{"id":3277,"date":"2011-12-31T15:56:58","date_gmt":"2011-12-31T20:56:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cheeseloverca.wordpress.com\/?p=3277"},"modified":"2011-12-31T15:56:58","modified_gmt":"2011-12-31T20:56:58","slug":"outstanding-cheese-bites-of-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/2011\/12\/31\/outstanding-cheese-bites-of-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"Outstanding cheese bites of 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3279\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3279\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/px_cl_monforte_bliss-1.jpg\" data-lightbox=\"gal[3277]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3279\" title=\"px_cl_monforte_bliss\" src=\"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/px_cl_monforte_bliss-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"468\" height=\"329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/px_cl_monforte_bliss-1.jpg 2458w, https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/px_cl_monforte_bliss-1-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/px_cl_monforte_bliss-1-1024x720.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/px_cl_monforte_bliss-1-768x540.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/px_cl_monforte_bliss-1-1536x1080.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/px_cl_monforte_bliss-1-2048x1440.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3279\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bliss from Monforte Dairy, an outstanding cheese bite if there ever was one.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>We bring the curtain down on 2011 with friends in fromage recalling the memorable cheeses that crossed their palates this year. It\u2019s a tradition at CheeseLover.ca <a href=\"http:\/\/cheeseloverca.wordpress.com\/2010\/12\/31\/outstanding-cheese-bites-of-2010\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">we started last year<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, two friends selected the same stand-out:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lindsay Bandaged Cheddar, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mariposadairy.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mariposa Dairy<\/a>:<\/strong><br \/>\nLindsay Clothbound was the best new Ontario cheese I tasted this year. \u00a0Beautifully balanced flavour, everything you would expect in a great clothbound cheddar in texture and flavour\u2014with a terrific goat bonus at the end.<br \/>\n<em>\u2014Andy Shay, Cheese Buyer, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sobeys.com\/Choose-Store.aspx?returnURL=%2fen%2fHome.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sobeys Ontario<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Lindsay Bandaged Cheddar, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mariposadairy.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mariposa Dairy<\/a>:<\/strong><br \/>\nNew to Ontario\u2019s cheese scene and winning awards already, Mariposa\u2019s twist on bandaged cheddar is an aged hard goat\u2019s milk cheese, slightly dry and crumbly, with significant earthy, but distinct \u201cmeaty\u201d flavor.<em><\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2014Vanessa Simmons, Cheese Sommelier, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.savvycompany.ca\/\">Savvy Company<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Vanessa named three other memorable cheeses of 2011:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Finchthaler, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pasturedairy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Canreg Station Farm &amp; Pasture Dairy<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Zacharie Cloutier, <a href=\"http:\/\/fr-fr.facebook.com\/pages\/Fromagerie-Nouvelle-France\/154926407884881\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fromagerie Nouvelle France<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Figaro, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.glengarryfinecheese.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Glengarry Fine Cheese<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Jersey du Fjord, <a href=\"http:\/\/m.ourcheeses.com\/directory\/cheese-shops\/les-bergeries-du-fjord\">Les Bergeries du Fjord<\/a>:<\/strong><br \/>\nMy memorable cheese this year is definitely the Jersey du Fjord, aged 10 months, a 20-kg English Cheshire-inspired cheese that was one of the 16 Champions at the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix, a first prize and silver medal overall at the Quebec Caseus Awards.<br \/>\n<em>\u2014<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fromagerieatwater.ca\/distribution_en.html\">Alain Besr\u00e9<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fromagerieatwater.ca\/boutique_en.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fromagerie Atwater<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/auxterroirs.com\/index.php?lg=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aux Terroirs<\/a><\/em><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Old World<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><\/strong>2011 was my year to celebrate Old World classics. Iconic Spanish cheeses, such as sultry smoky <a href=\"http:\/\/www.doidiazabal.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Idiaz\u00e1bal<\/a> and cool minerally <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Valde%C3%B3n_cheese\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Valde\u00f3n<\/a> were big hits, as were rare treasures from tiny shops in Toronto, including <a href=\"http:\/\/www.danablu.dk\/Esrom.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Danish Esrom<\/a> (Stinky! Umami!) and Portugal&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.artisanalcheese.com\/cheeses\/Serra-da-Estrela\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Serra da Estrela<\/a>\u2014a tangy, wobbly, grassy wonder.<em><\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2014Julia Rogers, Cheese Educator, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cheeseculture.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cheese Culture<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><\/strong><em><\/em><strong>Hail to the blues!<\/strong><br \/>\nAt what point do we stop developing our taste buds? For years, I have fought with the blues, only to find it actually works to try something 25 times! I have now come to the other side and crave the blues. No cheese board is complete without them. So what blue converted me? <a href=\"http:\/\/iledefrancecheese.com\/index.php\/St.-Agur\/st-agur.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Saint Agur<\/a>. How can you resist that double creamy, lovely balanced blue served with a beautiful glass of K<a href=\"http:\/\/www.karloestates.com\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">arlo Estates<\/a> Van Alstine Port. Hail to the blues! Bring them on in 2012!<br \/>\n<em>\u2014Jackie Armet, Cheese Co-ordinator , <a href=\"http:\/\/cheesefestival.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Great Canadian Cheese Festival<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Lady Jane, <a href=\"\/\/www.farmhousecheeses.com\/\">Farm House Natural Cheeses:<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\nI first fell in love with this cheese at The Great Canadian Cheese Festival in Picton when I tried it during one of the pairing sessions. \u00a0It looks like the best, most beautiful buttermilk-y cheesecake, with a texture that is such heaven in your mouth. Lady Jane is one of my favourite new finds of 2011.<em><\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2014Wendy Furtenbacher, Blogger, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.curdygirl.com\/\">CurdyGirl<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left:30px;\"><strong>At CheeseLover.ca, the most memorable moment in cheese of 2011 came when we first tasted Lalibert\u00e9, the triple-cream cheese made with whole organic cow\u2019s milk at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fromageriedupresbytere.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fromagerie du Presbyt\u00e8re<\/a>. Such rich dairy delight!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Other taste hits of the year just ending:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bliss, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.monfortedairy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Monforte Dairy<\/a>:<\/strong><br \/>\nCheesemaker Ruth Klahsen never ceases to amaze with her creations. This Brie-style pasteurized sheep&#8217;s milk is pure bliss.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Goat Cheese Curds, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.monfortedairy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Monforte Dairy<\/a>:<\/strong><br \/>\nBe prepared for bursts of farm flavours when you pop these squeaks into your mouth.<\/p>\n<p><strong>14 Arpents, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fromageriemedard.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fromagerie M\u00e9dard<\/a>:<\/strong><br \/>\nEvery time we taste this soft-ripened cheese we get religion and want to make a pilgrimage to the Lac Saint Jean in Quebec where Rose-Alice Boivin C\u00f4t\u00e9 and her family work wonders.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014Georgs Kolesnikovs, Cheese-head-in-chief at CheeseLover.ca, wonders what outstanding cheeses he\u2019ll encounter in the New Year.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We bring the curtain down on 2011 with friends in fromage recalling the memorable cheeses that crossed their palates this year. It\u2019s a tradition at CheeseLover.ca we started last year. Interestingly, two friends selected the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,152,156,168,182,192,199,224,240,269,276,290,296,358,359,372,405],"tags":[],"brand":[],"class_list":["post-3277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-andy-shay","category-farm-house-natural-cheese","category-figaro","category-fromagerie-du-presbytere","category-fromagerie-nouvelle-france","category-glengarry-fine-cheese","category-great-canadian-cheese-festival","category-julia-rogers","category-la-fromagerie-atwater","category-les-bergeries-du-fjord","category-lindsay-bandage-cheddar","category-mariposa-dairy","category-monforte-dairy","category-ruth-klahsen","category-saint-agur","category-sobeys","category-wendy-furtenbacher"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3277"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3277\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3277"},{"taxonomy":"brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/brand?post=3277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}