My favorite spot to shop for casein in Toronto is About Cheese located on Church Street at Maitland. About Cheese is a retail store run by Provincial Fine Foods owner Cole Snell who started the business to promote Canadian Artisan Cheese. Working closely with Canada’s top chefs, cheesemakers, and cheese sellers; Cole has grown Provincial Fine Foods to become one of Canada’s largest distributors of Canadian artisan cheese.
Cole tells us a little about his story, ” In 2005, it was very difficult to purchase artisan Canadian cheese either retail or wholesale. I founded Provincial Fne Foods that year in order to promote Canada’s small and artisan cheesemakers to Canadians. Along the way, I have assembled a team who are fanatical about all aspects of cheese. Together we want Canadians to know, talk about and be proud of the stunning range of artisan cheeses that are produced in our homeland. We also want them to know about the stories, passion and dedication of an ever-growing number of farmers and cheesemakers who work the fields of our country and offer up wheels of sustenance that are the very essence of their land and themselves. We think that by understanding the place and the stories and the taste of the resulting cheese, Canadians will want to support these individuals and will demand fine Canadian cheeses. We see our businesses as a bridge, an interpreter, a path to connect the farm to the market.
The staff are delightful and great educators on all of the products in store. Beyond a boutny of cheese prodcuts the shop also features other pantry items worth stocking up on and fresh baked goods. I now live just a stones throw from the shop so you can expect to see lots of cheese reviews from About Cheese in the future!
Tags: about cheese, church street, Toronto
