Walls of cheese, salume, and cupcakes: Report on Loblaws @ Maple Leaf Gardens

Walls of cheese, salume, and cupcakes: Report on Loblaws @ Maple Leaf Gardens

See my first post here

The reaction (amongst anyone I have asked) to Loblaws placing their banner over the old mecca of hockey, Maple Leaf Gardens, is mixed. From the extreme hockey fanatic on one end to the grocery devoted on the other (that's me!). For example,

 "I just can't do it. It would break my heart to go there and see Loblaws on the Gardens."
"Cool!"
"I hear there's a wall of cheese. Many people I know went to see it."
"Maybe I'll check it out"
"When's Ryerson opening?"

I went to check out Loblaws @ 830am, the day after the grand opening. It was lonely in there. At that time of the day, with no free giveaways, the staff to customer ratio was about 40:1. Perfect to take a good look at the displays, not so perfect to not be noticed snapping pictures.

Initial impression:  Grab a "map" and be amazed.  I was like a big kid in a giant candy store.  There's a set of escalators that take you to the LCBO on site, Loblaws Cooking School, and a Joe Fresh department.

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PC Black Label 8 Year-old Cheddar

PC Black Label 8 Year-old Cheddar

Product Name:  PC Black Label 8 Year-old Canadian White Cheddar Cheese

Store Purchased:  Loblaws, various locations

Price:  $12.99CAD

Ingredients: UNPASTEURIZED MILK, BACTERIAL CULTURE, SALT, RENNET.

Used for:  Pasta, Crackers, Seasoning, Kick-up Grilled Cheeses

I could not take a decent picture of the packaging of this product, as I tore into it without thinking. When I think of the cheddar of my childhood, I picture processed cheese and bright orange hues.  PC's 8 year old cheddar is none of the above.  This cheese has got some punch!  It deep and mature, flakes like a parmesan, with tiny crunchy crystals of salt.  It's a bit cheaper than similarly aged cheddars you can find on the market.  Do I notice the difference between a 5, a 7, or an 8 year cheddar?  Probably not, unless I had them side by side in a taste taste.  It's such an old cheese, I'm not sure how to handle it best in everyday cooking and eating.  I have tried shaving it over fresh pasta, adding it into grilled sandwiches, and eating it just on its own.  This is a nice change to my typical cheese rotation.

tag:  aged cheddar, cheddar, PC black label, president's choice, white cheddar, cheese, black label

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PC Black Label Bacon Marmalade

PC Black Label Bacon Marmalade (Sorry, it's been stretched)

Product Name:  PC Black Label Bacon Marmalade

Store Purchased:  Loblaws, various locations

Price:  FREE (retail $4.99CAD)

Ingredients:  SUGAR, WATER, ORANGE PEEL, SAUTÉED ONION (CONTAINS CANOLA OIL), BALSAMIC VINEGAR OF MODENA (GRAPE MUST, WINE VINEGAR, CARAMEL COLOUR, SULPHITES), ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE, BACON, RED WINE CONDIMENT (WINE VINEGAR, GRAPE MUST, CARAMEL COLOUR, SULPHITES), PECTIN, CITRIC ACID, BACON SEASONING (CONTAINS YEAST EXTRACT), SPICE, SALT.

Used for:  "GENEROUSLY SPREAD THIS MARMALADE ON TOAST, GRILLED MEAT, ON SANDWICH BREAD OR ATOP CRACKERS AND CHEESE."


FYI:  Bacon Marmalade even has its own website:  baconmarmalade.com.

Oh, bacon, how I love thee, even though the whole foodie world has had their way with you and knows your virtues.  Okay, so when President's Choice came out with BACON MARMALADE.  I had to try it!  It was even better that I received a coupon in the mail to get a free jar with a purchase of the PC Black Label 8-yr cheddar.  When I was checking out of the grocery store, this is the conversation I had with the clerk:

Her:  "This bacon thing is really popular."
Me:  "Really?  Is it any good?"
Her:  "No idea. No one's came back yet about it, and I would never buy it."
Me:  "Hmm. (that's a bad sign)"


First off, I was a bit disappointed by the first 5 ingredients.  The texture upon scooping is kind of funky.  It's very hard and chunky, in a bad way.  Have you ever thought of spreading a Jell-O cup onto anything?  No?  Well, neither have I, and this is exactly how it feels.  The taste is quite nice, if you do not think of it as a Bacon product.  With a dollop on a spoon and into my mouth, I taste sugar, then onion, then orange, then balsamic, with a smoky bacon finish.  I paired the marmalade with cheddar and ham baked into a croissant.

Given it's alot cheaper than buying a jar from Pusateri's, I still probably would not buy this product again.

TAG:  bacon, bacon marmalade, marmalade, president's choice, bacon jam, bacon dip, bacon recipe, canadian bacon, cooking with bacon

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