SAY CHEESE: THREE FROMAGERIES THAT BLESS THIS REGION OF OURS WORDS BY DANI KUEPFER; PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN
FOR THIS TOQUE ASSIGNMENT, I WAS TASKED WITH SEARCHING OUT A FEW OF OUR REGION’S GREAT FROMAGERIES. WHILE WE ALL KNOW THAT BOUTIQUE GROCERS LIKE VINCENZO’S (WATERLOO), MARKET FRESH (GUELPH) AND ELORA MERCANTILE (YEP, ELORA) HAVE FANTASTIC SELECTIONS, THERE’S ALWAYS TIME AND PLACE FOR DEDICATED CHEESE SHOPS. NEED PROOF? LOOK NO FURTHER:
G R EEN GO D D ES S FRO MAG ERIE 447 Elizabeth St, Guelph greengoddessguelph.ca
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There are few things we can all agree on – that is,
nutty, and perfectly smokey Irish cheddar. Crumbly,
except for cheese. Everyone (well, almost everyone)
salty chevre. Mozzarella that melts, bubbles, and
loves cheese. Even if traditional dairy varieties aren’t
browns. Squeaky halloumi – ready to be fried to
our thing, cheese, for many of us, tends to evoke
perfection. And marble cheddar: a classic that just
feelings of comfort, nostalgia, and lavishness. Recently
begs to be reinvented. All dairy-free. All with their own
I took a break from my obsessive pursuit of Guelph’s
distinct texture and flavour. All made in-house. And all
best oat milk latte and ventured to the edge of The
delicious.
Ward (the Royal City’s eccentric old neighbourhood cradled between the Speed and Eramosa Rivers) to
While Green Goddess is based in Guelph, you can
find something equally luxurious: vegan cheese.
find these delectable products across the region in
A bit of an oxymoron, no? Believe me when I tell you –
– as well as on the menus of Shorty’s Pizza, Mijidaa,
this cheese is absolutely nuts. (Literally.)
Elora Brewing Company, and other ingredient-
Three years in the making and under a year in its flagship store, Green Goddess Fromagerie is causing a major shift in the gourmet cheese market. Fromagiers Morgan and Danielle have created a welcoming space in their bright east end shop, which doubles as their kitchen. Using traditional methods and notso-traditional ingredients, Green Goddess is crafting
gourmet shops like Goodness Me and Vincenzo’s
driven haunts. Even better, you can drop in to their charming shop on Elizabeth Street and find pleasure in the enticing display of cheeses and rotating items like plant-based eggs and cheesecakes. Daniella and Morgan, clearly passionate about their craft, will gladly guide you through their products – whether you’re new to vegan cheeses or in search of a new favourite.
melty, crumbly, and buttery cheeses that appeal to
And not that you need another reason to plan a visit
vegans and omnivores alike. Their cashew-based
to the shop, but you should know that Green Goddess
creations are cultured and aged just like conventional
is hosting rotating pop-ups on Saturdays through
dairy cheeses – familiar in quality, and yet something
the summer. You can get your fix of plant-based deli
entirely new.
sandwiches, croissants, barbeque, shawarma, and
Each of Green Goddess’ twenty-seven (and growing) cheese varieties have a distinct personality. Firm,
more every weekend. Check out their Instagram to see what’s coming next.
YOU SHOULD KNOW: • all the cheeses are made in-house • the shop’s vegan halloumi is to die for • there’s also a selection of killer cheese cakes
