Cheese please! : Montreal, Quebec

I just returned from beautiful but COLD Quebec, it was a fantastic trip.  All we did was hang out in my good friend Pierre's country house, light fires, read, watch movies, take naps and most importantly EAT!

I had so much good cheese in and from Quebec that I wanted to write a little blog about them for all you cheese lovers.

The first 2 cheeses are both softer brie like cheese.  The price is right and the taste will knock you off your feet.  Fantastic with grapes or pears!!!

The next is Oka,  I believe its made by monks just outside of Montreal.  Its been around since 1893, I mean c'mon if something lasts more then a 100 years, they must be doing something right.
This cheese is a harder cheese and I'd compare it to a cheddar mixed with swiss!

The last cheese I have for ya is what they call "squeaky" cheese.  It's the cheese curds they use to make poutine ( poutine is a traditional Quebecois dish that is basically fries, curds and gravy, YUM! )  however the name comes from the fact that when you eat it on its own it actually squeaks on your teeth and almost feels like its cleaning your teeth.  My friend Pierre and I always used to get it when we were grocery shopping....and eat it as we do our shop :-) great snack!

I learnt a little trick about storing cheese this past week....... this is good only if you know you will eat the cheese within 4-5 days a week tops, but then its up to opinion as some people love old stinky cheese!
Get a cheese holder with a lid, almost like a butter holder and you leave the cheese out at room temperature.  It completely changes the experience from eating it from the fridge.  Try it!

much love and happy new year!

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