Here it is: Canada’s official cheese champ

According to a band of 10 qualified fromagophiles, the country’s best coagulated milk product is a nutty, semi-soft organic cheese called Le Baluchon, produced by Quebec’s Fromagerie FX Pichet. Earlier this week, 51 hopefuls went head-to-head at the Canadian Cheese Awards, the country’s biggest and most inclusive cheese competition, which drew 291 entries from all over the country. Overall, Quebec finalists came out on top, coming away with 14 out of 31 awards. The single GTA winner was Vaughan cheese maker Quality Cheese, which took home the “Best Fresh Cheese” and “Best Cow’s Milk Cheese” awards for its Bella Casara mascarpone. (Ontario cheesemonger Margaret Peters, whose gouda-style Lankaaster was crowned worldwide cheese champ at last fall’s Global Cheese Awards in England, doesn’t appear to have been a contender.) According to the Star, cheese lovers will be able to purchase La Baluchon (and some other sub-winners) at select Loblaws stores.