“I can resist everything except temptation.”
– Oscar Wilde
There’s an unwritten code at free tastings. It’s understood that “a taste”, does NOT equate to a free feast. Yet, who hasn’t gone back for more? Seconds? Thirds? No one’s watching. Or, are they???!!!

It is an unfortunate truth that the majority of you will never make it to Tasmania and won’t have the opportunity to visit Ashgrove Cheese for themselves. For this reason, I’m only going to touch on the variety of cheeses available and focus more on the universal cheese tasting experience itself. This is something you can hopefully experience closer to home. Ashgrove Cheese is also available in supermarkets on the Australian mainland, although there’s a much greater variety available in Tasmania and through their store and online.

I’m hoping some of that cow happiness rubs off on me. Bring it on!
However, I’m not so sure. Although I’m a foreigner “from the Mainland”, there’s still that persistent fear of getting caught and I’m not sure what they do to people who eat more than their share at tastings.
Do you know if these places have video surveillance? As I mentioned before, I did wonder whether they kept some poor sod out the back who has to count how many pieces of cheese we’ve eaten. Then, anyone who goes back for more is immediately exterminated.
Despite all my moral principles, I could see myself guzzling the entire platter of luscious lavender cheese, when red lights start flashing. Sirens blaring, an announcement now comes over the PA: “Lady, you’ve had 17 pieces of cheese. Please leave the building.”

I was concerned this could be my fate if I kept “tasting” the cheese. You’ll find out more about the reference to “Crackpot” soon.
Yet, as much as I want to keep eating my way through that scrumptious stash of Lavender cheese and move onto the Wasabi with all the stealth of a cunning mouse, I’m restraining myself. There’s still this unwritten code holding me back: “Thou shalt only take one piece.” It might not be one of the Ten Commandments, but going for seconds has got people into a lot of trouble. You just ask some of those poor convicts who’d been transported out to Tasmania when it was still Van Dieman’s Land! Greed isn’t always good after all!
Fortunately, you can buy your own stash of Ashgrove Cheese at the factory and have a serious feast back home. I also bought a few extras as well…coconut ice and caramel fudge, which have nothing to do with cheese and we also had a round of Ashgrove Ice Creams, which is more than worth flying down to Tassie for. They were so yum and when it’s made by “the happiest cows on the planet”, you couldn’t ask for more!

Nothing like having an ice cream for each hand. Yet, this photo warrants close inspection. My daughter is pretending to be me. She put on my glasses and is “taking photos”. You could say this is a different type of “selfie”!
However, our day of indulgent food tastings didn’t end there.Nor did my battles with temptation!
After leaving Ashgrove Farms, we headed over to Anvers Chocolates at La Trobe. That deserves a write up all of its own. So, stay tuned.
Meanwhile, I’m heading off to convince my cousin that she should re-think her wedding cake. Why have fruit cake, when you could be having a scrumptious Ashgrove Cheese Tower, instead? Besides, cheese is gluten free!!
However, the prospect of a lonely little Cheese Tower, leads me to a whole new level of TROUBLE and I’m now wondering how much time I’d get for stealing a cheese tower? Who knows? I might actually be able to finish writing my book in solitary confinement!
Do you have any cheese confessions to share? I’d love to hear them and I promise I won’t ring the Police!
xx Rowena
Ashgrove Cheese is located at 6173 Bass Highway, Elizabeth Town, Tasmania 7304.

I told you they have the happiest cows on earth!
The state above me, Wisconsin, is known for its dairy and cheese production. They are lovingly called “Cheeseheads” 😃
Wow! Lavender cheese. We would have had a brall fighting for our ‘one’ sample! Ha ha!
Ooh, cheese! I’m afraid if it’s quite tasty, I’d have more than just one ‘taste’ myself. 😉
It is all too tempting! I’ve just posted about our trip to the chocolate factory. It was very much a repeat performance!
I hope that Lavender cheese becomes available on the mainland. I really love it!!
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This is such a great cheese producer. Yum.
They’re family too. The owners are my husband’s Dad’s cousin. However, we’ve only met them a few times as Geoff’s grandmother died when he Dad was 9 and there wasn’t a lot of contact. We’re starting to have more contact.
BTW I’ve appreciated your posts on the convict trail. We thought my husband’s 3rd Great Grandfather was at Port Arthur after leaving Norfolk Island but seems he could’ve been sent to Maria Island. I’ve had to do quite a lot of poking around and still have a lot of research ahead.
How lovely. Its a small world. I know Bernadette. I gave her her first job as a social worker back in the late nineties. As may know she does lots of great work as a school social worker.
Mark, I had to go to the web site to work out the connections here. We have only met Michael and Maureen Bennett and we’ve also met Jess Wall, who is Bernadette’s niece.
Another coincidence that the friends we were staying with, Michelle is a school counsellor based in Devonport. They could well work together or at least come into contact.
We spent so much time talking about dead relatives that we barely had a chance to get onto the living.
BTW I do swear my husband Geoff is related to most of the older families in Northern Tasmania somehow.
Lovin the pictures…..
If only you could eat them too!
My stash is running out and I may need to go back.
xx Ro