, free-range and local.
The NZ Champions of Cheese winners will be announced on July 1. Go to cheeseloversnz.co.nz for more.
