Best cheeses of the “British Empire” in 2010

Here are the results of the cheese competition at the 83rd annual British Empire Cheese Show organized by Central Ontario Cheesemakers Association: The Alexis De Portneuf division of cheese giant Saputo was crowned Grand Champion. Quebec cheesemaker Fromagerie La Vache à Maillotte was named Reserve Champion. Fifth Town Artisan Cheese, an artisan cheesemaker  in Ontario’s [...]

Cheese just one delight at Slow Food/Evergreen Picnic at Brick Works in Toronto

A 90-minute nap was in order after three hours of grazing at the fourth annual Slow Food/Evergreen Picnic at Brick Works in Toronto today. A capacity crowd of 1,200 sampled the best of Ontario’s sustainable harvest as presented by top chefs and leading producers, supported by a bevy of winemakers, craft brewers and producers of [...]

The joy of working over lunch—with Canadian cheese

Planning is well under way for the first Great Canadian Cheese Festival in 2011. That often means lunch meetings which, happily, means cheese on the table. I had a chance to meet with Canadian cheese maven Kathy Guidi over lunch at Jamie Kennedy’s Gilead Cafe recently. What a treat it was to talk to Kathy—what [...]

A Canadian cheese plate fit for the G20

Thank goodness the G20 madness in Toronto is over. The politicians have departed, the hooligans are in jail, the barricades are coming down. As far as we can see, the only bright note was the promotional opportunity for Canadian cheese. The main meal for the assembled world leaders in the Royal York Hotel began with [...]

Ruth Klahsen leads a renaissance at Monforte

The cheese is remarkable, the woman behind the cheese even more so. First, the cheese. Toscano was the first cheese Ruth Klahsen made when she overcame considerable odds to open Monforte Dairy in Stratford, Ontario, six years ago. Toscano is one of the oldest cheeses in recorded history, going back some 2,500 years in Italy. [...]