Tags
Billy Connolly, Cheese, Dairy product, food, Food Importer, Food Shop, Jay London, Lactose intolerance, Mitch Hedberg, Pizza, Salt Meats Cheese, Sydney Delicatessen
So, you might imagine that in a house where one of us has a gluten issue and another is allergic to dairy, pizza would definitely be off the menu. Permanently. But guess what? It’s not! I have discovered a pizza base recipe that works. And, after much experimenting, we have also established that LM’s dairy problems are limited to pasteurised cow juice. Regular milk, cheese, ice cream, yoghurt and the like are still no go for him, but goats’ milk, sheeps’ milk and buffalo milk are all good. Different protein structure, apparently. Woohoo!
My whole family is lactose intolerant and when we take pictures we can’t say cheese. (Jay London)
As you can imagine – that means pizza night becomes kind of a big deal at Casa TSL. And today, in preparation, we headed off to explore what Salt Meats Cheese might be able to offer by way of pizza toppings…
Let me begin by saying the absolute W O R S T thing about visiting Salt Meats Cheese of Alexandra is the challenge to find a car park. Especially if you are coming at lunch-time (the Grounds is right next door). But once you have achieved the impossible, or if you have a parking angel to call on, the fun can begin.
I don’t believe in angels, no. But I do have a wee parking angel. It’s on my dashboard and you wind it up. The wings flap and it’s supposed to give you a parking space. It’s worked so far. (Billy Connolly)
Salt Meats Cheese is a huge emporium of imported food specialising in – wait for it – salts, European cured meats and cheese. I’ve been wanting to visit for ages. I should have gone sooner. It is a piece of foodie heaven. Truly.
The salt counter is chock-full of amazing flavour combos for salt-lovers – spiced, smoked, infused with red wine – there’s something for everyone. Each flavoured salt has its own wee personalised shaker so that you can taste before you make your final selection.
The cheese and salumi bar is to die for. Now that we have discovered LM’s ability to branch out in the cheese department, we lingered over pecorino options – finally deciding to go with a pear infused number. Our cheese man was endlessly patient as we umm-ed and ahh-ed over our choices. On his recommendation, we went with a Parma ham for tonight’s pizza.
The cheese room is a challenge. So many choices. But, at a temperature that prevents you from giving it the time it deserves. There was a particular brand of haloumi on offer that we love (and that is LM-friendly) so I snapped that up along with a few other goodies.
And, if the salts, meats and cheeses weren’t enough, there are all sorts of other goodies on offer throughout the warehouse.
fettucine alfredo is macaroni and cheese for adults. (Mitch Hedberg)
The very affable and enthusiastic Franco has informed me that there may be valet parking on offer at Salt Meats Cheese in the lead up to the crazy Christmas rush. This is great news.
And, if you live in Sydney and haven’t yet checked out the offerings at this most fab’ of food providores – it is well worth braving the traffic. Honest.
You can check out the Salt Meats Cheese website here (there’s a great wee video to watch). And, if you really can’t deal with the parking challenge, you can even shop online!