Cheese + Tapas

We’ve all had a cheese moment that changed our lives. What cheese makes you ooh and ahh?

Maybe it was a piece of Comte from France. It’s nutty and mushroomy and has more than forty tasting notes. It’s versatile too – equally at home melted on a baguette or showcased on a cheeseboard. Perhaps it’s Alpindon, made in our own backyard at Kootenay Meadows Farm in Creston. It’s nutty too and has lovely crystallization. It’s supremely flavourful because it’s made strictly with summer milk. You can actually taste the fresh green grass in every bite.

Finely crafted cheeses from Europe and our own backyard!

The folks in our cheese department are truly passionate about what they do. They seek out unique and expertly made cheeses from Europe and afar, made with old-world techniques that have been handed down for generations. They also know the very best artisans throughout BC and Canada who make new-world cheeses that hold their own.

Great cheese is like a great soundtrack. It takes us somewhere.

We know our members love to cook and host and play and they need great cheese to do it right. The holidays, dinner parties, a stellar hike or a backcountry ski day, grilled-cheese for the kids – whatever is on your calendar, now is the perfect time to start thinking about the cheese!

the olives are to live for and the tapas sublime!

Whether we are kicking it on the couch with a nice glass of wine or having friends over for a special occasion, we might as well up our game and indulge in some decadent small plates.

Here’s a perfect recipe you can make with a single trip to our Co-op:

Crisp Castelvetrano olives and a Greek blend, fig bread, some kalamata tapenade, juicy artichoke hearts, perfectly roasted red peppers, dolmas, pickled asparagus, marinated eggplant, and lightly fried capers. Add a warm baguette or levain with a crispy crust and some walnut oil for dipping or to drizzle on top. Pair with some delicious charcuterie from the butcher counter and the picture is complete. Display it all on in your favourite small dishes, on butcher blocks or a piece of slate. Serve with your favourite music and repeat as often as you’d like!

Fresh baked, local bread abounds in the Kootenays…

We can’t live on bread alone, but we can try! Perhaps some light rye or sesame bagels from Kootenay Co-op Bakery down the street. Maybe Uphill Bakery’s Traditional Multigrain. The Organic Rebel Bread from Kaslo Sourdough. Or the White Sourdough Raisin from Bread by Julius. Whatever your fancy, there is always something to toast! And for our gluten free members, the Brown Bread or Sourdough from Alkeme are both divine! There’s even wraps, buns, naan and more to explore in the bread section by Cheese + Tapas.

Ask our cheesemongers (great word, right?).

The next time you’re in the store, walk up to the cheese counter and ask for a recommendation. Tell one of our cheesemongers about the menu you’re planning and what you like. Whether it’s Coastal Rugged Cheddar from the UK, French Borgougne triple cream brie, or Tiger Blue from Penticton, they’ll help you make the perfect choice. They’ll get into it with you. You’ll leave knowing things about cheese you never knew you wanted to know. The result? Cheese that makes you ooh and ahh, and culinary memories to last a lifetime.