Canadian Cheese Awards and Night Market -Say Cheese!

Canada is known for making great Beer but we also make fantastic cheeses and I hope that the US tariffs don't affect the ability for everyone to try them.

One of my favourite festivals that I have really looked forward to every summer for the past 3 years is the Great Canadian Cheese Festival in Picton, Ontario.   This year the organizers took a break from the festival in Picton to organize the Canadian Cheese Awards and Artisan Night Market over 2 days in the first week of June.  Even though I was sad that I wouldn't be able to take the beautiful drive to Picton I was happy to be able to attend the Cheese Festival and Market.   The Market was on a smaller scale than the large festival but it still had some really great vendors, most of whom had won awards at the previous evening's Awards presentation.  There was a large domination of Award winning cheeses from Quebec and all of the winners are listed at the bottom of this post so that you can start making your cheese shopping list to try some of these great cheeses.  Both the Awards and the Night Market were sold out and very busy.   After the awards presentation we sampled many of the cheeses and on the next night of the Artisan Market we were able to purchase some of the Cheeses and other products.

I picked up a goat cheese called Kenzie because that's the name of my friend's daughter and also the name of the cheesemaker's daughter.  I also picked up some Rhubarb raisin chutney, and an espresso coated chopped nut sprinkle that I will try on ice cream.  One of the most innovative things I picked up was a garlic, chili pencil sharpener dispenser thing that you could slice thin strips of blends to add to appetizers.  The garlic one was cool because you avoid garlic hands and it's very strong tasting.

I had a great time trying all the new cheeses and the Comtomme is on my list of cheeses to pick up in my future.  I look forward to returning to the Picton cheese festival again next year but this year they saved me the drive to the Country for a trip downtown.  If you like cheese the list below is for you.

 

 

I also sampled some fantastic Gin and a Whisky syrup that would be great on pancakes.  There were also very busy lines of a couple of winemakers assorted wines.

  

Louis d'Or: Canadian Cheese of the Year

Louis d'Or, an outstanding Alpine-style cheese made by Jean Morin of Fromagerie du Presbytère in Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Québec, was named the 2018 Cheese of the Year in the biennial Canadian Cheese Awards, the biggest cheese judging and competition in the country.

The 2018 Canadian Cheese Awards program, which started at University of Guelph, Food Science Department, with the judging of 375 submitted cheeses, culminated Wednesday evening, June 6, with a presentation ceremony and tasting gala at historic St. Lawrence Market in Toronto.

Loblaw Companies is Marque Sponsor of Awards while Dairy Farmers of Canada is Principal Partner, Cow Milk Cheese.

Complete list of winners by categories:

CHEESE OF THE YEAR

FROMAGE D'EXCEPTION

• Louis d'Or - Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick,Québec

BEST FRESH CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE FRAIS

• Ricotta - Ferrante Cheese, Woodbridge, Ontario 

BEST FRESH PASTA FILATA CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE À PÂTE FILÉE

• Zerto Fresh Mozzarella - Quality Cheese, Vaughan, Ontario

BEST SEMI-SOFT CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE À PÂTE SEMI-FILÉE

• Comtomme - Fromagerie la Station, Compton, Québec

BEST FETA/CHEESE IN BRINE

MEILLEUR FETA/FROMAGE EN SAUMURE

• Krinos Traditional Feta - Krinos, Vaughan, Ontario

BEST FETA/CHEESE IN BRINE

MEILLEUR FETA/FROMAGE EN SAUMURE

--Private Brands Division-- 

• PC Feta Regular - Loblaw Companies, Brampton, Ontario

BEST FIRM CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE À PÂTE FERME 

• Louis d'Or - Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick,Québec

BEST FIRM CHEESE WITH HOLES (Swiss-style)

MEILLEUR FROMAGE À PÂTE FERME AVEC OUVERTURES

• Swiss Gouda - That Dutchman's Cheese Farm, Upper Economy, Nova Scotia 

BEST WASHED RIND CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE À CROÛTE LAVÉE 

• Le Bocké - La Fromagerie Champêtre, Repentigny, Québec

BEST MIXED RIND CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE À CROÛTE MIXTE

• Origine de Charlevoix - Laiterie Charlevoix, Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec

BEST MIXED RIND CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE À CROÛTE MIXTE

--Private Brands Division--

• PC Belle Riviere Cheese - Loblaw Companies, Brampton, Ontario

BEST BLOOMY RIND CHEESE

MEILLEUR PÂTE MOLLE À CROÛTE FLEURIE

• Laliberté - Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Québec 

BEST BLOOMY RIND CHEESE

MEILLEUR PÂTE MOLLE À CROÛTE FLEURIE

--Private Brands Division--

• PC Camembert - Loblaw Companies, Brampton, Ontario

BEST LACTIC RIPENED CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE LACTIQUE À CROÛTE FLEURIE

• Neufchatel - Golden Ears Cheesecrafters, Maple Ridge, British Columbia 

BEST MILD & MEDIUM CHEDDAR

(aged up to 9 months)

MEILLEUR CHEDDAR DOUX & MOYEN

(maximum de 9 mois d'affinage)

• Dairy Isle Medium - Amalgamated Dairies, Summerside, Prince Edward Island 

BEST OLD CHEDDAR

(aged from 9 to 18 months)

MEILLEUR CHEDDAR FORT

(entre 9 et 18 mois d'affinage)

• Dairy Isle Old - Amalgamated Dairies, Summerside, Prince Edward Island

BEST AGED CHEDDAR

(aged more than 18 months)

MEILLEUR CHEDDAR VIEILLI

(plus de 18 mois d'affinage) 

• Cows Creamery 3 Year Old Cheddar - Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

BEST GOUDA CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE GOUDA

• Mild Gouda - That Dutchman's Cheese Farm, Upper Economy, Nova Scotia

BEST BLUE CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE À PÂTE PERSILLÉE 

• Rassembleu - Les Fromagiers de la Table Ronde, Sainte-Sophie, Québec

BEST FLAVOURED CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE AROMATISÉ 

• Raclette de Compton au Poivre - Fromagerie la Station, Compton, Québec

BEST FLAVOURED FRESH CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE FRAISAROMATISÉS 

• Chevrai Roasted Garlic Soft Fresh Goat Cheese - Woolwich Dairy, Orangeville, Ontario 

BEST FLAVOURED FRESH CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE FRAISAROMATISÉS

--Private Brands Division--

• PC Fresh Goat Peppercorn - Loblaw Companies, Brampton, Ontario

BEST SMOKED CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE FUMÉ

• Appletree Smoked Cheddar - Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

BEST GRILLING CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE À GRILLER

• Queso Fresco - Sabana, Oakville, Ontario 

BEST COW'S MILK CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE VACHE

• Cows Creamery 3 Year Old Cheddar - Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

BEST GOAT'S MILK CHEESE/MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE CHÈVRE

• Tomme Haut Richelieu - Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser, Noyan, Québec

BEST SHEEP'S MILK CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE BREBIS

• Madelaine - Fromagerie Nouvelle France, Racine, Québec

BEST WATER BUFFALO MILK CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE BUFFLONNE

• Fuoco - Fromagerie Fuoco, St. Lin-Laurentides, Québec

BEST BLENDED-MILK CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT MIXTE

• Pionnier - Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Québec, and Fromagerie Nouvelle France, Racine, Québec

BEST FARMSTEAD CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE FERMIER

• Figaro - Glengarry Fine Cheese, Lancaster, Ontario

BEST ORGANIC CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE BIOLOGIQUE 

• Alfred le Fermier 18 mois -Fromagerie la Station, Compton, Québec

BEST RAW-MILK CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT CRU 

• Louis d'or vieilli 2 ans - Fromagerie du Presbytère, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Québec

BEST NEW CHEESE

(Introduced to market during 2017)

MEILLEUR NOUVEAU FROMAGE

(Mis en marché en 2017) 

• Mountainoak Farmstead 3 Year Old - Mountainoak Cheese, New Hamburg, Ontario

BEST B.C. CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LA COLOMBIE BRITANNIQUE

• Neufchatel - Golden Ears Cheesecrafters, Maple Ridge, British Columbia 

BEST WEST CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE L'OUEST

(Alberta, Saskatchewan et Manitoba) 

• Bothwell Cheddar White - Bothwell Cheese, New Bothwell, Manitoba

BEST ONTARIO CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE L'ONTARIO 

• Zerto Fresh Mozzarella - Quality Cheese, Vaughan, Ontario                

BEST QUEBEC CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE DU QUÉBEC

• Le 1608 - Laiterie Charlevoix, Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec

BEST ATLANTIC CANADA CHEESE

MEILLEUR FROMAGE DES PROVINCES ATLANTIQUES

• Cows Creamery 3 Year Old Cheddar - Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Biggest cheese competition in Canada

Judging by a jury of 14 cheese experts took place at University of Guelph, Department of Food Science. A total of 117 finalists were selected from the 375 cheeses entered by producers from Newfoundland to British Columbia.

The 2018 Canadian Cheese of the Year and champions in 33 categories were announced at the Awards Ceremony on June 6 at St. Lawrence Market in Toronto followed by an Awards Tasting Gala. The next day, winners will be featured at Canadian Cheese Expo for the trade followed by Canada's first Artisan Cheese Night Market open to the public.

Fifty-six of the 117 nominations went to 22 Québec cheese producers led by Fromagerie La Station, 7 finalists, Laterie Charlevoix, 6, and Fromagerie du Presbystere, 5.

Sixty-one of the 117 nominations went to 23 producers in English-Canada, led by Cows, 12 finalists, Glengarry Fine Cheese, 5, and Amalgamated Dairies, Cross Wind Farm and Mountainoak Cheese, 4 each.

Canadian Cheese Awards is the only pan-Canadian cheese competition open to all milks used in cheesemaking-cow, goat, sheep and water buffalo-with only pure natural cheese accepted for judging. That means no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, and no modified milk ingredients.

"We aim to honour and celebrate 100% pure natural cheese that hasachieved technical excellence and exhibits the highest aesthetic qualities," says Georgs Kolesnikovs, Awards Chairman.

The biennial Canadian Cheese Awards is produced by Cheese Lover Productions with the support of Loblaw Companies as Marquee Sponsor and  Dairy Farmers of Canada as Principal Partner, Cow Milk Cheese.

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival in Picton, Ontario, is on hiatus in 2018 to allow resources to be devoted to the launch of Artisan Cheese Night Market and related events.

• Cheese Awards website: http://cheeseawards.ca

Anthony Bourdain cuts his life short.

Anthony Bourdain

1956-2018

There have been so many sad losses in the Celebrity world and many of them have been due to suicide but this one really breaks my heart.

Anthony Bourdain was not only a one time well known New York chef but he was a master story teller and breakout voice of CNN's travel series Parts Unknown.  

This will have a ripple effect in the Food World because he was an influence on so many people.

Obviously success isn't the key to happiness sadly.  Bourdain was probably in the best shape of his life but outward appearance does not tell the story of what's going on inside when it's a struggle with emotions.

I had the chance many years ago to meet Bourdain and do his makeup for the Rogers Daytime show.  I was called in just to fill in to do his makeup and at the time I didn't know who he was and was just told that he was a New York chef who had a new food travel show.  Although it didn't seem like he was thrilled to be interviewed himself we did have a short conversation while he was in the makeup chair about where he had travelled that he enjoy the food the most and he said that it was in Vietnam.  I will always remember meeting him that one time and our conversation but more importantly he did so many great things in the restaurant industry, the publishing world and television.

I always love watching his show "Parts Unknown" and will miss his cynical view of the world.

But the work I really liked was his documentary "Wasted:  The story of Food Waste"  a fantastic look at the cycle of food waste from farm to table.  It changed the environment in my office for a long time.

I feel sad for his friend Chef Eric Ripert who was the one that found him in his hotel room in France.  They had great chemistry together on screen and I know that he will probably miss him more than anyone.

My heart also goes out to his wife and daughter who will have to bear the loss.

The world has lost a Chef, and master storyteller and I know all of my foodie friends are very sad about this news right now.

R.I.P.  Anthony Bourdain - 2018

Modified Documentary - Food, Family and GMO's

Directed/Edited/Produced by Aube Giroux

https://www.modifiedthefilm.com/about

Modified is an award-winning documentary-memoir that asks why genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not labeled on food products in Canada and the United States, despite being labeled in 64 countries around the world. 
Interweaving the personal and the political, the film is anchored in the filmmaker’s relationship to her mother, a gardener and food activist who battled cancer during the film's production. Their intimate mother-daughter investigative journey, fueled by a shared love of food, reveals the extent to which the agribusiness industry controls our food policies, making a strong case for a more transparent and sustainable food system. 




I had a chance to see Modified at the Planet in Focus film festival but I didn't have a chance to write about it then because I saw it at the end of the festival but it has lingered in my mind ever since.  This lovely Canadian film really touched my heart for a few reasons.  It was made by a female filmmaker and food blogger who is also grows organic food after learning about Organic gardening from her mother.  

The memoir of her mother plus the beautiful food images resonate with me as my mother grew ill I channelled my energy into film and food as well.

This film is a beautiful tribute to the filmmakers loving mother and also makes a statement about the long term effects of GMO food.

Everyone should see this film because it will make you appreciate your loved ones and how precious life is and how we are affected by the things we eat and are surrounded with.

The film is currently playing at the Imagine Carlton Cinema: 

https://imaginecinemas.com/cinema/carlton-cinema/