Cheese dairy & Terroir
Quebec artisanal cheeses: complete guide and gourmet pairings
Quebec produces cheeses of remarkable quality and diversity. From soft cheeses with washed rinds, powerful blues to mild goats: Quebec's artisanal cheese industry is a national pride that has flourished for thirty years. At Carrera Cafe, we celebrate them on our gourmet boards with natural wines that do them justice.
Overview
Quebec's cheese diversity
From fresh cheeses to 18-month affinages, Quebec offers an impressive cheese spectrum. Each region has its specialties, each producer their signature. A territory to explore, cheese in hand.
★ Signature
Soft cheeses and washed rinds
Le Migneron de Charlevoix, Pied-de-Vent from La Madeleine, aged Oka: soft or semi-firm cheeses with pronounced character and a creamy texture that melts in the mouth with immense pleasure.
Classic
Firm cheese
Comtomme, Victor and Berthold, Alfred the Farmer: pressed cooked or uncooked cheeses with flavors of butter, hazelnut, and caramel. References that have made Quebec cheese famous internationally.
✦ Character
Blues and goats
Elizabeth Blue from Estrie and the goats from the Abbey bring character and depth to cheese platters. Powerful, complex, sometimes rustic: they also require a wine with character.
Cheese dairies
Local artisans
Quebec's artisanal cheese dairies are family-run farms often located in beautiful regions. Some can be visited: an immersive experience that adds even more flavor to the cheese.
★ Region
Charlevoix and Bas-Saint-Laurent
The Charlevoix region is the beating heart of Quebec artisanal cheese. Fromagerie de l'Isle, Laiterie Charlevoix, Fromages de l'Abbaye: producers who work with their own herds and a know-how passed down from generation to generation.
Estrie
The Eastern Townships
Estrie is also a renowned cheese land: La Moutonniere, Domaine Felibre, Elizabeth Blue. Often organic cheeses, made from high-quality milk, with European-inspired know-how adapted to the local terroir.
Nearby
Cheese shops in the Quebec region
The immediate Quebec region has no shortage of producers: some local artisans deliver directly to the city's restaurants and fine grocery stores. An exemplary short circuit that Carrera Cafe is committed to supporting.
Pairings
Cheeses and wines, the great duo
The cheese-wine pairing is an art. A few simple principles help avoid bad taste and enhance both partners: acidity against fat, intensity against intensity, region against region.
★ Perfect pairing
Soft cheese & pet-nat
The lively bubbles and acidity of the natural sparkling wine perfectly balance the fat and creaminess of washed-rind soft cheeses. A classic pairing revisited by the natural wine movement.
❖ Signature
Firm cheese & natural red
A natural red with light tannins, gamay or pinot noir, finely accompanies pressed cheeses. The classic pairing that never disappoints, especially when the wine comes from an independent winemaker.
Contrast
Blue & soft white
The sweet-salty contrast between a soft white or an ice cider and a powerful blue cheese is one of Quebec's great gastronomic discoveries. Elizabeth Blue meets ice cider: lightning in the mouth.
Gourmet Boards
The Art of the Board at Carrera Cafe
At Carrera Cafe, the gourmet board is a collective work: selected cheeses, Charlevoix charcuterie, homemade preserves, bread from Boulangerie Borderon and Sons. A moment of sharing around the best of the terroir.
★ Our classic
The Carrera board
Three Quebec cheeses, two organic charcuteries from Charlevoix, homemade fig jam and pickles, slices of oiled focaccia. The board that makes you want to stay, order another glass, and never leave.
✽ Option
Vegetarian board
Four exclusive cheeses, accompanied by dried fruits, Quebec nuts, local honey, and sun-dried tomato confit. Elegant, generous, completely satisfying without animal proteins.
Prestige Selection
Exceptional cheeses at Carrera Cafe
A few rare and seasonal cheeses complete our selection: exceptional pieces reserved for connoisseurs, available depending on current supply.
★ Seasonal
Artisanal raclette cheese
A Quebec raclette cheese, aged on spruce boards, with the scent of browned butter and hazelnut. In winter, it joins our seasonal menu for moments of intense conviviality around the fire.
❖ Reserve
Aged 18 months
A hard, crystallized cheese, aged for a minimum of 18 months. Aromas of caramel, nuts, and yeast: the complexity of a Quebec-style parmesan. Reserved for special occasions and discerning palates.
✦ Barista's tip
To fully enjoy a cheese board, take the cheeses out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before tasting them. Cold cheese is a silent cheese. At room temperature, it fully expresses itself and releases its aromas. At Carrera Cafe, we always serve our cheeses at the right temperature: a detail that makes all the difference.
Come discover our gourmet board
Artisanal cheeses from Quebec, charcuterie from Charlevoix, natural wines: the Carrera board awaits you at Petit-Champlain. A gourmet experience to share.
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