The beauty of locally owned businesses in downtown Peterborough is that upon entering them, you can literally sense the passion. At Chasing The Cheese, located at 372 Water Street, you can actually taste it! Locally owned and operated by Julie Austin, Chasing The Cheese has been tempting taste buds since October 1st, 2010 in its current location.

Julie has always had a passion for cheese and has acquired a background in business through both education and work. Realizing it was difficult to find a variety of good cheese in Peterborough, she saw an opportunity and went for it. She decided to attend the Cheese Education Guild (yes, that really does exist) to enrol in Cheese Appreciation courses; with this newfound knowledge, she began her business.

Chasing The Cheese is a cheese lover’s paradise. The store, which began with a modest selection of 50 different cheeses, has grown to hold over 300, including some of the tastiest cheeses this world has ever known. Here you can find gooey triple creams, sharp and crumbly aged cheddars, pungent stinkers and beautiful blues.

While Julie carries many of the notable and familiar European offerings, her main goal is to introduce your palette to some of the lesser-known Canadian and local gems, which include cheeses from local dairies such as Crosswind Farms in Keene and Mariposa in Lindsay.

Aside from the plentiful variety of available cheeses, Julie also boasts a wide selection of crackers, bread, oils, vinegars, pasta, and even artisanal bacon from Seed to Sausage of Sharbot Lake.

Julie is proud of what the shop has to offer, and employs a staff which shares her passion. Noella, Judy, and Nicole are eager to tailor the shopping experience to each customer’s needs. Julie has a “taste before you buy” motto, and will happily cater to any budget. The aim is to make the customer’s experiences as uncomplicated as possible, as choosing a cheese can be a daunting task when faced with so much variety!

Julie is thrilled to be a part of downtown Peterborough because of the friendly atmosphere, and the supportive relationships that exist between shop owners. Chasing The Cheese is a proud supplier to downtown restaurants Le Petit Bar, Brio Gusto and St. Veronus.

Prearranged private or group tastings, custom gift baskets by request, gift cards, and pre-orders for future events and occasions are all available. To top it all off, the shop also sells local art. With such a vast selection, Chasing the Cheese has something for every taste. Julie and her staff extend a warm welcome to you. Stop in and give them a try. There truly is no other experience like it in the Peterborough area!