7 Award-Winning Western Canadian Cheeses to Try Now

In the 2015 Canadian Cheese Grand-Prix, seven Western Canadian producers stood out.

The results from the Canadian Cheese Grand-Prix are in, and Western Canada made a decent showing this year, sweeping seven categories. (Albertans apparently know their gouda well.) Here are the winning cheeses, representing the best of local fare from BC and Alberta. Together, these would make for an epic cheese plate for your next party—see our tips for crafting the perfect cheese plate here—but we understand if you don’t want to share.Best Soft Cheese with Bloomy RindComox Brie, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, BCTry it: drizzled with local honeyBest Fresh Pasta FilataCherry Bocconcini, Natural Pastures Cheese Company, BCTry it: in a caprese salad with plenty of balsamicBest Firm Cheese (except Cheddar and Gouda)Heidi, The Farm House Natural Cheeses, BCTry it: grated over a bowl of rigatoni and fresh tomato sauceBest Brine-Ripened CheeseFeta, Tiras Dairies, ABTry it: tossed into a salad of mint and watermelonBest Gouda (aged 1-6 months)Gouda Medium, Sylvan Star Cheese, ABTry it: grated into a frittata alongside asparagus and mushroomsBest Aged GoudaGouda Aged, Sylvan Star Cheese, ABTry it: in a sophisticated twist on macaroni and cheeseBest Smoked CheeseGouda Smoked Natural Cheese, Sylvan Star Cheese, ABTry it: paired with a dry ChardonnayBest Old Cheddar (aged from 9 months to a year)Traditional Clothbound Cheddar, The Farm House Natural Cheeses, BCTry it: in a golden old-fashioned grilled cheese sandwich (made with fresh, crusty bread, of course)See the full list of the Cheese Grand-Prix champions (all 27 of them!) here.