The Cheese Gallery
Oh man, I have to say that I'm a huge fan of anything cheesy. Nothing is complete without it and rarely will you find me saying 'no thank you'. One of my favourite spots to hit on my holiday trail is The Cheese Gallery in Thornbury, Ontario. If you haven't been, let me tell you, it's a quaint little shop that offers a local infused space for sipping on wine and nibbling on some of the best cheeses out there.
Owner of The Cheese Gallery, Casey Thomson, opened her doors in June of 2010. Casey had a long, hard-working relationship with her corporate career, until a slight road stop led her to open a unique cheese shop aimed at keeping things local. Becoming an entrepreneur isn't a piece of cake job - it requires patience, passion, and the most loveable support - all things Casey possessed. This dream became a reality and is now a gorgeous space for the community to pop in for specialty cheeses, share a bottle of wine or browse the retail pantry for extra fixings! All the blood, sweat and tears transformed this once empty commercial space into a thriving local business. Well, done!
Every Christmas you can expect a rockin' cheese board at one of my intimate holiday parties. Over the years, I'd like to think I've mastered the art of a cheese and charcuterie board and I find so much pleasure in creating a stunning eye-piece. A communal board is fun, colourful and it encourages conversation - which makes it a must-have for any soirée.
It doesn't stop at cheese though! Casey has products for sale from over 50 local artisans in the area. It's so fun pondering the shelves and exploring the diverse collection of handmade goods, and more times than not, I end up taking home more than just cheese.
This is most definitely a community hub. With friendly staff who really love what they do, it truly makes your experience special. The Cheese Gallery is what all my cheesy dreams are made of. The selection is impeccable - creamy brie, crumbly cranberry, hard asiago, potent blue. I could go on. SO much good cheese! Annnnnd, when I have fallen in love w/ a particular kind, I rarely stray. This years holiday cheese board was constructed with all of my personal faves. Check em' below!
Chateau de Bourgogne (So darn creamy it's insane)
Cranberry Wensleydale (Adds that festive colour to your board)
Rosemary Asiago (I really just love saying "asiago")
Supporting local businesses couldn't be further from important in small communities like ours. When you shop local you receive benefits you don't even dream of getting from a big-box-store. You're not only supporting your fellow neighbours, but you're helping drive success in a small town like Thornbury, which doesn't happen without the kind and giving locals. These sustainable connections will help our local economy prosper and will help continue to help build up this vibrant community. Power to the 519.
I REALLY encourage you to head on over to pick up some punchy cheeses, chutneys and all the goods before your next party. It'll have the Cheese Gallery touch that you can't get anywhere else.
It's one tradition I don't see changing for a very long time.