There are few amongst the lactose tolerant who can resist the pull of a grilled cheese sandwich. At least that’s what Kevin Durkee and Tom Douangmixay, the owners of Cheesewerks, are counting on, joining the likes of the Grilled Cheese in Kensington Market and The Construction Site at Yonge and Eglinton. We got a glimpse of the shop’s offerings during its stint at the Distillery’s Christmas market. Last week, they officially launched their new Bathurst Street shop.
After pursing a marketing career for years, Durkee, who grew up in his mother’s tearoom, decided to open up a restaurant with his husband, Douangmixay. Their menu focuses on cheeses from the likes of Balderson, Glengarry and Upper Canada Cheese, and pairs them with craft beers (Flying Monkeys, Amsterdam) and wines (Stonechurch, Palatine Hills) from around the country. The bread, including some exclusive loaves and a gluten-free pick, is all sourced from St. John’s Bakery. In the new year, a tasting series featuring cheese makers will allow fromagophiles a peek at what goes into producing artisanal cheese.
Though Canadian products dominate the menu, most of the sandwiches are named after a different world city, pinpointing spots that have been important in Durkee and Douangmixay’s lives. The Beijing features barbecued pork, green onions and hoisin sauce smothered in asiago and grilled between slices of green onion potato bread ($10). Veggie lovers can opt for the Los Angeles, which has avocado, arugula and citrus compote melted with Havarti on grilled sourdough bread ($8.50). The Toronto is a stack of mini-wiches, with patrons choosing two of the Koreatown (gruyère and kimchee), Little Italy (tomato, basil and mozzarella) and the Danforth (aged goat cheddar and olive tapenade) ($9.50). Durkee tells us he’s planning on expanding into other neighbourhood-based creations in the future—we can only imagine what, say, Parkdale might taste like.
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108877 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The menu Introducing: Cheesewerks https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheesewerks_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheesewerks_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheesewerks_intro.jpg 656 455 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-cheesewerks/slide/dec11cheesewerks_intro/ dec11cheesewerks_intro 0 0
The menu
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Baked goods from St. John’s Bakery
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Co-owners Kevin Durkee and Tom Douangmixay
108888 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The Beijing ($10): barbecued pork, green onions and hoisin sauce smothered in asiago and grilled between slices of green onion potato bread Introducing: Cheesewerks https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks11.jpg 624 460 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-cheesewerks/slide/dec11cheeseworks11/ dec11cheeseworks11 0 0
The Beijing ($10): barbecued pork, green onions and hoisin sauce smothered in asiago and grilled between slices of green onion potato bread
108887 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Little Italy (buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil) and the Danforth (goat cheddar, olive tapenade); both part of the Toronto tower ($9.50) Introducing: Cheesewerks https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks10.jpg 624 460 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-cheesewerks/slide/dec11cheeseworks10/ dec11cheeseworks10 0 0
Little Italy (buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil) and the Danforth (goat cheddar, olive tapenade); both part of the Toronto tower ($9.50)
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108883 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The Koreatown, filled with gruyère and kimchee Introducing: Cheesewerks https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks6.jpg 624 460 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-cheesewerks/slide/dec11cheeseworks6/ dec11cheeseworks6 0 0
The Koreatown, filled with gruyère and kimchee
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108881 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The Los Angeles (left, $8.50), with Havarti, avocado, arugula and citrus compote, and the Houston (right, $9.25) with jalapeño jack, braised brisket and barbecue sauce Introducing: Cheesewerks https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks4.jpg 624 460 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-cheesewerks/slide/dec11cheeseworks4/ dec11cheeseworks4 0 0
The Los Angeles (left, $8.50), with Havarti, avocado, arugula and citrus compote, and the Houston (right, $9.25) with jalapeño jack, braised brisket and barbecue sauce
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108879 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Some fromagophiles wait patiently for their fix Introducing: Cheesewerks https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks2.jpg 624 460 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-cheesewerks/slide/dec11cheeseworks2/ dec11cheeseworks2 0 0
Some fromagophiles wait patiently for their fix
108878 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Looking out onto Bathurst Street Introducing: Cheesewerks https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dec11cheeseworks1.jpg 624 460 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-cheesewerks/slide/dec11cheeseworks1/ dec11cheeseworks1 0 0
Looking out onto Bathurst Street
Cheesewerks, 56 Bathurst St., 416-243-3327, cheesewerks.com
Fun concept for sure, most of those look mouth-watering.
Not really sure why there’s an original option even on the menu. Why would you pay $7.50 for a regular grilled cheese?
Please, Please get Gluten free bread options. Please!!!!
Yes Gluten free please!!!!
I love grilled cheese sandwiches and these sound amazing, but overpriced! I had a sandwich from the Grilled Cheese once. The reason I have never gone back (even though I work about 5 minutes walk away) is because it’s not worth it to pay $9 or whatever for a grilled cheese sandwich, even if it’s a fancy one. I can whip one up at home (and yes, a fancy one too) in about 10 minutes, so why pay that much for one?
$7 should be TOPS, but even that is pushing it a little (at least for a more plain sandwich).
Anyone who can’t make their own cheese sandwich at home deserves to die of starvation… next!
PS The “New York” sandwich has SWISS cheese and “Beijing” has Asiago… imbeciles!!!
We went for a midday lunch and didn’t stay because there was no coffee to go with our meal. It seems like a no-brainer to offer a hot beverage like tea, coffee and at a place like this, hot chocolate. I don’t want pop or beer with my lunch. When the winter finally arrives, it will seem that much more obvious!!
Actually following the progress of Cheesewerks with interest, great article, just not quite sure what was meant re Parkdale?
I too am watching with much interest. Of course I will need to visit and taste it for myself! As a previous restauranteur, I don’t envy them on the pressure for price points when serving sandwiches. People need to feel satisfied for a few hours after their meal and all will be fine IMHO. I agree on the hot beverages and think maybe they are underestimating the need for a coffee or tea for many people. Are they saying they don’t want people to stick around? Bad idea. Personally speaking, they would do well with some awesome cheesecakes and coffee for the dessert crowd.
I think this is a perfect place to introduce my newly released self-help book, The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life! How To Get Through Life’s Holes Without Getting Stuck in Them! http://www.theswisscheesetheoryoflife.com
This ‘writer’ is appalling…. what did you mean by ‘just imagine what parkdale will taste like’ ? I hope you live nowhere near parkdale
Parkdale IS one of THE BEST neighborhoods in the city
@ Helen
I have walnut raisin bread and oven caramelized onions at WORK why would… oh wait, no I don’t.
i think she means that parkdale is a very eclectic neighbourhood, and so to capture the tastes would involve a lot of creativity on the part of the cheesewerks brainiacs. some neighbs are more obvious. yorkville: fancy-ass low-calorie cheese on fancy-ass gluten-free bread. roncy? blood sausage and oscypek. @Pfft how would you make your parkdale sammie?
@ sugar sugar…. yeah right.
so I’m guessing grilled cheese is the ne food trend in Toronto? hmmm. I’ll give this place a try when I’m with my nieces, I’m sure they’ll love it.
Big rip off. Anyone can make these sandwiches at home for less than 3 bucks. I would never pay this kind of money for a cheese sandwich.
@Pfft if you’re going to quote the author, at least get it right. She didn’t say “just imagine…” she said “we can only imagine…” And how WOULD you make a Parkdale grilled cheese? Easy to criticize and be a hater but @sugarsugar challenges you to make a constructive comment and the best you can come up with is “yeah right”?
@sugarsugar Parkdale is home to one of the strongest and most vibrant Tibetan communities. I’ve only ever had the hard yak’s-milk cheese and it doesn’t melt well, but I’m told there are soft varieties too. Maybe on a barley-flour bread?
For you naysayers – have you tried the Original sandwich – it’s simple and delicious! If you’re looking for coffee – stroll across Bathurst street to Thor’s – possibly the best in the city.
I might add that the owners had sampling evenings of their menu across the street at Thor’s many months prior to opening with customer feedback forms and suggestions on pricing of items…
Moreen, you may feel comfortable walking into Cheesewerks with coffee from another establishment, but I can’t, nor should I have to. That doesn’t even make sense and I am sure it isn’t what the restaurant wants you doing. It’s coffee/tea, a staple at just about every restaurant and easy for them to offer.
As far as sample evenings, I am not sure what you are saying. 20 people gathered in a room and said the free food tastes great? Anyway, that isn’t the point. Whatever the outcome of those evenings, the proof is in the patronage.
I’ve tried a couple of their sandwiches and liked the combination of ingredients that I wouldn’t think of putting into a home made grilled cheese sammie. I loved the Beijing with BBQ pork, (mmmmmm….pork), and I thought my wife’s Los Angeles would taste weird with avocado and arugula but it was surprisingly good!
Even the regular one has aged and smoked cheddar with cracked pepper in the bread to make it more interesting than a $3 home made special with two slices of WonderBread and a Kraft Single in the middle.
It’s definitely a premium priced product, but after the first bite of warm gooey cheese and a dunk in the garlic ketchup I’m not asking if my wallet can afford this, but rather can my waistline :)
Give it a try and decide for yourself rather than listening to someone like me who enjoyed it or someone like Scott who hasn’t tried it but thinks it’s too expensive.
If 10 bucks for a nice but TINY grilled cheese sandwich is OK for you, chances are you can make better with your money at some posh places on King Str W or at the dinner at Thompson Hotel. Cheesewerks is overpriced place also because you don t need to sweat to make nice grilled sandwich at home. I live in the neighborhood and it could have worked well if food here would have been more reasonably priced. I can make grilled cheese sandwiches at home for about 3 bucks – so why to bother supporting this place? And for people who don t live here – there are plenty of choice on King Str W.
Sweet – gluten free! So excited…
Utterly ridiculous! 7-10$ for a cheese sandwich. Really?
To have grilled cheese sandwich without hot beverage is a no no
WAKEUP
Just got back. Sandwich was good. But $9 after tax for a grilled cheese sandwich (no fries, pickle, or even a parsley sprig) and they have the grapes to ask for 75 cents for ketchup! Place was empty but there were 7 people behind the counter. I give this place 4 months.
I’d rather go to Reggie’s where for $9 I can get the grilled cheese (w/tomato), a ludicrous amount of fries and a can of pop.
Seriously.
I was disappointed by this place. Waited 40 minutes because they just didn’t make my order. The person I was with had ordered two sandwiches and they gave her one sandwich and a soup.
But you probably need to get 2 sandwiches because for $9 (!) the sandwich you get is microscopic. I don’t have a big appetite by any means and I was still really hungry after finishing.
They did correct the situation by offering us coupons but I probably won’t go back until they’ve had a chance to work out their kinks. The cheese itself was really yummy, but you don’t get nearly enough food for what you pay.
Perhaps they don’t serve coffee or tea because they want those huge margins from everything else.
The place is empty whenever I walk by – I feel badly for them when I see the staff all standing around waiting…
They don’t put their prices on their website for a reason. And it’s even more a rip when you see how little you get!
The beautiful weather is upon us and Cheesewerks is still a big fail : (
I wish they would throw in the towel SOONER than later. Would love to see Fresh open up there. Or Menchies. Or Urban Herbivore. A mini Drake would be awesome. Le Gourmand. Just get rid of these losers with their crappy over-priced junk food! Ughhhhh