When it comes to cheese, there’s something almost magical for Crystal McKenzie, a trained chef with a deep admiration for food.
“Cheese has always been a miracle to me,” says McKenzie. “It’s basically four ingredients, more or less, creating thousands of different things. That’s fascinating — how you can get so many different textures, flavours and profiles.”
Steered by her love for cheese and a hankering to try out entrepreneurship, McKenzie opened Peasant Cheese in 2013 in Kensington, highlighting what she loves most about the delicious product: its variety. Peasant Cheese offers approximately 120 different cheeses, with Comté as its bestseller and Caprotto, a dry Italian cheese made from goat milk, as one of its most interesting offerings. The shop offers an ever-evolving selection, and you’re sure to get a fresh block, cut to order.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the store has expanded its charcuterie offerings so clients can find everything they need to make a complete meat-and-cheese board. You can also order custom charcuterie and fresh delicious sandwiches. In 2020, McKenzie opened a second Peasant Cheese location in Mission, delivering the same cheesy (in a good way) experience.
“We want you to come in, feel welcomed into the shop and just chat with us,” she says. “[Cheese] is a very personal thing, and we just want to make sure we’re giving the right cheese to the right person.”
To discover new cheeses, join the shop’s cheese club. Every month, subscribers receive three cheeses, a cracker and a condiment to explore the world of cheese.
1249 Kensington Rd. N.W., 587-353-3599 and 2206 4 St. S.W., 587-353-1322, peasantcheese.com
