Finalists announced in Canadian Cheese Grand Prix 2015
The Dairy Farmers of Canada has just announced finalists for its coveted Canadian Cheese Grand Prix awards.
The Canadian Cheese Grand Prix is organized every two years. It began in 1998 to promote achievement and innovation in cheese making and to increase appreciation for Canadian cheese. A jury of food industry experts selected this year's 81 finalists from 268 entries.
"Canadian cheese makers are expanding their repertoire and producing unique, highly impressive, top quality cheeses," said Phil Bélanger, Canadian Cheese Grand Prix jury chairman.
This year, nine new categories, including three individual Gouda categories based on cheese age and a stand-alone category for Smoke Cheese, were added to the competition.
The category champions and Grand Champion will be unveiled at the 2015 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix Gala of Champions at Toronto's Liberty Grand on April 22.
The 2015 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix finalists are:
Fresh Cheese
– Formaginno Original, Bella Stella Cheese, B.C.
– Cream Cheese, M.C.Dairy Co. Ltd, Ont.
– Ricotta/Bella Casara, Quality Cheese Inc, Ont.
Fresh Pasta Filata
– Cherry Bocconcini, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, B.C.
– Fresh Mozzarella Zerto, Finica Food Specialties Ltd., Ont.
– Burrata / Bella Casara / Quality Cheese Inc., Ont.
Fresh Cheese with grilling properties
– Le Fleur St-Michel, Fromagerie du Terroir de Bellechasse, Que.
– Le Paillasson de l'isle d'Orléans, Les Fromages de l'isle d'Orléans, Que.
– Queso Fresco Cheese, Latin Foods Inc., Alta.
Soft Cheese with bloomy rind
– Comox Camembert, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, B.C.
– Comox Brie, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, B.C.
– Brie paysan, Fromagerie du Presbytère, Que.
Cream-enriched Soft Cheese with bloomy rind
– Albert's Leap Bel Haven Triple Creme Brie, Quality Cheese Inc., Ont.
– Le Riopelle de l'Isle, Société Coopérative Agricole de l'Île-aux-Grues, QC
– Laliberté, Fromagerie du Presbytère, Que.
Semi-soft Cheese
– St-Paulin, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.
– Fleur de Weedon, Fromagerie P'tit Plaisir, Que.
– Amsterdammer, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, B.C.
Washed or Mixed-rind Soft Cheese
– L'Origine de Charlevoix, Laiterie Charlevoix Inc., Que.
– 14 Arpents, Fromagerie Médard, Que.
– L'Empereur, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.
Washed or Mixed-rind Semi-soft Cheese
– Raclette, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.
– Tête Dure, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.
– Le Mamirolle, Fromagerie Éco Délices, Que.
Washed or Mixed-rind Firm Cheese
– La Meule des champs, Fromagerie Éco Délices, Que.
– Le Blackburn, Fromagerie Blackburn, Que.
– Alfred Le Fermier 18 months, Fromagerie La Station, Que.
Firm Cheese (except Cheddar and Gouda)
– Asiago, Bright Cheese & Butter Mfg. Co. Ltd., Ont.
– Heidi, The Farm House Natural Cheeses, B.C.
– Muenster, Bothwell Cheese Inc, Man.
Swiss-type Cheese
– Miranda, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.
– Handeck, Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese Ltd., Ont.
– Louis d'Or, Fromagerie du Presbytère, Que.
Mozzarella (Ball, Brick or Cylinder) OR Pasta Filata
– Tre Stelle Mozzarella Cheese, Arla Foods Inc., Ont.
– Oaxaca, Local Dairy Products, Ont.
– Mozzarrella Ball, International Cheese Co. Ltd., Ont.
Brine-ripened Cheese
– Queso Duro Cheese, Latin Food Inc., Alta.
– Feta Cheese, Tiras Dairies Inc., Alta.
– Tre Stelle Feta Cheese, Arla Foods Inc., Ont.
Gouda (Aged 1-6 Months)
– Gouda Medium, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., Alta.
– Mountainoak Farmstead Premium Dutch Medium, Mountainoak Cheese Ltd., Ont.
– Gouda Mild, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., Alta.
Aged Gouda
– Louis Cyr, Fromagerie Bergeron, Que.
– Gouda Aged, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., Alta.
– Mountainoak Farmstead Premium Dutch Aged, Mountainoak Cheese Ltd., Ont.
Extra Aged Gouda
– Old Grizzly, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., Alta.
– Grizzly, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., Alta.
– Mountainoak Farmstead Premium Dutch Gold, Mountainoak Cheese Ltd., Ont.
Blue Cheese
– Le Rassembleu, Fromagiers de la Table Ronde, Que.
– Bleu Bénédictin, Fromagerie Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Que.
– Le Bleu d'Élizabeth, Fromagerie du Presbytère, Que.
Flavoured Cheese with Added Non-particulate Flavouring (except smoked cheese)
– Stout beer cheddar, Fromagerie Perron, Que.
– Tipsy, Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese Ltd., Ont.
– Griffon Raclette, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.
Smoked Cheese
– Gouda Smoked Natural Cheese, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., Alta.
– Appletree Smoked Cheddar, Cows Creamery, P.E.I.
– Naturally Smoked Boerenkaas, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, B.C.
Flavoured Cheese with Added Particulate Solids and Flavourings
– Raclette de Compton au poivre, Fromagerie La Station, Que.
– Formaggino Garden Herb, Bella Stella Cheese, B.C.
– Pepper Raclette, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser Inc., Que.
Mild Cheddar (Aged 3 Months)
– Marble Cheddar, Bothwell Cheese Inc., Man.
– Mild Cheddar, Bothwell Cheese Inc., Man.
– L'Ancêtre Organic Mild Cheddar, Fromagerie L'Ancêtre Inc., Que.
Medium Cheddar (Aged 4 to 9 Months)
– L'Ancêtre Organic Medium Cheddar, Fromagerie L'Ancêtre Inc., Que.
– Medium Cheddar, Bothwell Cheese Inc., Man,
– Medium Cheddar, Maple Dale Cheese, Ont.
Old Cheddar (Aged from 9 Months to a Year)
– Old Cheddar, Bothwell Cheese Inc, Man.
– Traditional Clothbound Cheddar (9 to 12 months), The Farm House Natural , B.C.
– Old Cheddar, Bright Cheese & Butter Mfg., Ont.
Aged Cheddar (1 to 3 Years)
– Extra Old Cheddar, Cows Creamery, P.E.I.
– Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar, Cows Creamery, P.E.I.
– Traditional Clothbound Cheddar (1 to 3 years old), The Farm House Natural Cheeses, B.C.
Aged Cheddar (More Than 3 Years)
– Extra Old Vintage Cheddar Cheese, Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ivanhoe Cheese, Ont.
– Outrageously Old Aged 72 Months, Maple Dale Cheese, Ont.
– Extra OLD CHEDDAR 5 YEARS, St-Albert Cheese Cooperative Inc., Ont.
Farmhouse Cheese
– Mountainoak Farmstead Premium Dutch Gold, Mountainoak Cheese Ltd., Ont.
– Louis d'Or, Fromagerie du Presbytère, Que.
– Handeck, Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese Ltd., Ont.
Organic Cheese
– Le Baluchon, Fromagerie F. X. Pichet, Que.
– Alfred Le Fermier 18 months, Fromagerie La Station, Que.
– Comtomme, Fromagerie La Station, Que.