{"id":6883,"date":"2020-08-21T12:13:30","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T16:13:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/?p=6883"},"modified":"2020-08-21T15:35:11","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T19:35:11","slug":"pilgrimage-to-mecca-for-canadian-cheese-lovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/2020\/08\/21\/pilgrimage-to-mecca-for-canadian-cheese-lovers\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilgrimage to a Canadian cheese lover mecca"},"content":{"rendered":"

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: First published March 17, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Vanessa and I stopped shopping for cheese and charcuterie at March\u00e9 Jean-Talon when we were left with nothing but coins in our pockets. Photo by SO.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When they want to pay homage to fromage, cheese lovers in Europe make a pilgrimage to France. In the U.S., the destination is Vermont or California. In Canada, there is only one choice: Qu\u00e9bec.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite much progress in Ontario and British Columbia in the last decade, Qu\u00e9bec remains Canada’s leading artisan-cheese region<\/a>. With about half of Canada’s 180 cheese producers based in Qu\u00e9bec, its leading role isn’t likely to end anytime soon.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Canadian cheese lovers, the easiest way to find Mecca in Qu\u00e9bec is to visit March\u00e9 Jean-Talon<\/a> in Montr\u00e9al. Which is what Significant Other and I did with a great friend in cheese, Vanessa Simmons<\/a>, cheese sommelier at Savvy Company in Ottawa. We have many friends who love cheese, many friends who love food, but only in Vanessa do SO and I find an appetite for food, drink and adventure to match ours.<\/p>\n

We warmed up for March\u00e9 Jean-Talon by visiting Complexe Desjardins in downtown Montreal to say hello to cheesemakers taking part in the annual La F\u00eate des fromages d\u2019ici<\/a>. It was good to see so many producers represented by Plaisirs Gourmets<\/a> at the show. SO and I sampled our way around for several hours and then caught up with Vanessa to compare notes and purchases. No surprise that our wallets were $150 lighter and bags similarly heavier.<\/p>\n

What makes March\u00e9 Jean-Talon such a perfect Mecca for cheese lovers is that here one finds:<\/p>\n