Back Forty Artisan Cheese Ltd.

Handcrafted Delights – Where Tradition Meets Taste

Back Forty Artisan Cheese Ltd. is a creamery and cheese shop that crafts high-quality artisanal cheeses using traditional methods and natural unpasteurized sheep’s milk.

You’ve Got to Try

The Highland Blue cheese – an acclaimed favorite among both local chefs and cheese lovers.

1406 Gulley Road, Mississippi Station

(613) 287-7011

artisancheese.ca

Featured Tastes

Flower Station

Named after the picturesque hamlet in Lanark County, our Flower Station will be a real wake up for the taste buds of those used to pasteurized cow milk Feta and provide an authentic taste of the Mediterranean!

Madawaska

The magnificent and rugged Madawaska River has long been an important part of life in the Ottawa Valley. Our Madawaska provides a range of tastes and textures from a chalky, slightly tangy centre to a soft, sweet and slightly salty cream under the rind. The Madawaska was named one of the ten best cheeses in Toronto according to Toronto Life!

Bonnechere

The rugged Bonnechere River and the mysterious Bonnechere Caves are unique landmarks of the Ottawa Valley. A distinct feature of our Bonnechere is the rind that is toasted over an open flame before aging. This painstaking process, traditional for certain Basque cheeses, imparts a delicious caramel essence which permeates the body of the cheeses as it ages, and provides a delicious contrast to the tangy and fruity body of the cheese.

Highland Blue

Named for our beautiful Lanark Highlands and the many Scots who settled in this area. Highland Blue is a tangy and rich blue cheese with a natural rind and delicate overtones of blue mold combined with butter and mushroom. The Highland Blue is a Royal Winter Fair ribbon winner!

What to Expect

About Back Forty Artisan Cheese Ltd.

Founded in 2000, Back Forty is a small creamery and cheese shop located on a farm in the hamlet of Mississippi Station Ontario where cheesemaker Jeff Fenwick hand crafts artisanal cheeses of the highest quality. Back Forty’s original raw ewe milk cheeses have grown into a local favorite and have become loved and trusted by many of the provinces top chefs and cheese lovers alike.

Using traditional old world methods and 100% natural unpasteurized sheep’s milk, each cheese is made by hand in small batches and then carefully tended to and aged from two to 24 months. In our petite fromagerie we produce six ewe’s milk cheeses: Flower Station, Madawaska, Bonnechere, Highland Blue, Ompah, and Pecorino Verona.

In addition to select quality restaurants and fine food retailers across Ontario, you can purchase Back Forty Artisan Cheese direct from Jeff and Jenna Fenwick at their dairy and cheese shop. The Cheese Shop and Riverside Bistro offers a farm-to-table menu including wood-oven pizzas, a newly licensed riverside patio. The shop and bistro are open every Friday and Saturday from mid June to Labour day. Visit the artisancheese.ca for hours and details.

Riverside Delights and Artisanal Sights at their Bistro and Cheese Shop

Guests of the Bistro and Cheese Shop can enjoy quality food and drink alongside the Mississippi River. The large glass walls within the shop allow you to see where the cheeses are crafted and depending on timing you may be able to witness firsthand a step or two in the production process. Additionally, guests are free to explore the beautiful farm where they will find the bistro gardens, cider orchard and see heritage free range animals out on pasture.

Seasonal Celebrations and Culinary Events at Back Forty

In addition to their regular summer bistro and shop hours, Back Forty hosts a number of special events and festivals including Winterland, Curds and Cooks and their Farm to Table Fall Harvest Supper Series.

How to Purchase

Visit the Cheese Shop and Riverside Bistro during public hours for direct purchases or a casual visit. Private bookings not available.
Check their website, artisancheese.ca, for updates on opening times and special event schedules.

Connect With Back Forty Artisan Cheese Ltd.