Junction Fromagerie

I went to buy cheese curds in order to make a most special poutine… Now, you may be thinking all poutine is special, but that was more so.
Anyway — I wanted good cheese curds, so I sought out a delightful cheese shop hoping they would have the good stuff. I called in advance, and all that — but after my hour spent walking over, I was directed towards the little fridge they had.
This should be a tip off — good curds should never be in the fridge, and need to be 24 hours fresh. These were not those.
So — I have no knowledge of anything but the curds — but, if those curds are any indication about the rest of their products, I’d stay away.
I was burned once. That was enough for me. I’ll not be back.

Living in the Junction and relying on transit can make for a lack of choices when it comes to food, particularly stuff that’s considered artisanal. While that may have been true a few years ago, boy-​oh-​boy, the times are changing. Those of us living in the neighbourhood awhile have seen its dynamic (albeit slow) change, particularly when it comes to food; but in the Junction’s ever-​expanding food landscape, a few places are setting the stage. Enter the Junction Fromagerie.
Junction Fromagerie is sitting non-​coincidentally right next to Delight, a chocolate shop that’s perhaps known in the neighbourhood more for their ice cream than their handmade chocolate. Both Delight and Junction Fromagerie are brain-​childs of the same people, Jennifer Rashleigh & Jeff Brown, and the association is obvious as far as quality goes. While Delight doesn’t have any cheese, they do have a uniquely flavoured and way-​better-​than-​it-​sounds Quebec blue cheese ice cream. Soft and creamy with an exacting amount of high-​quality blue cheese, it’s obviously well crafted and surprisingly tasty.
What makes the Junction Fromagerie different from the handful of other cheese specialty shops in Toronto is their strict direction to Canadian products; they only carry Canadian cheeses, local and artisanal mind you, but Canadian nonetheless. They’re also particularly partial to Ontario cheeses. Their in-​house made butter, crackers, and croustinis, in conjunction with those small-​batch and locally sourced cheeses, make them a worthy underdog in an increasingly competitive business.
The Junction Fromagerie brings with it some old-​world charm, and at first walk-​in, you may mistake it for a boutique fromage on a quiet Paris street. Big-​frame bay window and a creaky wood-​laid floor set the space. Besides that, the whole store is fairly nondescript other than the front case brightly displaying their cheeses.
Don’t know your Comtomme from your Bleu de la Moutonndere? No worries! Not only is the staff knowledgeable and the cheese labeled and explained, but the Junction Fromagerie also offers cheese tastings and pairings that not only teach you about the cheese they carry, but also inspire you to be a bit more adventurous in your cheese selections. Although these tastings aren’t a regularly occurring event, they do happen. Their Stone’s Throw Cheese and WIne Pairing event, which was created with the folks at Stone’s Throw Winery, sold out super quick.
The appearance of Junction Fromagerie signals more than just beautiful cheese being available in the Junction. It also serves as an important reminder that when it comes to food, the Junction is fast becoming a neighbourhood that is known for quality.

The Junction Fromagerie is a small, cute cheese shop with welcoming service and a good selection of Canadian cheeses. They had a good selection of Monforte and Fifth Town cheeses, Evelyn’s Crackers and fresh locally made bread. We tasted several cheeses and chose one to take home, there was no pressure to try everything, or buy anything. A lovely shop worth visiting. I will be back.