I recently hosted a ‘Picture Party’ for my daughter. It is her senior prom and I wanted to make sure I had an opportunity to take pictures of my daughter. I wanted to see the friends that she has been with since Grade 9. I wanted the whole evening to be fun and casual but I don’t think that food should be compromised.
I was invited to a friends pool party last year and the hosted had ordered a cheese tray that was to die for. I loved the variety of yummy cheeses. There were soft cheeses, hard and semi-soft cheese. I cannot honestly say, I know a lot about cheeses but I do know what I like. A good variety is what makes a cheese tray taste the best.
All `Bout the Cheese sources cheeses from all over Ontario and Quebec. From suppliers such as Oak Grove Cheese, Blyth Farm Cheese, Glengary, Upper Canada Cheese Company, Shepard Gourmet Dairy, Thornloe Heritage Cheese, Plaisirs Gourmet and many more.
You can also pick up crudites like pickles and olives. There is a nice selection of crackers. Some have some great, simple ideas on how to create the perfect cheese and cracker hors d`oeuvres. The women that helped me with the selection also said it would be a nice idea to have some slices of apples and pears. I did this when I served the cheese and I have to admit, it tasted just fabulous.
This wonderful little cheese shop features comfitures, specialty oils and condiments. If you want to host a small party, don`t worry about what combinations go together. Let the owner of All `Bout Cheese decide what would make a spectacular tray. It is a wonderful service because you basically give him a budget and he makes the call. Easy Peasy… that`s the way to keep entertaining simple.
Below is the tray that I received from All ‘bout Cheese Artisan Cheese Shop. It was extraordinary. It included: (clockwise) chevre with apple spread, le riopelle de l’isle mi-careme, Canadian 7 year cheddar, Irish Guinness, Canadian Medium, le Bleu d’Elizabeth and 5 Brothers (in the middle).
I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the platter. The cheese shop provided the stainless tray and two cheese fork & spreader. A nice touch I might add. Each section of cheese was labeled so you had a better idea what you were eating. I also thought this is pretty great. I managed to make two trays as the cheese was stacked on top of each other and I wanted all those beautiful cheeses to be seen and savoured.
I served the cheese along with some fresh bread from the Artisan Baker that was just down the street and some Portuguese sausage that I bought another bakery. These choices were perfect for a pre-dinner snack for the grads. Easy to eat without making a mess. Very important when you are trying to look as mature as possible in fancy dresses, tuxedos and high healed shoes.
Overall, I would recommend All ‘Bout Cheese very highly. The cheeses were fresh, tasty and more importantly all local. These small artisan cheese makers are working hard to make wonderful products that rival anything I’ve ever tasted from other countries. Make sure and drop by, have some lunch and let the cheese monger tell you about all the products that are locally sources.
You must go!
All ‘Bout Cheese – artisan cheese shop ~ London, ON
898 Dundas St. E.
London, ON (519) 601 5225
Tuesdays and Wednesday 10-5pm, Thursday and Friday 10-6pm, Saturday 8-4pm
You can find them on their Website, Facebook and Twitter accounts.
This is a store review for a local vendor in London, Ontario. No monetary or product compensation was received for this review. All my opinions are my own and can be shared via social media (Faceboom, Twitter, google + and pinterest.
Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.