About Cheese

Friendly, unpretentious, intimate, quirky … delicious.
About Cheese is a foodie’s dream tucked into a Church Street storefront.
The grilled cheese sandwich elevates and transforms the definition. It’s the kind of first-​time experience one remembers.
I loved the eclectic selection and generous attitude.
About Cheese is now on my ‘Not-​To-​Be-​Missed’ list of Toronto attractions.

I love having a lovely cheese shop in my neighbourhood. Almost as much as I love cheese. Okay, I don’t love anything almost as much as I love cheese.
It’s a small store, so if there are other customers, it might be a while until the staff gets to you. Just kill time by perusing the selection. There are frequent specials (we picked up a sexy wedge of Brie for $ 5 over the weekend and I am eating it RIGHT NOW, YUM) and the owner is great. We hung around a little longer just to keep chatting.
Oh, and chocolate croissant. Get one of those.

Rude. Rude. Rude.
When I first walked in the rank stench of cheese punched me in the face enough for me to exclaim, ‘Oh my, it stinks in here.” After 3 years in Paris I NEVER experienced such a poorly ventilated formagerie.
I will NEVER go back to this cheese shop or recommend it. I have no clue what was wrong with the cheese monger. He could have been put off by my reaction to the smell, but he had a MAJOR attitude with me when I asked if they had unpasteurized cheeses. He had no clue where any of the cheeses were and was almost angry with helping me.
My boyfriend goes there all the time and got great service. The person serving him even commented about the other cheese monger.
I left the store without buying anything and waited for my boyfriend outside.

I love this cheese store! It’s wonderful! Lots of delicious cheeses to choose from, including many local selection and international finds! What really sets this store apart from other cheese stores in the city is how knowledgeable the staff are about cheeses and how they expertly pick out cheeses for you (if you want them to) based on your likes/​dislikes! They are also very patient, even when the store is packed, in helping you find the right cheese!
Another delicious thing to do on a weekend day is stop by to buy piping hot, hand-​stretched mozzarella. If you want to do this, it might be worthwhile to call ahead to time your visit correctly.

This is an excellent little place on Church St for a world of cheese and everything connected to it (including delicious fresh croissants, cured meat, spices, jams, and more!)
The staff are always extremely friendly and helpful. On my last visit we were looking for three diverse cheeses for a wine & cheese party and the staff made some great recommendations. Just give them an idea about what you’re looking for and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction. And, just to make sure, you can taste any of the cheeses for yourself before making a purchase.
Even though I’m guilty of using the new MLG Loblaws for far too many groceries these days, I continue to go out of my way to get to About Cheese. It’s worth it!

They have an amazing selection of cheeses. The staff is incredible. The only complaint is… they seem to have stopped selling the spiced pecans that I fell in love with. Why? Why? I want them to come back.
The best part is they make delicious grilled cheese sandwiches on a Paganini press in store. I love to pop in for a quick lunch when I’m on the go. Be warned, highly buttery, gooey, and messy.
Aside from cheese, they have a pretty fancy selection of condiments such as truffle oil, finishing salts, and exotic herb blends. An array of hand painted chocolates are also for sale along with your favorite cheese buddies, like olive oil, vinegar, pickles, fresh baked bread, and cheese boards.

Moderate selection of cheese, but holly prices. I almost choked.
Huge cheese fan, if desperate I would go back nice selection of spices and other curious items. But would head to Kensington market for my cheese next time.

AMAZING cheese shop! DEFINITELY on the BEST customer service list!
Knowledgeable staff who are keen to cater to whims :)
They unequivocably support local businesses, small runs, and I have absolute confidence in every product I buy from this shop.
So what if Loblaws has their ‘wall of cheese’… there is NO guide (I have to be extremely careful due to allergies) and you can’t taste anything before you invest in the $ 10 slice. I LOVE great cheese & this shop delivers!!! Can’t wait to go back & stuff my face with a croissant, they even carry pastries in addition to cheese. my undoing!

Why are they great? Knowledgeable and friendly staff. Weekly specials. They give you samples of cheeses that somehow are exactly what you are looking for. I am overwhelmed whenever I am at a cheese place but I love cheese so when they feature a 2 for 1 special each week I can try new cheeses with less guilt and more to share with friends. The prices are comparable to the other stinky cheese shops and they also carry wonderful chocolates from a local artist. Also the place smells nice so we know it is well ventilated and they know their cheese. I will try to get here earlier so that I can sample the fresh baked goods but I would love to come back any time I can get away and stroll.

I am a cheese fanatic, so cheese shops are sort of cracky for me. Good cheese is heavenly. And hot cheese is nature’s perfect food.
My biggest gripe is cheese wrapped in plastic rather than paper, as I find it affects the flavour, and I think they would be advised to make that switch. But I do like the selection here, and their grilled cheese sandwiches are pretty wonderful.

You know that Beyonce song «Halo»? That’s what comes to mind when I think of About Cheese. Oh so dreamy. Oh so perfect.
I guess I should mention that I kinda ADORE cheese, so About Cheese is somewhat my heaven. Shall I break it down?
— Cheese. Fancy cheese. Delish cheese.
— Lovely fresh baked goods! Get there in the morning as they sell out quick!
— Daily specials! My fav so far has been the truffle mac and cheese! Only $ 4!
— Grilled cheese! Hot! Melt in your mouth! Yum!
— Hot dudes. I’m not even kidding. If you work here and you’re not gay give me your number next time you sell me cheese.
I dare you to name a better place. I dare you.

I was out for a walk with some friends and I passed by a window that had a huge selection of dried chilis and other amazing spices in the display. I stopped at that moment and had to take a look at this window! It was in fact the giant bowl of vanilla beans that made me head in your doors. I knew a store that would put such beautiful products in it’s window must be on a mission to share fantastic food. Once through I was greeted by familiar culinary friends and I knew I had made an amazing decision.
I walked immediately to your amazing selection of «Épice de cru» spices and was floored by all that your had. I have seen this collection before but very rarely and to know I now had access to these made me extremely happy. I then made my way around your chilies and mortar and pestles and had significant nostalgia. I was greeted by amazing staff who were very knowledgeable and accommodating and understood the art of customer service. Your cheese and meat selections were to die for and I was so excited to see a goat cheese version of my favourite aged gouda, «Beemster». When I approached your soft cheese counter I was disappointed to see my favourite brie not there, however your employee Jen was quick to change my mind by having my try the Brillat Savarin. You have a convert, it was truly to die for.
I loved your house made products, like the plum, walnut and honey terrine and the blue cheese and chocolate chip cookies. The croissants also reminded my of my coffee breaks in France and Germany (which means they must be incredible) and though I did not have a chance to try them today, I will be back to try them again.
This shop is TOP NOTCH, and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates fine food, done well with an amazing atmosphere to top it it off. GREAT JOB!!!

Fantastic cheeses, fantastic service, and I have a small crush on one of the guys who works there. What more can I say?
Actually, I can always say more: I really like that they don’t try to oversell you. Unlike at some cheese shops, the pieces that they cut you are a fairly modest size, so you get to try a wider selection without spending a fortune. I also think their prices are lower than some other places, although I’m not a serious enough cheese-​buyer to have actually compared prices of the same products to other stores, since I always buy something different anyway.

Hottest staff ever. Plus their grilled cheese is a total pornographic spectacle. Oozing delicious cheeses on perfectly grilled bread. Plus if you’re into meat, they add prosciutto free of charge.
Ok, so let’s recap — delicious grilled cheese with optional free meat and hot staff serving you.
As good as it gets for real.

A couple years back I was in Normandy France taking a stroll through the pasteur rolling green hills. I stopped in the town of Camembert and visited one of the original and only remaining hand made camembert cheese farms. The moment I walked in, in the most dispicable french, I tried to communicate to the cheese lady that, «I’m a big fan of cheese». She starred at me confused and my partner burst out laughter. To this day, he still likes to bring that story up to prove how geeky I actually am. Well, I’m not ashamed and I’d scream it from the roof tops (even if this groupie gets serious digestive problems for it).
About cheese is my fantasy cheese shop… and it exist!
JACKIE’S TOP TEN REASONS WHY TO SHOP AT ABOUT CHEESE
1. The cheese is incredible.
2. Vast selection of Ontario and Canadian cheeses
3. Samples, Samples everywhere
4. The guys are good looking.
5. The staff are knowledgeable and don’t try to oversell. They know how to pair with alcohol and best ways to use it. Pick their brains. They’re incredibly passionate.
6. They sell St Johns bread
7. They’re very creative and are constantly thinking up and creating new yummy cheese delicacies like blue cheese chocolate balls and blue cheese chocolate chip cookies.
8. They make one of the best grilled cheeses I’ve ever had
9. They have fresh croissants. So buttery, so good.
10. The guys are good looking. Oh right. I said that already. But for a girl whose a fan of cheese and also enjoys some eye candy, it’s a dream come true.
A lot of people complain about how expensive cheese is. Well it can be. All you need it to be honest with your budget and have the cheese men take it from there. They will give you a lot for your buck in quality and quantity.
It is such a treat to have a cheese shop like About Cheese. I don’t ever mind dropping $ 40-​$ 50 on a few blocks of cheese. It’s beautiful, organized and welcoming inside. Take a looksy and try some of their freebies. I can promise, you won’t be leaving empty handed.

Not much to say other than this is THE BEST grilled cheese sandwich in the city. I recommend taking the prosciutto option. They use thinly sliced La Quercia prosciutto which adds just a touch of saltiness to this decadent treat. It is buttered up almost to excess, and the Frere Jacques cheese is also piled on in abundance, resulting the most gooey, delicious sandwich you’ve ever bitten into. Highly addictive.
Aside from the sandwich, they carry (obviously) a wide assortment of excellent cheeses, including Blue Haze, a rather interesting smoked blue which I would recommend.
They also carry Fred’s Bread, including my personal fave the Yukon Gold Potato Focaccia, as well as a range of special goods such as chocolates, olive oils, and condiments.
Staff have always been friendly and helpful.
Definitely a place to stop by if you find yourself in the Village.

Funny that this got ROTD right before I was going to update it.
I JUST went with my friend– and brought two extra friends to try the ROTD experience with me.
Lest ye be looking for that ROTD experience– it is no longer there– except for the hot staff. they are still there.
But the grilled cheese was underwhelming. Before it was the most excessive amount of buttered bread and overflowing cheese you have ever seen. Now? it’s grilled cheese.
And the ridiculous amount of samples, I was told, are on crackdown.
I hate it when high expectations are set, met and then landslide after all the ruckus advertises a place as being amazing.

When me and the BF were looking for a place to live in toronto we came across this place in our hunt. We were so excited that we found a wicked cheese shop we were hoping we would find a home close by so when we wanted amazing cheese it was right there for us. Living in Mississauga I have never seen a place like this before. Thankfully we moved just around the corner and now we have access to this place whenever we want ! The people that work there are super cool. They are so friendly and easy to talk to. They are knowledged about there products and always offer to help.
But never mind the people, let talk cheese. I had no idea that real cheddar cheese actually IS NOT orange… its white!!! learn something new everyday. They dont only have cheese, they have organic butters, cocoas (the real chocolate, not that cadbury shit), crackers, jelly, oils… i dont even know what else cause i find something different everyday. They make a mean ass girlled cheese sandwich, with or without procuitto, and they let you sample before you buy (which i doo suggest)
If you ever want a good real full of flavour parmigiano cheese, go for the italian one they have, way better then any other i have had. We sometimes buy the canadian cause tis cheeper, but the italian is the way.
Over all this place is the shit. Check it out, pay the extra once in a while for some real, untouchable cheese, and you wont be disappointed!

Phenomenal cheese shop. They carry tons of Canadian cheeses that I’ve never, ever seen in the US. The staff were super friendly and willing to engage in long discussions about the cheese options. They also provided as many tastes as I wanted. In addition, they carry some delicious accompaniments to pair with the cheese.
My only regret is that we couldn’t figure out a sure-​fire way for me to smuggle their cheese back in the States… next time.

On the night before new year’s eve we held our annual gathering and this year I decided to use my gorgeous new cheese board and highlight some fantastic cheeses.
I’m a smart girl. At least smart enough to listen to my cheese monger chick, Lauren Wilson, and take her advice on what to put out. She told me always cheese in odd numbers…3…or 5… interesting but I heeded. On the board I added two condiments, a cheese chutney with fruit and a carmelized onion condiment, both bought on my recent England travels. Also I completed the condiment trilogy with some of About Cheese’s own house condiment, the pressed fruit log (with nuts and dried fruits).
Take a look at the pics I submitted it to About Cheese’s cheese board photo contest because who knows… I might win the big cheese! :)
Happy new year to my Unilocal peeps!