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

Not just cheese - Great Canadian Cheese Festival 2017

I really love cheese and I really love going to Prince Edward County once a year to try all kinds of Cheese from mostly Ontario and Quebec along with all kinds of other Artisan products.  Picton is a small town that is becoming a Foodie paradise.  With so many wineries and cheese makers in the region it's a perfect place to visit.  This is my 3rd year going to the Great Canadian Cheese Festival and it's now quickly becoming a yearly tradition with some other stops made along the way.

It's held at the Crystal Palace Camp Ground which houses 2 buildings and exterior booths and food trucks and other stands.  Tickets are $50 per day or $75 for a weekend pass and that includes free parking and all the cheese samples you can stuff in your face.  There are a lot of wineries there as well sampling their wines. There are even a couple of goats and Water Buffalo to see and pet.

But of course the Star is the Cheese.  Almost a whole building full of cheese.   I picked up 2 cheeses this year.  This semi soft Artisan Cheese and Bothwell's Horseradish Cheese.  I just need to pick up some Roast Beef to create a fantastic sandwich.

There are hard cheeses, flavoured cheese, soft cheese and these spiced cheese curds.  A cheese for everyone.

I sampled lots of other things besides Cheese.  I tried preserves, special beverages, shortbread, Oils, sausages, nuts and a lot more.

I fell in love with these bottles of Gut Shots.  It's fermented Cabbage and vegetable juice.  I didn't pick up one at the Festival because I picked up the Vegan Kimchi but couldn't stop thinking about it so I picked up a bottle at Whole foods a few days later.  I got the Kimchi flavour Gut shot.  You only need to drink a tablespoonful a day to fix your gut bacteria.  It even tastes good and you could even use it in a dressing or marinade.

It was great to have some of Jamie Kennedy's JK fries while chilling on a park bench chatting with new friends.  A bit of Toronto in the country.

We went on the most perfect spring day.  The weather was hot but not unbearable.  It was great to bounce in and out of the buildings and sit outside and take a break while my friend petted this little Water Buffalo.

I kind of did a bit of grocery shopping while I was there with a mixed bag of stuff including the Kimchi and the Artisan Cheese I picked up some Red Pepper Jelly,  Lemon Olive oil and some Jewels Under the Kilt Chipotle Maple Pecans.  I would say a nice variety for sure.

We got very lucky because it rained the next day but we were blessed with a perfect day and even the traffic there was good.  The festival ends about 4pm so I now have a new tradition of going to Slickers Ice Cream and getting some of their fantastic Ice Cream.  I got the Roasted Marshmallow flavour.  Yes it was more dairy but it's so easy to eat on a warm day.  The next stop was Giant Tiger,  there isn't one in Toronto so it's always fun to see what they have on sale.  I picked up some water and some coconut chocolate sticks. The other stop was a chilling stop at the Drake Devonshire Inn right on the lake.  It was a bit chilly next to the water by that time but we sat on the patio and ordered some fantastic veggie appetizers while they provided some nice yellow fleece blankets to keep us cosy.  I really love that place.   We ended with a little ping pong and then we headed back to Toronto.  Such a fun day.  I hope we can have a repeat of it again next year.   Thanks Great Canadian Cheese Festival for organizing a great event.

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival - Prince Edward County

OH CHEEZE!!!

 The Great Canadian Cheese Festival takes over the Crystal Palace Fair grounds in Picton in the Prince Edward Country region once a year and pretty much everyone who is in town becomes a cheese head.  You can't help but not too with all the great cheeses at the Festival and at other surrounding Wineries, cheese producers, restaurants and other off shoots.  The event is just wrapping up as I write this blog post.  It was held June 4-5, 2016 this year.  I was able to go and spend the day in Picton on the Saturday with a couple of friends. It's about a 2 hour drive from Toronto and in between Kingston and Belleville. If you want to stay in a hotel then you have to stay in Kingston or Belleville because Picton isn't big enough for a hotel.

 I certainly picked the right day to go because it was the most perfect weather, although a wee bit hot in the afternoon and not great for melting cheese but a great day to attend a festival.  This was my second year going to the festival.  Last year we got distracted by the big apple on the way but this year I was determined to see more vendors.  Some were returning, a few not there and a few new ones so you never know what you will see.

It is a massive event that brings together cheese producers and other vendors from across Canada and many of them from the area and from Quebec.  We have some of the finest cheese producers in Canada and we don't support our own enough.

You either have to go the 2 days of the festival to try all the cheese samples or you have to have a competition size appetite.  Sadly I don't even think I tried half of the samples at the festival but we gave it a good try anyway.  It's really hard to pick favourites when you try so many great cheeses.

 I would say that about 75% of the festival is cheese so those of you with dairy issues you have to hunt for those lactose free items and there are a few.
Other vendors included Ottawa's Seed to Sausage who had a very popular booth.

 

Some interesting vendors were these spicy sauces using all kinds of peppers blended with other things like fruits and other flavourings and cute little cat labels with funny names.  They ranged from mild to Ghost pepper hot.

I can't name all of the cheeses I tried and you have to trust me when I tell you there were a lot of all kinds of cheese,  soft brie's, cheddars, smoked cheeses, beer washed rinds, aged, goat cheese, one was torched, some were mixed with things like jalapeno and salsa and a whole lot of other things like cheese curds and I am sure a bunch I missed.

There were a few preserves and pickles and this new product THE SPREAD which is a savoury spread with Sesame seeds and other things in it that would pair well with cheese and probably add flavour to a grilled cheese sandwich.

We shared a wood oven pizza from Via Pizzeria which happens to be one of my friends names who was there with me.  We also had cheese that was grilled with garlic powder and plain.  I liked the garlic one.

It's hard not to bring home all kinds of cheese and other goodies that you can't find at your local market.  I had to have some restraint and picked these among some of my favourite things.  The cheeses were prices pretty reasonably too.  I think all of my cheese choices are from the Ottawa/Quebec area and the nuts are from Ontario.

Even after all that cheese and diary we stopped into an Ice cream shop called Slickers Ice Cream, one of the Cheese Festival volunteers recommended.  She warned us that there would be a lineup since it's a tiny place.  When we got there the lineup had about 8 people in it and to us folks from Toronto who stand in lines for everything and waste most of our lives in line, this was a small price to pay for some amazing ice cream.  I got the Jack Daniels Chocolate and the Campfire flavours in a waffle cone.  It was delicious and really hit the spot on a hot June day after wondering around a festival all afternoon.

I would go back for that ice cream even if there was no festival happening in Picton but it was all a bonus to a great day.

We did things a little backwards though and had the ice cream and then decided to head over to the Drake Devonshire Inn and were able to get a table without a reservation for dinner.  That's something I desperately wanted to do last year but wasn't able to so this time we had my friends unlimited data plan and her Google GPS ready to get efficiently from one destination to the next in quick time so that we could do as much as we could while we were there.  We really didn't want to leave the Drakes amazing waterfront space but we had to head back to Toronto begrudgingly but we will be back and hopefully before next year's festival.

If you want to plan a visit for next year's festival check out there website to get more information:
http://cheesefestival.ca/
Hashtag #tgccf