In this special episode, Ian is on location at the Toronto Wine & Cheese Show. He talks to some passionate foodies to get their impressions of “Canada’s premier gourmet event.” He also hears from a cheese expert about some of the best cheeses Canada has to offer. And speaks to a young duo that takes pairing wine and cheese very seriously.

Part 1: Passionate about cheese

The Toronto Wine & Cheese Show has been informing, entertaining and feeding fine food lovers for 25 years. With many of the country’s leading wine and cheese producers exhibiting, it’s no wonder the show attracts more “foodies” every year.

Working his way through the crowd, Ian heads to Gurth Pretty’s Cheeses of Canada. For more about Gurth’s kitchen wizardry, check out our “Chef’s Notebook” episode here.

Of course, there’s always a lot of buzz about artisanal cheeses. In addition to their selection of delicious cheddars, Empire Cheese offers unique flavoured mozzarellas and other delicious specialty cheeses.

Part 2: The toast of Canada

André Piché educates people about all aspects of fine Canadian cheeses. One of the most common questions he gets from budding cheese connoisseurs is: how do I store it? You can get tips on how to keep your prized artisanal find here.

André also has an encyclopedic knowledge of the best Canadian varieties. This year he highly recommends cheeses from Ivanhoe, Migneron Charlevoix, as well as the Canadian classic, Oka.

Part 3: Pairing up perfection

Ange and Pax from iyellowwineclub.com really know their stuff when it comes to wine and cheese pairings. Ian gets a crash course in great wine and cheese duos at the show, but if you’re interested in learning more, check out the iYellow Wine Enthusiasts' video blog.