speaking of cheese…

Upcoming in November, Slow Food Prince Edward County hosts “Fabulous Fromage” at Harvest Restaurant. A fundraiser not to be missed, with esteemed speakers, irresistable auction items, and another spectacular meal prepared by Chef Michael Potters and Sous Chef Scott Royce.


At last year’s event, I donated “A Day with a Professional Food Stylist ” (which somehow morphed into a day of actual food styling…). The winning buyer (you know who you are) hasn’t claimed the prize yet, but the offer still stands without a “best before” date…just add a decent photographer, and I’ll be there.

It certainly was a big year for cheese….during which I got to work with Fifth Town Artisan Cheese (with their international awards), my neighbours at Black River Cheese, the Eastern Ontario Economic Developement partners and their consultants, designers, Eastern Ontario cheese suppliers, and Kingston photographer Derek Cooper. We shot images for the inspirational www.investincheese.ca both at the Black River Cheese Factory and at my “home studio”….about a 5 minute walk away.”With “Invest In Cheese” booths at the upcoming  Zoomer Show and the Royal Winter Fair, these are heady days for cheese making!

As usual, photographer James Tse makes everything look delicious, and I’m so fortunate to work with him on a regular basis. I will also never tire of how of Food & Drink Magazine and the fine eye of Art Director Karen Lim (and editor Jody Dunn), indulge the senses so gracefully.

photography by James Tse

Sourcing and styling (above)the cheeses for a feature written by Julia Rogers in Food & Drink Autumn 2008 about Ontario’s Artisan Cheeses was just like a treasure hunt, complete with stylist Catherine MacFadyen providing all the right props.

“Sheep in Meadow” was sourced with the assistance of Andrew Shay, connecting me to extraordinary cheesemaker Stephanie Diamont (of Fifth Town), who then connected me to Ewenity Dairy Co-Op and Best Baa Farms(where she had earlier developed the cheese), and finally to Dufferin Grove Farmers Market. There was also James Keith of Back Forty Cheese in Lanark County, who tag-teamed a delivery with his last full wheel of Highland Blue cheese to Pan Chancho of Kingston where I intercepted it, rather indirectly, on the way to the photography studio in T.O. Also featured was Thunder Oak GoudaJensen’s Cheddar, and Montforte Dairy’s Toscano.

Wow, it still feels like Thanksgiving. Say cheese! and have a great Fall everybody.

photography by James Tse

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