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Smoking Gourmet, Farm Fresh Artisan delights
Smoking Gourmet, Farm Fresh Artisan delights
Allan Williams is not your ordinary artisan cheese maker; he is indeed a Carmel University educated hospitality specialist, who has for the past 48 years has been persuing his dreams and ambitions, while exploring the globe.
Allan was born in Bombay and was given the rare opportunity to study in the United States. It was not long before Allan was bitten by the Cruise Liner bug and spent nearly twenty years sailing around the globe with Princess Cruise Liners, managing some of their busiest restaurants on the ocean.
It was in the early nineties that Allan met his South African wife Carol. They both worked on cruise liners, which they later affectionately referred to as "Love Boat". And while they appreciated the perks of the well-paid and rewarding careers, they were also looking forward to starting a family. It was not long until the couple decided to settle in South Africa, awaiting the birth of their daughter Kareena.
Allan is every bit of the "Hospitality Baron", his broad smile and positive attitude landed him lucrative placements in the KZN Hospitality Industry. However Allan yearned for more and in 2015, having turned down a unprecedented offer from an international hotel group, Allan decided to venture out on his own in a somewhat risky direction.
He purchased the Smoking Gourmet Artisan Cheese & Smoke House almost three years ago from Hans Ainhirn, and has since been pursuing an entrepreneurial direction, earning the respect and appreciation for producing a product that can stand up to any international standards.
Today, Smoking Gourmet Artisan Cheese can be found in most local restaurants as well as the supermarkets, and with their new supplier of milk from the Midlands, Allan can easily double his production, supplying more outlets and his cheese factory shop in Durban North.
Allan is a visionary who strives for greatness. He values hard work and honesty in his work environment and this is evident from the lively atmosphere in his cheese factory. However he is also a family man, a husband, a father and a friend to many who cross his threshold.
With the cheese business booming and his client list expanding, Allan has dreams of green meadows and rolling hills, a more peaceful existence in the Midlands, where he can concentrate on producing a variety of serious cheeses, like Camembert, Parmesan and Pecorino, to compliment his already growing list of cheeses that you can find on his shelf.
It is Allan's hard work and his vision that has brought him such success. He has introduced the KZN community to an assortment of flavours and he is doing it organically, almost effortlessly. He is a pioneer of cheese production in Durban and if you have not yet tasted his cheese selection, now is the time to try. You will find the Smoking Gourmet Artisan Cheese & Smoke House in 63 Accuts Avenue, just off North Coast Road.