Media Event at Langdon Hall

On Sunday night, CheeseB was at Langdon Hall as one of a handful of featured suppliers showcasing our product: Cheese! Langdon Hall was the grande finale stop on a whirlwind media tour of Central Canadian Cuisine from Quebec through Ontario.

This was true gastronomic indulgence. The guests were led through different environments on the grounds, with each environment highlighting a different course to sample. Starting with charcuterie in the greenhouse...to the fish market meeting room...to a full course menu prepared in the dining room while CheeseB closed the evening with Ontario ice wine.

Guests sampled CheeseB exclusives such as 4 year aged Thunder Oak Gouda and the Pristine’s family guarded recipe of caramelized olives, among a few other evening treats. Ontario’s best was definitely elevated that night judging by reactions-- and of course, the second and third round helpings...or maybe that was just me :-)

Executive Chef, Jonathon Gushue, Langdon Hall/Afrim Pristine, "CheeseKeeper"

If you happen to note an influx of our neighbours South of the border on a food pilgrimage here in the coming months—now you know why.

PS. I ate like the king of kings that night, under the category of “intellectual cuisine” because of Executive Chef, Jonathan Gushue’s thoughtful fusion of senses . This past year at Langdon Hall can do no wrong by me—memorable place, memorable food-- I'm looking forward to further experiences in 2010!

Pasta feast at CheeseB on Saturday

Via Allegro's Chef Marco Zandona took over the pasta room (our Little Italy) at CheeseB on Saturday:

Afrim, Marco and the feature presentation: Gragnano pasta

Several kinds of pasta were prepared on-site, in the kitchen, for patrons to sample

"A spicy meatball"

Spaghetti, Bucatini, Linguine, Scialatielli al limone... a variety of formats with good sauce such as tomato ricotta. All served with yummy meatballs. Each version was prepared in literally minutes, as the cooking time for this caliber of pasta is quite fast, and the sauces were delicious simplicity itself.

In fact, after all of this inspiration, Oreagano and friends concocted a Gragnano pasta of our own shortly thereafter. Calamarata rigata (calamari-shaped rings), Cheese Boutique cheese, tender veal sausage, and a sauce made from cherry tomatoes-- a dish thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The Road to Happiness is Paved with Pasta and Cheese

Via Allegro Ristorante courtesy of their Gallery

We announced a few days ago that this Saturday, Via Allegro Chef Marco Zandona is coming to Cheese Boutique. Today we put this fine establishment in the spotlight.

Via Allegro translated means “road to happiness.” Specifically, we can say that the road to happiness might be the Queensway-- it leads us to CheeseB and to Via Allegro Ristorante.

With its surprising location and unassuming exterior, maybe it doesn't appear to be what many call one of the best restaurants in the city. Of course, at CheeseB we know that when you possess a treasure you can get away with an unorthodox locale.

Via Allegro offers treasures a-plenty. Wine-- over sixty available by the glass, a 20,000 bottle showcase mid-room, and an award-winning Sommelier team. Food-- authentic (avant-garde) Italian that has critics singing praises, and places them at number four in Toronto Life's Top Ten Restaurants.

Cheese Boutique at Via Allegro, 2007. Sometimes we go to them.

Read a great review with lovely descriptions at Taste T.O. It's not the most recent, but quite comprehensive. Platinum Beef and Italian Stallion, Lamb Trinity, Bison... Oh look, CheeseB is mentioned too-- where else would the kitchen find five year aged parmigiano-reggiano?

Here is a great chance to meet Chef Zandona, at Cheese Boutique: Saturday, Dec. 5, from 12-4pm. Featuring the Gragnano Pasta of Napoli, and more.

Speaking of Napoli, CheeseB's Ilir Pristine has announced that he is off to Naples for what he calls a "Food Excursion." Sounds very interesting-- everyone who works in CheeseB lives in a perpetual food excursion, so this has got to be good. One of his stop-overs will be a Pasta factory in Gragnano-- We look forward to the pics and updates he'll send from his new Twitter Account.

Gourmet Gift Baskets

Cheese Boutique is brimming with Holiday goodies right now, and gift baskets of various sizes and themes can be found all throughout the store. Select a pre-made basket or have it custom-made with goodies for your foodies.

A perfect opportunity to view the baskets will be on December 5th for our pasta party with Via Allegro, enjoy the Christmas splendor (it's a big epicurean Gingerbread house) and sample some undoubtedly delicious authentic Italian pasta. I have a hunch cheese will be involved, too.

Get Neopolitan with Cheese B and Via Allegro

Saturday, December 5th, from 12-4pm:


Via Allegro Ristorante Chef Marco Zandona will be at Cheese Boutique, for a delicious showcasing of the fine pasta of Napoli.

Gragnano Pasta, a superb import exclusive to Cheese Boutique, will be expertly prepared for all to taste.


We have featured this unbeatable product in previous posts, and now we invite you to come and try it for yourself.

County Gourmet at Cheese Boutique

Thanks to all who attended County Gourmet on Saturday-- CheeseB was hopping, and we could not have asked for better weather!

Here are some photos from that afternoon:

Cheese-keeper Afrim Pristine

Fifth Town's Petra Cooper

Perched atop haybales, some of the wares from Funktional Art & Design:

Savouring the award-winning Cape Vessey paired with Norman Hardie's Pinot Noir, amongst other cheese samplings such as Counting Sheep, Isabella, Nettles Gone Wild, Wishing Tree, and more:

Fifth Town Founder and President Petra Cooper, and Fifth Town Sommelier/Chef Andrew Laliberte

Norman Hardie and Afrim Pristine.

Fifth Town cheese smoked by fragrant apple-wood

Chef Juan serves up the melted, smokey cheese, on crostini with a gherkin:

We don't know if this little cutie got to taste anything, but he seemed very excited to be there anyway:

Cheese Dog

Spotlight: Norman Hardie Wines

Tomorrow, from 12-4pm it's your chance to sample Norman Hardie wines at Cheese Boutique!

It's all part of our County Gourmet celebration... we bring Prince Edward County to Toronto and you get fine wine paired with great food (not to mention sunny, warm weather, according to the forecast).

Want an inside view to the winery? See a short movie "Community Harvest at Norman Hardie Winery" at Behind the Wine.

And on this blog there is a slideshow of gorgeous photographs of the harvest on location at the vineyard. Clearly a beautiful place-- sample its results in-store tomorrow afternoon. Hope to see you there!

Norman Hardie
From: margaretmulligan.wordpress.com