Enjoying the Northern (de)Lights!

Hello fellow traveler!

When I wrote my post for July 22nd, I didn’t know that I would be traveling even farther North this soon. Then the opportunity to travel to 43.6532° N, 79.3832° W, better known as Toronto, Canada came along. If you have not had a chance to visit this region, I would recommend it. Just keep in mind that this is no sleepy little Canadian town!... In fact, this town is quite the opposite! Topping Canada’s population charts, Toronto currently has 2.93 million residents! This town is one bustling hub of activity!

I knew that Canada is known for their amazing cheddars, like Balderson, but I have to admit that I was not familiar with too many other Canadian cheeses, so I turned to my trusty Canadian Cheese Guide by Kathy Guidi to help guide me on what I should be searching for once I got there. I researched cheese shops in Toronto and found that several were condensed within the trendy Kensington Market area. This area has been described as “a walkable bohemian neighborhood that draws artists and tourists to its indie shops, vintage boutiques and arts spaces. The Market is also home to a wide array of specialty grocers, bakeries and cheese shops. Hipsters frequent trendy bars, cafes and international restaurants that range from casual to fine dining.” Wow!...Sounds like my kind of place!  The fact that it was also named a World Heritage Site in 2006 certainly peaked my interest!

Niagra Gold Cheese

Along my drive to Toronto, I stopped at a charming cheese producer called Upper Canada Cheese Company and thoroughly enjoyed their Niagra Gold. This cheese pays homage to the great cheeses produced by the Trappist Monks in the Loire Valley. This golden, washed rind beauty has nutty, earthy overtones with a buttery finish. I was impressed!

Onward to Toronto! Although the town was crowded, it was easy to navigate around and I quickly found a parking space and was off to explore the market area. 

Lunch was top on my list of first finds, then I spotted Moo Frites and saw that they were awarded the best Poutine in Toronto, I knew I had to try them and they did not disappoint. Not had Poutine before?...Imagine golden hot French fries, sprinkled with fresh cheese curds, then topped with a brown gravy which slightly melts the curds. This was perfect for a cold, drizzly afternoon!

Wildwood by Stonetown Cheese

After lunch I walked across the street to find my second purchase at Global Cheese. They carried a cheese called Wildwood which is made by Stonetown Cheese. This Canadian cheese producer set up shop in the St. Mary’s area of Ontario in the mid 1990’s. Having trained in Switzerland, the producer created this 8 to 12 month cheese is an “Appenzeller Style”. It has an aromatic, rustic looking rind, but has a mild and herbal interior.

Classic Oka Cheese

I enjoyed looking around the rest of the cheese shops in the area, but when I found the Whole Foods in the Yorkville area, they clearly had the best selection of Canadian cheeses. While they had many cheeses to choose from, I had to try the Oka, as it is thought of as a classic Canadian cheese that can be downright impossible to find in the United States.

Classic Oka Cheese

Oka is a semi-soft, washed rind cheese that was originally produced by the Trappist Monks in Oka, Quebec. It can have a pungent aroma (although this one was quite mild) and a slightly nutty and fruity flavor. This cheese is produced from pasteurized cow’s milk and can come in a variety of ages, although mine was a “classic” which is aged two months.

Now to find something to pair with these Canadian cheeses!...Since they are all Trappist-Style cheeses, I thought it best to search out some local Canadian Beers. My friend Julee was able to suggest some very good ones from the area:

·      Dead Elephant IPA paired with Wildwood. This English India Pale Ale is produced by the Railway City Brewing Company in St. Thomas, Ontario and scored an 81 from Beer Advocate.

·      Barking Squirrel Amber Lager paired with the Niagara Gold. This burnt orange lager is produced by Hop City Brewing Company in Ontario and scored a 79 from Beer Advocate.

·      Steam Whistle Pilsner paired with the Oka. This Toronto based brewery has been “classic” for some time, so what better to pair with the Oka! 

 Time to head back across the border and go “underground”

Until next week…

Trevor