Check out the Bottega next 2 doors down! This is where they have a full bakery section (treats, coffee/tea, fresh bread), deli section, sandwich area (can heat it up if needed), food to go (salads, charcuterie boxes, etc), frozen meals (frozen desserts too), a eating area, and a food truck (grilled cheese, poutine, etc). The "Factory" a few wdoors down is the grocery store. I've never been disappointed by any of their sandwiches - bread and ingredients always fresh and tasty, and portions are large (I could never finish them in 1 sitting), and the price was very reasonable. The baked goods are priced even better - similar pastries at other stores are usually more expensive, yet these ones were just as good. The brisket poutine is HUGE and the brisket was delicious - just wish there was more cheese. Service is friendly overall, but they take their time with each order. Lots of seating, but parking situation is not good, and public transport is not convenient - we just ubered here the several times we went. read more

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Omg if I died and went to heaven this is what I want it to look like, so many amazing cheeses, meats, produce and much more. The absolute best charcuterie boards made to take and was such a hit at our event read more

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Came in with my family and, surprisingly, not a single staff member greeted us despite plenty of employees around. The vibe on social media is full of energy and excitement, but walking into the actual store felt more like any regular grocery store, with none of the charm they promote online. The highlight of the visit was Alejandro. I was searching for raw cheeses aged under 60 days--something hard to find in the U.S. Another staff member kept insisting pasteurized cheeses were raw, which was frustrating. Thankfully, Alejandro overheard, stepped in, and pointed me to exactly what I was looking for: Bête-à-Seguin, raw and under 60 days. Super knowledgeable and genuinely helpful. Alejandro, you're the reason this review isn't a total 1-star. Keep rockin', brother! read more

Such a cute place. Very friendly and fast service. Had a Porchetta Sandwich for lunch. Very delicious and reasonably priced. Would definitely recommend this place for an afternoon visit. Will be back. read more

What a neat place to fulfill all your cheesy, charcuterie dreams! Tons of gorgeous cheese options and very knowledgeable staff to advise you of what you might like based on the favourites you have on your list. They got a ton of things to pair your cheese with including a massive selection of sauces, spreads, vinegars, oils, chocolates, crackers, deli meats, and more. It smells incredible in there. Don't be afraid to ask someone to sample the cheese where they are cutting them fresh by weight. It really helps you best know what you want to pick up. read more

I love cheese and this is my favourite spot for it. They have all the cheese of your dreams available plus your other grocery items. I stopped shopping at the big grocery stores since coming here. It's a little more expensive but the quality is unmatched. The staff are super nice and so helpful! It's always so great shopping there. You honestly have everything you need with the meat department, tons of fresh produce, cheese, prepared foods in the fridge that are delicious. I always walk 100 meters down the road to the bottega. Amazing coffee and lattes and so reasonably priced too (tastes way better and cheaper than Starbucks). Their baked goods are fantastic. Love their bombalones (Italian donuts) and croissants. They also have a fridge full of amazing sandwiches that I get often that are so reasonably priced. Huge turkey sandwich for $10, you can't get that anywhere nowadays. Highly recommend checking this spot out if you are in the west end! Ps. They also have a food truck just inside the bottega seating area. Highly recommend their breakfast sandwich. The croissant bun is so good. read more

The Olympics is the greatest celebration of achievement in sports. Great works of art are celebrated in museums like the Louvre in France. Great recording artists are celebrated with Grammy awards. Motion picture arts have the Academy of Motion Picture Arts...the Oscars. For the greatest celebration of the pinnacle of international fine cheeses and charcuterie, Cheese Boutique serves as the definitive impresario. This is a jewel of Toronto and truly should be a stop for all tourists and locals alike. Well done CB on creating a truly world class shopping experience. Exceptional staff and experience!!!!!! read more

Parking: usually it is pretty packed, need to park on the street. If possible walk here. Service: very knowledgeable, they know what they are talking about and can give you suggestions. Food: Depending on what you get the prices very. The fruit and veggies are organic so they are really expensive. Cheese verries in prices, and can be very expensive. They do have a fridge where everything is $13. Or 3 for $30. Fully worth it if you want to try something random for cheaper. They moved the bakery down the street. 100 meters, cannot miss it. They also have a coffee shop. Bakery: They have everything from cakes, to croassiants, to small bites. Most of the pastries are smaller than in other bakeries, but the quality makes up for the size. Kouign Amann $4.00. French pastry layered with butter sugar and salt (5 stars). Extremely tasty, like a ticket version of a croissant. Cheese pie $7.00. 5 stars - made with Philly dough, great taste. This was enough for breakfast. read more

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Went to Cheese Boutique food truck. Capras kitchen Watermelon and feta salad fresh amazing Panella chickpea was great read more

Cheese Boutique - From Capras food truck. Watermelon and feta salad - Cheese Shops Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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8/26/20 Filled to the brim with all kinds of treats. I shopped today for two families and so I took tons of pictures to text my friend along the way. Recommend checking out their Instagram before going also. :) ___________________________________ I was expecting Pusateri's meets garage which was fine, because I love to pay less for excellent quality. The place was nicer than I expected, but most importantly, food was amazing. I love how they let you try before you buy. This was well worth the drive from Thornhill. We grabbed the following goodies: Mini loaf cornbread with little bits of corn in it - crumble warning - but so yummy. Sliced and into my freezer to enjoy over time My favourite fleur de self caramels from France (2) Thinly sliced imported Serrano ham - consumed in the parking lot in the car German mustard with dill Hard to find Imported Burrata from Italy at a smoking $10 price point. The sticker that they placed on the container states that they fly it in every week. Blood orange balsamic glaze (to go with the greats) Two year old PEI cheddar - yum Four year old cheddar from Normandy - mmm There were so many beautiful treats to choose from. Also a very cold room at the ba leith the butcher - I wasn't dressed warmly enough to check it out very long. Brrrrr. All in all, special treat! read more

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We've been shopping here for about six years Love the cheese selection, love the vegetable selection, love the meat counter and the staff? Amazing, helpful and helpful! Rodger Campbell read more

Wow! Went for an event so with the free win and food it was a ten out of ten event. Man the food was perfect. This store has it all, literally, think of Italian everything, bakery, cheeses, steaks, sauces, wow, man, perfect place, one of the best businesses and food establishments ever, literally, it's that good, read more

Very nice shop, kind of in the middle of nowhere west end Toronto lol Almost a hidden secret! Love the great samples flowing of lovely sweets! Wish they sampled more cheese, they have a lot of it & looks like a curing dried meat room! Cool shop for sure! May improve staff awareness a bit would help in such a busy place! Parking just a few spots if your lucky! Good for locals! read more

Everything you need is here and then some! The most incredible selection of cheeses with a fabulous team to help educate. The produce is abundant, the meat department a treat, specialties at every corner and a few steps away coffee and sweets. What else can you ask for ?! read more

This shop is a bit out of the way, but it's worth the trip! Sweet foodie heaven... Obviously, they have a wonderful selection of cheeses. There is even a cheese vault with giant wheels of cheese... I saw there were some platters in there for pickup, presumably you can place an order and they prepare everything for you (complete with little paper labels) -- it would be great for entertaining. However, this shop has much more than cheese. It is crammed full of goodies and can be overwhelming at first, but everything is really well organized and easy to find. The shop is broken up into sections -- there's a room of artisan pastas (and a locked cabinet of truffles and truffle oil!), a big room with teas, jams, honeys and preserves, a large shelf of hot sauces, a separate section for meat and produce (not a huge butcher, but the meats all looked really fresh and they make their own sausages), an upstairs area of cooking wares, a deli counter, and a dessert section with truffles, macarons, and cakes from Rahier. It's really fun to look around here and I would give it 5 stars except the prices are really high. It's understandable given that the quality of the stuff is really good, but there are some items (e.g. Bumper Crop pickled veggies - http://www.thebumpercrop.com) that I have seen at Sanagans or St. Lawrence Market for cheaper. I would recommend checking this place out for some fancy things (cheeses, mustards, tapenades, etc.) to treat yourself or for when you have guests. I would not come here to buy regular groceries (i.e. milk, vegetables, bread) because that would be super-expensive fast!! read more

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We just enjoyed a fabulous morning on tour with Ardiana tasting cheese, sipping wine and enjoying coffee and pastry. What a treat! To get educated about the process of making cheese, aging foods and learning more about this remarkable family business! I highly recommend you visit this store and immerse yourself in the flavours and aromas and experience a culinary home run!! Not only that- but it's a beautiful store! Jae & Michelle. read more

There's a reason so many chefs shop here...this is one of the GTA's premiere gourmet food shops, specializing in an astonishing array of cheese, meats and other choice deliousnesses, from oils and vinegars to produce, sweets and beyond. If you're curating a cheese/charcuterie board for your next get-together (with some nice breads, crackers, spreads, nuts and olives for good measure) this is your mecca. The team of knowledgeable folks behind the counter will help guide you through the assortment based on your personal tastes, and samplings are plentiful. Another fun thing about this store is the random samples that are passed around...I'm not sure if this only happens on certain days or at certain times of year, but when we were there stocking up for a New Year's party, we were given: free espresso with biscott, bomboloni (cream-filled Italian donut), a juicy orange and crispy baked prosciutto (a MUST...we wound up buying a bag). Bring lots of money and get ready to indulge! read more

Owner/employees threaten assault to seniors, shouting, banging on car. October 2023 One of the owners' relatives at Cheese Boutique was enraged and shouting nonstop, follows me out of the store and across the roadway, and is joined by another employee shouting. This was at 4PM on October 30th. The owner relative banged on my car, shouting at me and my wife and threatening to punch me out. We are in our 80's and a lot smaller than these two big thugs. I never raised my voice at all and did nothing that could possibly justify this. I wrote the owner Afrim Pristine; no reply so far. I had been discussing a change to their baguette recipe. Despite my mild, friendly manner he claimed to take offence at something and started the shouting which never stopped. The other employee joined in the shouting and said here's an insult:"you're old." And gave me the finger. We have been loyal customers for close to 40 years, spending lots of money and friendly with the staff and the owners' relatives. We have praised the store to many friends. The owners relative knew this, and I reminded him anyway, pleading with him to stop the attack on the car and threatening to hit me. My wife and I never even raised our voices at any time in all this and stayed extremely polite. I'm still feeling very shaken by this. Seniors beware of Cheese Boutique! read more

If you are a cheese lover like me, you would love Cheese Boutique! It almost transports you into another era. We tried a ton of the cheese samples...creamy gorgonzola, Norwegian cheese and a bunch of others. We also ended ordering lunch from there. I got the mufaletta sandwich after reading all the reviews. It was extremely salty due to the sea salt on the bread but also the salty cured meats in the sandwich. I ended up taking it back and they offered me a replacement. I got the turkey and brie sandwich (much better!) and they threw in 3 arrancini balls as well. You also get free espresso and a biscotti during your visit. Overall a 3.5! read more

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Since my previous review of the Cheese Boutique, a lot has changed. While I still shop there regularly and hate changing reviews, I feel compelled to do so for the loyal yelp crowd that need more than repetitive "awesomes" or harsh criticisms based on obscure issues. The Mouse House on Ripley is still a reliable place for mid-high priced gourmet cheeses, cured meats, and baked goods. You will still find a generous selection of pricier pastas, olive oils, and sauces. Here is what has changed: 1. The layout. For several months the Cheese Boutique tinkered with the layout. Every time you went in, something was different or in a different location. Now, the cash is in a narrow space by the door that backs up on busy days. 2. The products. To be fair, the layout was changed to accommodate more products and move toward being a full-service grocery store. This was (in my opinion) a mistake. Now you have produce, yet it is the same stuff you can get anywhere, only at a much higher price here. Recently I spotted a $9 container of blueberries. You can now get almost anything, yet much of this is more large chain grocery store than premium/boutique retailer. 3. The experience. Cheese Boutique expanded a bit to accommodate the move to a full-service grocery store. The addition looks cheap. You see plugs/wires in the ceiling, plywood, and signs that don't point to a well-insulated, nice space. Farm Boy looks far more grand than this. I can't imagine that an architect drew this up. With the expansion, other issues such as having to have your veggies priced when you put them in the buggy (no scales at check out?). Also, you have to take a number to be served at the cheese/meat counter. It might be efficient, yet this feels more like Service Ontario than anything high end. 4. The service. Service is now just ok. Yes, they still bring around an espresso while you shop at times, the guy who helps you park on busy days is great, and they let you sample cheese before you buy it. However, the staff seem frustrated or tired most of the time. The staff on the floor seem to always be too busy. Something is (at least to a regular like myself) a bit off. (On a recent visit, I bought burgers. Two were bright red, yet the others were brown. I asked about this and was told that the brown ones were made yesterday. I was assured they would be fine. Well, they were fine, but this (again) was not the experience I remember from past years.) 5. Prices. No one comes here expecting No Frills, yet prices are quite high for an experience that has fallen off. I recently paid over 17$ for twelve small pieces of biscotti after waiting 4-5 minutes to be served. Definitely go if you haven't been, yet realize that Cheese Boutique is not the experience it once was. read more

This place has everything. So many things to explore and try. It's like a food theme park. It's much more than cheese.

This is the best little grocer in the West end, and worth the trip from anywhere in the city. They have a wide variety of Italian imported goods including fine cheeses, olives and olive oils, pasta, sauces , coffee, and much more. They have a huge selection of in house cured meats as well as fresh steaks, chicken (marinated in lemon pepper is my favourite), and house made burger patties to name a few. Homemade sandwiches on fresh breads, a wall of chocolate treats, crackers and sweets. They even have a large selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. It's a great place to buy a special hostess gift - like a fine olive oil. On top of all this is the wonderful staff and owners. It's a family run business that is focused on giving you a special experience to keep you coming back. I cannot say enough good things about this place. We do most of our grocery shopping here now. Side note - One guy In Yelp complained that a container of blueberries was $9 and that was too much as you can get the "same thing" at a big brand grocer. In my opinion the blueberries here are much better than anywhere else I've tried. You get what you pay for. So if you are ok with crappy grainy blueberries then stick to Costco or Walmart. read more

I am a fan of Cheese Boutique. As other Yelpers have mentioned, it is foodie heaven. The selection of olive oils, cured meats, cheeses, olive oils, pastas, balsamic vinegars are top notch in quality. The price is steep, but do not expect to spend less than $50 here unless you are getting 1-2 things. Upon entering, you will be greeted by an employee offering you a complimentary espresso that comes with a biscotti! Don't mind if I do! As soon as you turn the next corner, there was someone sampling premium baslamic vinegars from Italy. He offered me a straight up shot of it. Delicious, sweet, rich, thick. I came around 5pm, an hour before close; and it was not busy at all. I felt comfortable, and nobody really bothered or pressured me into buying anything. I sipped my espresso, walked around, and day dreamed of things I could make (if I had the money). What I bought: I left with a bottle of Cholula hot sauce. I am sure you can find this somewhere else in Toronto for cheaper, but it was a spur-of-the-moment purchase, and I craved it for my eggs the next day. I bought a brick of parmesan for everyday use. I also got a ball of fresh burrata cheese flown in from Italy every Tuesday. There is no prices listed, so I got 2. Mistake. They are $10 each. The Cheese guy helping me was kind enough to remove 1. I served it with roasted grapes and crusty Portuguese toasted bread. Delicious. I was close to getting Alfrid Pristine's homemade cheese blend for fondue $13. Simply add some IPA beer, and heat until melted, then serve with bread. This is on my list next time. I will return to Cheese Boutique after pay day. I really want to try Basiclio Pesce's famous Mufaletta sandwich! I did not see it during my visit, I will return earlier next time; I believe they sold out! One Love Cheese Boutique, and shoutout to the legendary Pristine Family. read more

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My friend Howard orders a takeout antipasti cheese, meat and vegetable tray from Cheese Boutique for his annual Superbowel party routinely and there is no wonder why. The quality of the nicely arranged finger snacks are unbeatable, and each has a cute little label on a stick providing the name and bio of the cheese or slice of meat. The Guinness cheddar along with the old cheddar were standouts, and the salamis were magnificent! The marinated vegetables were terrific with the subtle flavour in the grilled peppers touching my taste buds like nothing else could. I would be ok if this were the complete meal, it was an outstanding array of snacking goodness! read more

Cheese Boutique - Incredible antipasti tray! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

While I love the quality and variety, I really would recommend that the employees wore gloves when serving us. Dry aged prime rib steak is phenomenal and worth paying a premium. However, pantry items and fruits/veggies are over priced - good quality for the most part. read more

I don't know how I hadn't heard about this place sooner, but when I did I was extremely excited. I was eager to check it out, in part because the idea of the cheese tours as a birthday present for my foodie friends was likewise exciting. I drove out and drop by when I had some time to really look around. Not conveniently located but no big deal. And the store was spectacular. There were shelves of unique products, display upon display, unique items, pastries, fresh local produce and meat, kitchen utensils, and of course cheese selection. Frankly I realized this little trip to the cheese store was going to cost me a fortune! As I was browsing through the hardware department one of the staff pointed the owner out to me so I went and said hi and told him how impressive the store was. He said thank you but was a bit dismissive- fair enough likely a busy day. I made a point to say hi because I noticed that one of the tour options was with him, so I wanted a sense of how much fun that might be. I bought a ton of stuff, and a selection of bite-size cheeses and meats for a cheese and meat board I was putting together for friends who were coming over for cocktails in a couple of days. I went straight home and stored it all in my fridge although I must admit one very unique cheese didn't even make it that far! So 72 hours later I pull it all out of my fridge where it had been carefully stored. I unwrap the house chicken liver pate with orange, and there's a a layer of green mold on it! I unwrap the shaved rare roast beef and it is clearly off. I carefully unwrap the rest of the product and for the most part it seems fine, but I was a little concerned at this point. The next day I tried to call but couldn't get through on the telephone so I sent them an email and told him how much I enjoyed the store but that they may have a stale dating problem and I had these two products that had gone bad which I had purchased. I wasn't looking for a refund nor did I ask for anything, my goal was to make sure that they were able to manage the quality control so this would not happen again. No response. Wow. That alone has made me not want to come back to this store again or recommend it. The lack of response coupled with the owners dismissive attitude left me seriously wondering about their priorities and if perhaps there are success over the years has allowed them to rest on their laurels? read more

Used to be thee best - not any more. The meat section has fallen away and anybody who is looking first class steaks at a reasonable price should look elsewhere. Even the previously top of the line cheese section has fallen away. Supposedly a world class cheese could not be cut with a heavy duty cutter - obviously had been sitting somewhere for some time. It was the consistency and taste of masonry. It is entirely possible that it has changed hands recently, most of the staff seem new. read more

If you love cheese check this place out. During my pregnancy, like many pregnant women, I couldn't eat cheese that wasn't pasterized. I was happy to still be able to eat fancy cheese by asking the knowlegable staff for their recommendations on pasterized cheese. The best part is that taste testing is encouraged at the Cheese Boutique so I thoroughly enjoyed my time picking the yummiest cheese to take home. read more

If you want to find the highest quality this or that, generally speaking this place is fantastic.

I'd like to open this review by just saying one line: "you got what you paid for". Yes, the cheese boutique isn't what you can describe as economical but certainly this place is the best by far when it comes to high quality selection of some of the best European food (in particular Italian). Now, while everything, and I mean e-very-thi-ng, is absolutely fabulous, the cheese is what will send you to heaven. This store has his own Cheese Vault which is the first of its kind in Canadian retail. Here they offer a chance for customers to learn about and appreciate the aging process of cheese. According to them and their website (and from what I know about cheese and after I have visited the production of Parmigiano Reggiano when in Italy visiting my family), the Cheese Boutique has some of the longest-aging wheels of cheese on Earth (i.e. world's largest log of Provolone at approx 400Kg., to a wheel of Parmigiano that has been aging since 2002). From the range of products to the range within the same type of product, its quality, the service and the employees knowledge of what they offering, the whole store simply offers the best deal you can get in Toronto by far. This store put to shame every attempt of selling mediocre products at the supermarket. And in all honesty, when you compare the cost of a top notch cheese here to the attempt of providing the equivalent at any commercial grocery store, the price different isn't that great like instead, the quality is. Many things are unique to this shop so if you are looking for a special gift, prepared foods, the most amazing baked goods and cheese in particular, it's all there. Staff is super nice and helpful and will let you sample. I have discovered they make one of the BEST almond croissants in the city and one of the best krapfen (German/Northern Italian version of donut filled with REAL jam) second only to "DOLCE BOMBE" in Vaughan/Woodbridge. You got to come here and experience it by yourself. It's food lovers paradise! read more

Adult candy store. They have a huge selection and wonderful offering of gourmet foods. Be prepared to spend a bit of money though but it's worth it if you can. The absolute best selection of meat and cheese in the GTA. read more

Do NOT buy an on-line gift card from Cheese Boutique! I did, the gift card was never received, and upon phoning the C.B. was told it had been used used and the balance went from $100 to $0! read more

A paradise of cheese... enough said! Seriously, they have an infinite variety of cheese, and other premium foods, and it's hard to leave without spending a pretty penny, as everything is so enticing! Be prepared to be wowed and to leave with your pocket book a little lighter ;) read more

If you love cheese, you must come visit this place. It's cheese heaven!!! No wonder chefs and people who love to do charcuterie board, like myself, come here. read more

Just when you think you've seen the best Toronto has to offer, come here. I don't even review retailers, but I was so taken back by this place that I had to let my excitement out. It's legitimately the most amazing place on the planet. The meat, the deli, the cheese counter, the imported oils, the vinegars, the rare mushrooms, the produce, the cheese cave, the walk-in meat drying fridge. It's just too much to put into words. Come here, bring your life savings, buy everything and die in a gluttonous, gourmet-fueled calamity. read more

SO UNEXPECTED! This was definitely NOT an ordinary day at the supermarket! This may just be the place to forever change how you experience grocery shopping! PRIVATE TOUR While we were exploring the store, we were approached by Alex Eidelman, the social media rep for Cheese Boutique. "Would you like a private free tour of the place?". Would we??? "Ummm ... YES, please!" FROM ITALY, WITH LOVE The tour started in my favourite "room" in the store - "The Italian Room", featuring wall-to-wall pasta. Now, grab your pens! The brand to note is La Fabbrica Della Pasta di Gragnano - pasta made in Italy, but exclusively for Canada! Alex explained that if you go to any of the top restaurants in Canada, the pasta served is likely the brands sold here! So for those who want to impress your dinner guests, you know where you need to be right now! But AFTER reading the juicy details to follow . . . NOTEABLE KNIGHTS Just before exiting The Italian Room, Alex points to a poster along the side of the door, with a single word : "Chevalier". What does that word mean? A chevalier is an order of merit given by the Order of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Taste Fromage de France. So the list of people on this post have been knighted and worthy as Ambassadors of Cheese! At the ceremony of this elaborate event, there were horses and swords and robes, and a selected few were actually knighted! The importance of this piece was to proudly share these facts: Knights are not normally honoured outside of France, that both the owner and son are noted Chevaliers, and that the owner's son, Afrim Pristine, is the youngest knighted Chevalier in the World! Let it be known: Take their cheese seriously here! CAVED IN! After the Italian Room, we had the privilege of entering the "Cheese Cave". That's right, not a freezer, not a cellar, but a "cave", designed to have temperatures mimicking that of the natural caves of Switzerland! Apparently, the specific temperature of a Swiss cave is ideal for the maturation of cheese. Here, you can see a full array of various sized cheese wheels and packages that have been aged - and aged specifically for the famous chefs, top restaurants, and influential people in the city! I randomly saw name tags for Susur Lee, Langdon Hall, The Four Seasons, and The R.O.M. Each "bundle" is said to be worth thousands of dollars! Alex proudly pointed to his name on one of the tags. Lucky duck! DARE ME! When we walked by the dairy products, Alex pulled out a $20 palm-sized package of Truffle Oil from the fridge. "This is crack!", he says, with a smirk as to dare us! SOLD! I quickly snagged one. SAY WHAT? Finally, all great events must end with dessert! Alex suggested we head over to the Gelato Section and try a traditional Italian treat: Gelato & Balsamic Vinaigrette! But brace yourself! There's something I need to mention before you buy this treat! The balsamic vinegarette used for this treat is - $25 for a shot - or $300 a bottle - and you HAVE to have it with the "fior di latte" gelato. Why is it $25 per shot? It's been aged for 25 years! But it's completely worth it to try because the taste is exquisite! Everything is made in-house. DREAMY This was the first time I had heard ofThe Cheese Boutique, and walked away very charmed. The experience was heightened, thanks to the gracious Alex Eidelman. for sharing his cheese expertise! This cute little European-focused market is quite the foodie experience, from start to end. A bit pricey, but if you are a foodie or chef, you will discover it is more than a "food fantasy" ... read more

We moved to Toronto recently and although there are a number of decent grocery stores, there was nothing to satisfy our craving for GREAT cheese and GREAT gourmet options. Well, cheese boutique is an OASIS of delectable foods from excellent olives to imported pastas to aged prime meats to crunchy baguettes. Seriously it's Mecca for those of us who need to satisfy a picky palate. Fleur de Sel? Check. Fois? Check. Herbs de Provence? Check. Cheese and charcuterie? OMG. Having recently bought a home walking distance to CB I can honestly say that this beautiful store (and it's super friendly staff) make living in Toronto a treat. Now, about that gym membership.... read more

When I die and go to food heaven I imagine that it would look just like the Cheese Boutique. I have been a long time customer of this food mecca, from the days up on Bloor Street and now hidden down on Ripley Avenue. In terms of being a one stop for all your epicurean needs the Cheese Boutique is five star. They carry fresh produce, have a small butcher case, prepared foods, a monster selection of olive oils, pastas, food condiments and also have a dessert case. The only thing missing at the CB is a wine & beer license!!!! I would love to sit down with a house cheese plate and a glass of the grape. It would be pure manna. One of the really cool features of the store is the cheese humidor in the centre of the building. It is a temperature controlled room where they age cheeses and charcuterie. It was in there I found a very cool cheese called Lemon Fetish. You just so have to love a food with the word fetish in it! It's a small round of semi-soft cow's milk cheese with ground up lemon zest rubbed into it forming the rind. It hails from Prince Edward County which is the up and coming cheese region in the province. The CB also carries a large selection of Quebec artisanal cheeses and those guys behind the counter know there cheese stuff! The store also has an amazing selection of breads which being the carbo junkie I am works for me. This is a store with tons of nooks and crannies so be ready to spend some time wandering around. The CB hosts an series of food tastings featuring some of T.O.'s best chefs. It is definitely worth checking it out. Just make sure to hang on to your bank card....this ain't a bargain spot and it doesn't take long to add up the price tag. What you get though is worth every single penny. There is parking available which is also very handy. You can have quick access right off the Queensway. read more

Since its inaugural event 6 years ago, the Festival of Chefs has become an annual tradition at the Cheese Boutique. With a roster of some of Toronto's best chefs, and 100% of proceeds going to Famous PEOPLE Players - I had no excuse not to go. For $5, you get to sample a signature creation and a glass of wine. As you enter, there are puppets suspended in the ceiling of animals, each with a different kind of cheese serving as its core from Famous PEOPLE Players. Once you pass the automatic sliding doors you get the authentic feel of the store front of Cheese Boutique, true to its original Bloor Street location. It looks very rustic, like something you'd see out of a period film on the streets of Europe. The store is perfectly laid out, complete with traffic flow which takes you from section to section of the store. It was like walking through a museum and going from exhibit to exhibit - like the bakery, "Little Italy," which features artisanal pastas exclusive to Canada and Cheese Boutique, and the meat counter just to name a few. It is every gourmand's dream, and just spending time perusing the shelves of offerings or baskets of exotic fruits is culinary education in and of itself. This Sunday would feature chef Victor Barry of Splendido fame with his signature creation, a Parmigiano-Reggiano custard duck ragu and parmesan foam which was light, creamy, and savoury. The featured wine selections (red and white) were from Rosewood Estate Winery. I had the pleasure of a guided tour of Cheese Boutique from beginning to end. It all started with owner Fatos Pristine's love for Brie 42 years ago. Back then, you could only get Brie from Montréal. Pristine would buy enough for himself with a little left over, which he would sell on the counter top of his convenience store. Soon after, chefs in search of ingredients that would differentiate their dishes from others discovered his little secret and a small fridge of gourmet goods (dubbed the Cheese Boutique) found its place into his convenience store. The rest is history. However, it's not all about the cheese (which makes up only 40% of the business). You will find local produce (when its in season), candies, aged steaks, and prepared foods all under one roof. It is truly a food emporium! The icing on the cake for me, was the Vault - a walk-in fridge which simulates a Swiss cave that helps the maturation process. This is where all the magic happens. All cheeses are aged for a minimum of 3 months and all properly labelled - nobody had better steal the one with Susur Lee's name on it! In the below picture (taken inside the Vault), you will see one of four of the world's largest hunks of Provolone, from Italian producer Auricchio. They take their cheese seriously. Both owner and son Afrim Pristine are chevaliers in the Order of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Taste Fromage de France, with Afrim being the youngest in the world to receive this honour. Other unassuming, but important monuments within the store include the red prosciutto slicer in the deli section which is one of the first of its kind. Your everyday meat slicers are set to low to achieve the level of thinness that is fitting of a great prosciutto, however this causes friction and "cooks" the meat. This shiny red slicer is the real deal, and is what one should use to achieve that see-through level of thinness that every prosciutto ought to have. I snagged 2 croissants (plain and almond), the tastiest mango I have ever tasted, and a Fior di Latte Gelato with an exquisite balsamic vinegar (aged 18+ years, and usually $25 a shot or $300 a bottle) and it was heavenly. This is one of the newer additions to Cheese Boutique having launched just 3 weeks ago. And like most things in the store that don't come in a jar, it's made in-house. From the mountains and walls of pastas and condiments, to the friendly and helpful staff - Cheese Boutique is a great place to go. Where else would you find heart-shaped deli meats? Hop in the car and be prepared for an adventure. Many thanks to Alex for showing me around, and for sharing Cheese Boutique's story and history with me. Heed his advice wisely "Treat the cheese counter like it's a Baskin Robbins..." because the best way to discover new yummies is with your taste buds! read more

While the Cheese Boutique caters to the true foodie heart, you can't help but be charmed by this store. With its fine produce on display, shelves of curated sweets, soaring shelves jam-packed with both jams and mysterious packages, and of course, an enormous selection of cheese, there's something for everyone - and it's bound to be tasty. Ring the bell for a sweet (though you might get a look askance if you're not under 12), have tea served in delicate glass cups, and sample delicious cheese from all over. It's a crazy and spell-binding experience to visit the Cheese Boutique for the first time - and every time thereafter. It still hasn't lost its appeal for me as of yet. My favourite thing to do is to visit with friends and cobble a picnic of meats, cheeses, breads, and anything else we fancy, then heading South to the waterfront and enjoying our haul. The only things you need bring are a knife and napkins! If you're looking for a specialty product, this place is your best bet. read more