So summers gone, don't be Bleu, unless it's Pyranees!

This week at the Cheese Outlet we have 2 new cheeses, Bleu Des Pyranees and Tomme De Chevre Blanche. Below is a brief description of each. Come on in for a sampling any time!

Lets start with the Bleu Des Pyranees, which comes from La Fromagerie Gabriel Coulet in France. This cheese is a close relation of Ossua Iraty, the main difference being that the Pyranees is finely laced with blue/green mold, adding a robust accent to the smooth, creamy sheep's milk.













Also from France we have Tomme De Chevre Blanche. A firm washed rind cheese produced in the Provencal village of Pumichal. Made with 100% goat's milk the pate has a mild yet complex flavor tasting of hazelnut. Come on in for a sample!

Le Mont-Jacob

New to The Cheese Outlet this week and produced by Fromagerie Blackburn in Quebec. Sue Riedl of the Globe and Mail has this to say of our newest addition. "Le Mont-Jacob presents a sophisticated fix for a savoury craving. Equally good melted as it is sliced, the cheese pops with flavour as soon as it hits your palate. Its nutty, salty essence reveals itself in a rich meaty flavour explosion that is tempered by a fruity sweetness. The aroma is pronounced and earthy at the rind but surprisingly delicate if you snap open the paste and inhale the lactic, sour-cream softness."












Come in and try it for yourself!

L'Hercule

Our second new arrival from Quebec is L'Hercule.


Produced in a 12 kg wheel and aged 1 year. L'Hercule is a firm cheese with a dark yellow exterior, with a texture that varies from hard to granular.
Tastes similar to Gruyere yet improves in time without becoming bitter.

Come by for a sample!

New arrivals from Quebec! Le 1608

The Cheese Outlet is proud to present 4 new Quebec cheeses. Introducing Le 1608, Mont Jacob, L'Hercules and BlackBurn.
















Let's start with the Le 1608, including tasting notes and a brief history.

Le 1608 is named to commemorate the year in which a few hundred cow's from Normandy were imported from France. These few animals brought to Canada between 1608 to 1670 gave rise to the Canadian Race. Of the original 500 heads in 1900 the population remains near the same.They were reimplanted in Charlevoix in 2007. 2 herds (the Hengil Farm and the Farm Lyne Breton) are in production on the plains of Charlevoix. L' Development association of the Canadian race in Charlevoix was created in order to support the development of this patrimonial race.

Appearance and taste: Le 1608 develops a pale orange exterior that is washed with brine while ripening. Developing a full, barny aroma, the paste tastes nutty at the rind and has a complex, fruity flavour that emerges from its melt-in-the mouth texture. The pleasant tang of the long finish clinches this cheese's spot as a new Canadian favourite. (Courtesy of Sue Riedl)

Most wheels are aged two to three months and never beyond six months.

New from Switzerland- Swiss Alp Bellevue

This full bodied mature Swiss is rubbed with 8 alpine herbs during the aging process which forms a edible outer rind. While the herbs are only visible on the outside the whole cheese is infused with their aroma and flavor. This product is also made with vegetable based rennet making it suitable for vegetarians!

Come on by the Cheese Outlet and have a taste!

Chabichou Du Poitou: A.O.C. From France to Toronto

Chabichou De Poitou A.O.C is a goat's milk cheese with an origin in Poitou France. Aged less then 60 days,this cheese comes in small 6oz cylinder shapes which are 3-4 inches high. Chabichou is surrounded with a natural, edible, beige rind leaving a white interior tasting fresh, sweet and surprisingly nutty.



Unfortunately availability of the A.O.C version is rare even in the areas of production. However, The Cheese Outlet will order upon request, please allow 2-4 weeks for arrival depending on the season of production. Feel free to contact us via email or comment here on the blog for additional information.

Wine pairing: Partner Chabichou De Poitou with a young dry white wine such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Upper Canada Cheese: Love your local Guersney

Locavores need not despair! You too can have fine artisan cheese! The Cheese Outlet is pleased to feature Upper Canada Cheese.

About Upper Canada Cheese Company:

In the first small, modern Niagara creamery in generations, Upper Canada Cheese Company hand crafts premium artisanal cheeses from the milk of local Guernsey cows. Expressing the unique terroir of the extraordinary Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere region with rich Guernsey milk and the talents of their cheesemakers.

Each day, fresh, pure Guernsey cow milk is transformed into cheeses of uncommon taste and texture, revealing a subtle range of flavours influenced by the seasons, forage and feed. Then, the cheeses are ideally aged in the Upper Canada cellars until they're ready for you. This is the whole food, farm to table idea; a minimum of food processing intervention to produce the purest cheeses possible.

Come on by The Cheese Outlet and bring home a taste of these fine Upper Canada cheese varieties!

Niagara Gold is an Oka-style semi-soft, washed rind cheese fashioned after recipes developed by the Trappist Monks of the Loire Valley. This is a cheese with nutty, earthy overtones and mellow, buttery flavours. This luscious cheese is delicately mild and sweet when young and gains pungency and piquant qualities with age. The rind may be eaten or trimmed depending on your taste. Niagara Gold is sold after 5 months of careful aging in the Upper Canada cellars. Under good conditions, it ages well for months and continues to develop unique flavours over time.

Comfort Cream is a camembert-style soft, white bloomy rind cheese with a silky, creamy, golden interior. Rich flavours of fresh truffles prevail with an intense, buttery palate and a long, tangy finish. This delicate and luscious artisanal cheese is hand salted, hand turned and hand wrapped. Comfort Cream stored in temperature and humidity-controlled cellars for at least 4 weeks before sale. An additional few weeks of aging will see the cheese ripen and mature in flavour, texture and colour.

For more information on Upper Canada Cheese Company visit their website here.

Cheese of the week: Brie with Truffles

This week at the Cheese Outlet Toronto (100 The East Mall) our feature item is Brie with Truffles!

This secret recipe comes from Quebec, but uses French cow's milk Brie and authentic Italian truffles. Artistically designed, this cheese features a definitive layer of truffles through the center of the Brie.

Absolutely delicious, a must have for truffle lovers.
Come on by this week for a taste of this and dozens of other cheese varieties ranging from the finest French to staple Cheddars and Havarti

BIO BIO Cheese: Organic, Lactose free and suitable for vegatarians

The Cheese Outlet is pleased to offer Biobio products including aged Cheddar, Mozzarela, low fat 7%, Swiss and Parmesan. Certified organic Biobio uses the milk of several family operated farms which raise cattle free of growth hormones or antibiotics. Furthermore, the pastures that they graze in are free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Biobio cheese is also 100% lactose free except for the mild Cheddar and Swiss which are 99.5% free of lactose!















Biobio also uses a vegetable based rennet making the products fit for consumption by vegetarians. Yet another health conscious and delicious choice from The Cheese Outlet

Celestial Delights: Divinely Gourmet

Looking for new flavors to spice things up or add some pizazz to your regular dishes? Come in and have a taste of Celestial Delights. The Cheese Outlet is proud to present this fine line of mustard including Vodka Infused Raspberry Thyme and Spicy Tarragon as well as cooking oils such as Provencal Grape seed and Spicy Ginger.

Find the flavor that suits your taste and come up with endless combination's, or just pour the Vodka Infused Thyme Mustard sauce into a Martini glass and use as a dipping sauce for grilled shrimp, sausage or chicken, or blend into vinaigrette. The grape seed oil is high in antioxidants and just one tablespoon provides nearly the daily recommended dosage of Vitamin E. A tasty AND delicious choice.


Stop by the Cheese Outlet and have a look at the full product line or for additional information on the Celestial Delights products visit www.Celestialdelights.com

Scottish Cheese: Applesmoke, Drumloch, Highland Chief

All the way from the Ilse of Kintyre, this amazing selection of Scottish cheeses is sure to be a hit. Produced by the Inverloch cheese co creamery, situated on the beautiful Hebridean Isle of Gigha off the coast of Kintyre, is a farm based independent and family run business with an established and growing reputation for fine cheeses. Some of their creations include:













Applesmoke Cheddar: Wrapped in a attractive red wax this cheese almost looks as good as it tastes, though not quite! This mature cheddar is smoked traditionally in a kiln using apple wood chips for fuel (hence the name). The combination of smoke and subtle fruitiness makes this one of our most unique and sought after cheeses.













Drumloch Cheddar: Wrapped in a green wax, this Scottish cheddar is made with Guernsey milk giving the cheese a gorgeous golden tint and the scent of fresh milk and sweet morning grass. Available in small wedges, 200g truckles and 3kg wheels this special cheddar will have you yearning for more.

















Highland Chief: This delicious cheddar is infused with single malt whiskey giving the cheese a pungent flavor and sweet aftertaste. Absolutely perfect for fathers day!













Stop on by this week and have a taste of something extraordinary!

A BLOG ABOUT CHEESE

Welcome to our world of gourmet cheese! At The Cheese Outlet we carry hundreds of fine cheeses from traditional cheese making countries, including Camembert from France, Lancashire from England, Reggiano Parmigiana from Italy and Emmenthaler and Raclette from Switzerland.We also carry a wide range of artisinal Canadian Cheeses, from the finest independent dairies where cheesemaking remains an art.

Come and visit us at our at our convenient Toronto location at 100 The East Mall, just seconds from the junction of the 427 and Gardiner Expressway. Our knowledgeable staff will be delighted to assist you choosing a wonderful selection of cheeses according to your requirements and taste.

Thanks for visiting!