Cheese business, Cheese festival, Great Canadian Cheese Festival

More than 125 different artisan cheeses to try and buy!

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Award-winning Black River Cheese just one of many Canadian producers at the biggest cheese show in Canada.
Award-winning Black River Cheese is just one of three dozen Canadian producers represented at the biggest cheese show in Canada. This year including Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

It’s not too late to purchase tickets online for the third annual Great Canadian Cheese Festival! Save money and skip the line at the entrance by placing your order here today: http://cheesefestival.ca/tickets/

Here’s the long list of exhibitors who’ll be ready tickle your palate on June 1-2–in only nine days! It certainly is a long list, thus, you might consider buying a two-day pass.

CHEESE:

  • Plaisirs Gourmets
  • Fromagerie du Pied-de-Vent
  • Fromagerie du Presbytère
  • Fromagerie Île-aux-Grues
  • Fromagerie La Station
  • Fromagerie Médard
  • Fromagerie Nouvelle France
  • Le Fromage au Village
  • Les Fromagiers de la Table Ronde
  • Best Baa Dairy
  • Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese
  • ARS Foods
  • Black River Cheese
  • Millbank Cheese
  • Mariposa Dairy
  • Maple Dale Cheese
  • Five Brothers Artisan Cheese
  • Ontario Water Buffalo Company
  • Monforte Dairy
  • Woolwich Dairy
  • Empire Cheese
  • Upper Canada Cheese
  • Primeridge Pure
  • Quality Cheese
  • Glen Echo Fine Foods
  • Cows Creamery
  • Crossroad Farms
  • Jensen Cheese
  • Natural Pastures
  • Salt Spring Island Cheese
  • Back Forty Artisan Cheese
  • Farm House Natural Cheese
  • Mountainoak Cheese
  • Glengarry Fine Cheese
  • County Cheese Company
  • Knoydart Farm
  • Cheesemaker Showcase
  • Making Cheese At Home
  • UrbanSteading DIY Cheese

ARTISAN FOODS:

  • Agrarian Cheese Market and Speakeasy
  • East & Main Bistro/Pomodoro
  • Sarafino
  • From These Roots
  • Prince Edward County Lavender
  • Manning Canning
  • Mysty’s Distributing
  • Perth Pepper and Pestle
  • Evelyn’s Crackers
  • Cook’s Gourmet
  • Hot Mamas Foods
  • Yummy Cookies
  • La Natura Fine Foods
  • Nossa Cucina
  • Henderson Farms
  • Premier Fine Foods
  • Seed to Sausage
  • Queen of the Kitchen Artisan Chocolate Truffles
  • Artisan Edibles
  • Angelo Bean
  • Prince Edward County Fare
  • Country Girl Cooks
  • Haliburton Forest
  • Just Wing It
  • The Salty Don
  • Really Horrible Enterprises
  • Hood Wood
  • Aunt Lulu’s Country Kitchen
  • Epicure Selections
  • Snell House Foods
  • Crazy Corn
  • Major Craig’s Chutney
  • Olivia Chocolatiers
  • Pina Verde Dessert Factory
  • Heavenly Honey
  • Foodie Pages
  • Mrs. McGarrigle’s Fine Food Shop

FINE WINE:

  • Redtail Vineyard
  • Lacey Estates Vineyard & Winery
  • Huff Estates Winery
  • Waupoos Winery
  • Sandbanks Estate Winery
  • Casa-Dea Estates Winery
  • The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards and Estate Winery
  • Exultet Estates
  • Norman Hardie Winery and Vineyard
  • Keint-he Winery and Vineyards
  • Stanners Vineyard
  • Harwood Estates Vineyard & Winery
  • Closson Chase Vineyard
  • Rosehall Run Vineyards
  • Palatine Hills Estate Winery
  • Black Prince Winery
  • Lighthall Vineyards
  • Lang Vineyards
  • Long Dog Vineyards & Winery
  • Savvy Sip & Shop

CRAFT BEER:

  • Mill Street Brewery
  • Creemore Springs Brewery
  • Granville Island
  • Beau’s All Natural Brewing
  • Church-Key Brewing

CIDER:

  • County Cider

FOOD COURT:

  • Flatbread Pizza
  • Cheesewerks

OTHER:

  • From Farm to Table Experience
  • Ontario Agri-Food Education
  • 4H Prince Edward County
  • Ontario Water Buffalo (Yvette)
  • Milky Way Farms (lambs)
  • 4H Livestock or John Nyman
  • Prince Edward County Museums
  • Slow Food Prince Edward County
  • Ontario Wine Society
  • Farmtown Park
  • Taste the County
  • Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory

More than 125 different cheeses and so much more to sample and purchase!

PLUS: Cheese Tours, Cooking with Cheese, Tutored Tastings, Wine & Dine & Cheese,  and Cheese + Beer = Cheers!

For all the info, visit: http://cheesefestival.ca/

Bypass the line at the entrance and save money by placing your order today: http://cheesefestival.ca/tickets/

Admission for one adult to the Artisan Cheese & Fine Food Fair on Saturday or Sunday, June 1 or 2, where cheesemakers and producers of artisan foods will offer their products for sampling and purchase. Fine wines, craft beer and crisp cider will also be available for tasting and ordering for home delivery within a week. Seminars in All You need Is Cheese annex. Special presentations every hour. Dairy farm open all day. Admission includes 10 tasting tickets, glass for sampling wine, beer and cider, access to all vendors and exhibitors, cheese seminars, special presentations and dairy farm. Free parking. Rush seating for seminars and presentations. Advance price $40+HST. Regular price at door $45+HST. Two-day pass only $55+HST.

See you real soon!

Chef Francois Gagnon, Great Canadian Cheese Festival, Plaisirs Gourmets

Québec’s best cheeses featured at Wine/Dine at The Grange

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CF13 Grange Gagnon Menu

François Gagnon, a Top Chef Canada contestant and owner of a trendy sandwich shop and flourishing catering business in Montréal, is returning to cook up a cheese-themed feast at the upcoming Great Canadian Cheese Festival.

Chef Gagnon has created a mouth-watering five-course menu featuring the best in Québec cheeses paired with exceptional wines made by Caroline Granger at The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards and Estate Winery on Saturday evening, June 1. Starting with smoked duck tartare and concluding with salted chocolate caramel for the road, the menu is posted above. Click on it for an enlarged view.

Space is limited so don’t delay in ordering tickets online by clicking here. The costs is $125 per person + HST + gratuity for food and wine. The dinner starts at seven o’clock, Saturday, June 1.

The eight outstanding cheesemakers taking part are all under the Plaisirs Gourmets banner.

Top Chef Canada contestant François Gagnon, a seasoned chef who has worked in the best restaurants in Quebec, France and Vancouver, owns Lunch Insolite, a trendy sandwich shop and flourishing catering business in Montréal.

Until a year ago, when he was featured in the Cooks & Curds Gala at last year’s Cheese Festival, François was a private chef for Ædifica, a prestigious architectural firm in Montreal, where the design culture stimulated his use of color, texture, technique and flavours to produce visually and conceptually inspiring meals daily.

Just before joining Ædifica in 2011, Chef Gagnon took part in the first season of Top Chef Canada on the Food Network, finishing in the top five.

At The Grange of Prince Edward, the title “president and CEO” doesn’t do justice to Caroline Granger’s job description. Caroline began with planting and managing 10 acres of vineyards all on her own. From there she oversaw the restoration of the historical barn that now houses the tasting room and cellar, as well as the construction of a brand new wine making facility. In those same years she oversaw the planting and management of a crew for another 50 acres.

Caroline now over sees, winemaking, viticulture, tasting room, and sales herself. Perhaps “chief, cook, and bottle washer” would be a more apt title some days, but Caroline wouldn’t have it any other way.

“The Grange of Prince Edward is a family-run winery,” she explains. “We produce only 100% estate grown and made wines because we want our wines to reflect our region and our distinct style. We grow seven varietals and produce three distinct lines of wine to suit our diverse clientele. We believe in eating and drinking locally and we believe in value—and we hope these beliefs can be passed on to you.”

The Grange of Prince Edward is located at ‪990 Closson Road‬, Hillier, Prince Edward County. Click here for a map.

Wine & Dine with Francois Gagnon at The Grange is the final event to be announced in the Festival’s new Saturday evening offerings for visitors seeking a memorable evening of food and drink—and artisan cheese, of course!

Cheesewerks, Great Canadian Cheese Festival, People's Picks

CHEESEWERKS sponsors People’s Picks at Cheese Festival

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The Great Canadian Cheese Festival is mighty pleased to have CHEESEWERKS as a Presenting Partner for the second year.

In addition to lending its considerable promotional support, Canada’s only dedicated cheese restaurant will sponsor and organize an all-new, best-in-show awards program at the June 1-2 Festival in Picton, in the heart of Ontario’s Prince Edward County.

It will also return as a featured food vendor with awesome Mac + Cheese and Nachos like you’ve never had them before—all made with Canadian artisan cheese, of course!

CW_base_logoPEOPLE’S PICKS

CHEESEWERKS presents the first-ever PEOPLE’S PICKS at The Great Canadian Cheese Festival this year.

CHEESEWERKS is about experiences and creating memories through comfort and great food. The Toronto eatery will present PEOPLE’S PICKS, awards to recognize and honour the most popular cheese, foods and drinks and their artisan producers.

Guests will be given a ballot of PEOPLE’S PICKS that will act as votes for their favourites of the Festival.

PEOPLE’S PICKS will be awarded in six categories:

  • CHEESE (All types)
  • WINE (All types)
  • BEER (All types)
  • SWEET (Jams, Cookies, Corn, Snacks, etc.)
  • SAVOURY (Salsas, Spreads, Chutneys, Meats, etc.)
  • BEST BITE (The ultimate best bite/taste of the entire Festival)

Guests who cast their pick will have a chance to win a selection of prizes. The picks will be on display throughout the Festival—and will be recognized further at the restaurant and throughout social media by CHEESEWERKS and The Great Canadian Cheese Festival.

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival and CHEESEWERKS share the same mission: promote the best in Canadian cheese.

”As it’s the Super Bowl of Cheese in Canada, we are thrilled to support the Festival for a second year,” says Kevin Durkee, CHEESEWERKS Founder + Big Cheese.

CHEESEWERKS is the brainchild of Kevin Durkee and Tom Douangmixay, partners in life and business. Kevin and Tom are clearly foodies, with a love for honest, nostalgic comfort food, especially cheese, especially Canadian cheese. Kevin explains:

“Food is all about sharing and telling stories. Getting someone to try something for the first time—or discovering your world and enjoying an amazing meal. Food is what fundamentally connects us all. The food at CHEESEWERKS is really about ‘getting comfy.’ Easy to understand, easy to enjoy and incredibly satisfying.”

CHEESEWERKS is a restaurant first but also a retail shop for cheese, artisan items and event venue for culinary experiences like its signature Food Fight Trivia Night series. The restaurant, located at 56 Bathurst Street in downtown Toronto, is licensed, serving Ontario craft beer and local wine.

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival is a multi-faceted event that annually attracts thousands of consumers to meet, learn, taste and buy the best in Canadian artisan cheese and fine foods and sample fine wine, craft beer and crisp cider.

About 100 exhibitors and vendors and more than 3,000 consumers made the event last year the biggest cheese show in Canada representing producers from coast to coast. Growth is expected in 2013 with more than 30 cheesemakers from Newfoundland to British Columbia signed up, as well as 36 artisan foods producers, 24 wine and cider producers and a half-dozen craft brewers, plus other vendors.

The third annual Great Canadian Cheese Festival takes place June 1-2, 2013, at historic Crystal Palace and the Prince Edward Curling Club on the Picton Fairgrounds in the heart of Ontario’s Prince Edward County, one of Canada’s leading gastronomic destinations. Prince Edward County is located south of Belleville, Ontario, in Bay of Quinte Region, just off Highway 401, an easy drive from Toronto, Ottawa, New York State and even Montreal.

For more information, visit www.cheesefestival.ca or call 1.866.865.2628.

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival is produced by Cheese Lover Productions Inc., Georgs Kolesnikovs, President, with the support of Celebrate Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Canada and Bay of Quinte Region.