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| - La Fromagerie Hamel is located at the Marché Jean-Talon. Anyone who knows me knows that I simply cannot live without cheese. My parents on the other hand are not so understanding when the aromas of a sharp blue cheese encases the house, and my dad starts opening up windows as if a fire erupted and we're all gasping for air. I kid you not. My parents are definitely Asian.
If my dad thinks one slab of blue cheese baking in the oven is unbearable, I'd hate to see his reaction upon entering La Fromagerie Hamel. He'd probably turn as blue as my Roquefort. To a non-cheese-lover, the aroma probably would be about as pleasant as walking by a garbage site - but to a cheese-lover such as myself, it was like getting a whiff of Chanel from the atomizer.
I iterate that I am a cheese lover, but not particularly a cheese connoisseur. I was absolutely overwhelmed by the vast array of cheese that were available! From the very familiar cheddar and mozzarella, to "what the heck is that?" types of cheese. I didn't know where to start!
All the customers in the stores seemed like gurus and knew exactly what to order, while I shyly circled the counter several times out of sheer intimidation. Luckily, there were a few cheeses that were available on the counter for tasting, and I decided to go with a Beaufort that I tried. I just can't go home to Toronto without buying a slab of cheese - it'd be like going to Paris and not coming home with a box of macarons! The Beaufort was not a mild cheese, but it wasn't an extremely sharp cheese either. It was somewhere in the middle, had a pronounced dairy taste to it, and was a harder cheese. Not the type you could slap on a sandwich and melt, but more of a munching cheese.
When you are ready to order, you simply take a number, and one of the many boys/girls behind the counter will call out your number.
Other than cheese, you will find a vast array of tapenades, spreads and oils available for purchase.
I will definitely be back to Fromagerie Hamel on future Montréal trips...
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