The age-old craft of artisanal cheese-making is alive and well today right here in Ontario at Monforte Dairy. Owner and lead cheese-maker Ruth Klahsen did not start out creating gourmet cheeses. This classically trained professional chef was busy cooking in Stratford, Ontario's finest and busiest kitchens - Rundles, The Old Prune and the Stratford Festival's Green Room Café, as well as teaching at her alma mater, the Stratford Chefs School.

"I had always loved making cheese," says Ruth, "I was dedicating more and more time to studying the history, technology and art behind it, traveling all over Europe to learn everything I could."

Ruth eventually left the frenetic life of a restaurant chef behind to pursue cheese-making full-time. Less than one year ago, Monforte Dairy was born. Monforte makes artisanal sheep's milk cheeses that are truly works of art. Ruth's unique approach blends 21st century European cheese-making techniques and ancient craft traditions with local Mennonite produced sheep's milk. The resulting high-quality product is smooth, creamy and flavourful.

Cheese-lovers can choose from more than seven varieties of Monforte cheese:

Toscano - This hard cheese is reminiscent of that most famous sheep's milk cheese, Pecorino Romano. Aged 60 days, it has a sharp flavour, perfect for grating or just sliced and added to your next antipasto platter.

Paradiso - A variation on the classic Italian Taleggio, this semi-soft, washed-rind cheese has a tangy bite. Perfect as an addition to a salad or sandwich or great just on its own.

Piacere - Ruth's own take on the classic French cheese Fleur du Maquis. Coated with herbes de Provence, this semi-soft cheese would be perfect as part of any cheese course.

Pepperoncini - Just like the Piacere but instead of herbes de Provence, coated in a spicy mix of peppercorns.

Bauman's Smoked - No artificial flavours here, this soft, young cheese is naturally wood-smoked for an unmistakable flavour and aroma.

Belle / Nika / Sheep Dip - These three are Ruth's cream cheeses: Belle, a plain cream cheese; Nika, flavoured with lavender, garlic and herbs; and Sheep Dip, flavoured with sun dried tomatoes and capers. Naturally light with just 16% milk fat, any of these cheeses would be perfectly at home on any bagel.

Monforte cheeses are available at Alex Farms Cheese Shops, as well as being featured on the menus at both Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar and Michael Bonacini and Anthony Walsh's restaurants. Or, visit Ruth in person every Saturday at St. Lawrence Market's Farmers' Market - North Building - and sample all her fantastic products.

Monforte Dairy Company Ltd.
72 Church Street, P.O. Box 70
Millbank, Ontario N0K 1L0
Phone: 1.877.437.5553 (toll free)
519.595.7920
Web site: www.monfortedairy.com