The Food Zeitgeist

The Cheese Room

Update: May 2008.  Tony here, reporting that I am very saddended by the recent closure of The Cheese Room.  I believe this was a personal decision taken by the Carr family.  I wish them all the best in their future endeavours.  This little slice of Paris in Sydney’s South-East will be sorely missed.  Meanwhile, Campos-coffee lovers can continue to enjoy their brew up at Appetite Cafe on nearby 82 Regent St.  I will leave my original post on The Cheese Room below.

Original Post - January 2008

Hey there, Tony here, back with some terrific news for anyone close to Alexandria, in Sydney’s south-east, which has been steadily growing into another Sydney food-hub in the tradition of Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, and Leichardt.

Today I am thinking about one of the most surprising, exciting and unique cafe/general stores to have come along in 2007.  The Cheese Room, owned and operated by David and Virginia Carr and their children, is situated on Henderson Road Alexandria, opposite the Australian Technology Park, on the corner of Garden St.  A beautiful building too, tastefully decorated and arranged in a way that wouldn’t look out of place in an historic Paris street.

This store has been a revelation to me, due to the simple fact that David and Virginia live with passion.  This passion has created a business focussed on excellence and service which I feel blessed to have access to.  What started as an idea for a retail cheese provedore has quickly evolved into a cafe/restaurant in answer to the locals’ needs.  Air-conditioned inside with communal and private table, wireless Internet access and plenty of seating outdoors.

Firstly, the coffee I am pleased to say is excellent.  Sydney is so blessed to have great espresso now, with numerous roasters and award-winning baristas making espresso all over town.  The Cheese Room is no exception, with Newtown-based Campos Coffee available.  Tristram, an experienced and passionate barista, puts care into every cup, the result being a smooth, fresh shot every time.  Just go to The Cheese Room for the coffee, you won’t be disappointed.  In fact only last week I tried the chai tea, again made with care by Tristram, who had been brewing the tea over a 24-hour period to ensure maximum flavour and impact.  Supplied by the Melbourne-based Larsen and Thomson tea merchants, chai tea is a refreshing, creamy drop for those who prefer their warm beverages caffeine-free.

Secondly, the cafe-style food.  Virginia Carr, who you will see moving back and forth from kitchen to front-of-store with mouth-watering items, is the driving force behind an amazing array of food choices considering one’s first impression when entering the store is that it is a new deli counter.  Available of course are the sandwiches, simple items such as “Croque Monsieur” (toasted ham and cheese with béchamel) which is so delicious that to call it a toasted ham-and-cheese sandwich is an under-statement.  How about a Panini-bread sandwich with Polish ham, cheese and salad, with a tangy Tamarind paste - delicious.  Or a simple salad and brie roll - fresh tasty ingredients served simply but with this quality of ingredients simple is best.  From here it just keeps getting better, for example the “tasting plate” which provides an array of different flavours including olives, double-smoked ham, cheddar cheese, quince paste, gazpacho (tomato-based soup served chilled) with a side-serving of greek salad and crusty sliced baguette.  How about oven-warmed figs wrapped in prosciutto, filled with Capparis’ goats-curd cheese, on a bed of rocket salad, olive oil and balsamic - delicious.  The simple and inventive caprese-style salad of roma tomatoes, buffalo mozzarelle, basil and rocket with prosciutto and large, thinly sliced croutons, makes for a delicious lunch alternative.  There are plenty of choices here and its not just about the cheese.  Virginia makes an amazing strawberry and cream cupcake too.  Even simpler there are croissants, pain au chocolate (chocolate filled croissants) and toast with jam.

No description of The Cheese Room is complete without of course mentioning the cheese.  First, some background. For the past 5 years, David and Virginia whilst rasing their 3 lovely children Mathew, Katie and Eliza and seeing them through secondary school, have maintained traditional corporate jobs (David is an experienced media lawyer) whilst operating a twice-weekly cheese-stall at the Farmer’s Market in Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter (previously known as Fox Studios, Driver Avenue Moore Park, Sydney)  After a brief stint in Dulwich Hill, reported in Sydney’s SMH Good Living in 2006, they decided to move closer to home in Alexandria, where their continued passion for their work is helping to meet the growing  demand for quality produce.

There is an assortment of local and imported cheeses, (many Australian cheese makers are supported here, such as the excellent Capparis from Gloucester, NSW)  I have tried the Woko Cow’s milk cheese from Capparis, with Bacco’s Leaves (Australian-made biscuit bread) and it reminded me of an excellent brie.  Folks do yourself a favour and head to The Cheese Room immediately.

The Cheese Room
Henderson Rd, corner Garden St Alexandria, Sydney, NSW, Australia
http://www.thecheeseroom.net.au
P: 02 8394 9384
F: 02 8394 9502
M: 0431 706 021
E: david@thecheeseroom.net.au
Open 7 days, 730am-5pm
Link to Google Map