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Cheese Magic
Category: Food Specialty Food Cheese Shops Cheese Shops [Edit]
182 Baldwin StToronto, ON M5T 1L8
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
(416) 593-9531
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
17 reviews for Cheese Magic
17 reviews in English
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Review from Peter T.
Toronto, ON
10/13/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I gotta say I'm pretty happy with Cheese Magic. They have a great selection of goat and sheep cheeses (which I'm told also have lactose but for some reason don't affect me nearly as much as cow milk).
The staff is super friendly, the owner incredibly gracious. I believe she also owns The Market Bakery next door. Cheese and Bread... can you really go wrong here?
Also a hit are the various European spreads and pickles etc along the back of the store.
Whatcha waitin' for? Go hungry :) -
Review from Jessica W.
Toronto, ON
9/16/2010
Pros:
-Super friendly and helpful service
-Taste test to your heart's content
-Good prices
-Good goat's milk and sheep's milk cheese selection
Cons:
-I've seen dogs allowed in here a few times and once it was a friend or something and she even went behind the counter with her pup. Kinda gross. -
Review from hangover n.
Toronto, ON
7/27/2011
Delicious cheese, A+ service. Some reviews here seem to be complaining about the prices, but frankly I thought it was quite reasonable, certainly not much more than you'd pay at one of the big grocery stores, and coming here is much more appealing in every single way. Try the guiness cheddar, it's amazing.
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Review from susan c.
12/19/2009
If you like cute boys behind the counter who'll give you a taste of some creamy white stuff, then come here. (Ugh, I think I just threw up a little in my mouth with that opening line.)
Ask for a recommendation and the cheese guys are happy to oblige. On a recent trip I bought a delicious, nutty aged gouda and a ridiculously creamy cow's milk cheese called La Sauvagine (Voted Grand Champion at the 2006 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix) that practically runs out the door when it hits room temperature. Thanks to Kat F. for the tip on La Sauvagine but I almost couldn't ask for it by name because it sounds like "Wild Vagina" in French.
The shelves are crammed with packages of dried pasta (including my fave brand Barilla), jars of pickley nibbles and random edibles packed in olive oil.
My one gripe with the shop is that it's narrower than a TTC streetcar. You will always be in someone's way when they enter through the doors.
Be prepared to shell out; good cheese is pricy.Listed in: Less Hippie, More Zippy
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Review from Tara A.
10/21/2009 ROTD 2/14/2010
Have you ever walked into a place and its been bitter sweet. Well for Cheese Magic, that would be the best way for me to describe it.
Bitter - you walk in and the smell overwhelms you. It gets in your nose and you just can't shake it no matter how hard you try! Also its a bitter mood because the males that work there are so extremely good looking and yet you know you never have a chance with any of them! They're not interested... don't even try!
Sweet- Because to try a new cheese that will change your life and you will never have a dinner party with out it, is so sweet. Not to mention that garlic stuffed olives as you walk in the door. (must have!). They have unlimited cheese options and will let you try every kind in the store if you want.
This is another place in Kensington Market that is a part of my weekly routine.. Dare I say, I'm a regular?Listed in: Favourite places in Kensington…, My Holiday Hot Spots
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Review from Kat F.
12/6/2009
Everyone knows about the hunk** factor at Cheese Magic. Dudes that work there are super cute. However, there was a dry spell of hotness between July 2008 and April 2009, when I didn't fancy a single Cheese Magic employee. It was a rough era of my life, buying cheese minus the eye candy. My ex's best friend used to work there, and when he left, he took most of the gorgeosity with him.***
I'm happy to say that the cute boys are back. In addition to providing great distraction, the Cheese Magic boys are actually nice. They'll patiently wait as you decide which of the ten types of goat cheese you want, and as you struggle to figure out the quantity in grams. Who knows a thing about grams, anyway? Not this girl. Luckily, I learned today that they actually prefer talking cheese in inches. So, an inch of havarti, two inches of brie, eight slices of gouda.
I got a slab of Woolwich goat cheese from Orangeville, ON (the one I raved about in my Bier Markt omelette review: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...), some Danish blue cheese, Finnish Muenster and La Sauvagine.
I asked for that last cheese by description only. This week I had some amazing cheese at Tara A's house but she didn't know the name of it. She said she goes to Cheese Magic and asks for "the cheese that's a cross between Brie and Camembert" and they know which one to give her, so I did the same, and they let me sample it (as all cheese shops should!) before buying it. It was indeed the one! Now I know.
I had to subtract a star for the lack of labels. Looking back at the cheese I bought, I can't remember which is which, or what some of them are called for future reference. I guess we can't all be smokin' hot AND practical.
**Yes, I'm bringing back the term "hunk", along with "no guff", "radical" and "bogus".
***Yeah, it almost broke us up. What can I say - he was a megahottie!Listed in: The Best Of Kensington Market, Cheese Shops
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Review from Brian C.
Toronto, ON
6/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
The absolutely fantastic cheese in this Kensington Market gem is only matched by the exceptional service. On my first visit to try the "must have" Applewood Smoked Cheddar I was offered up multiple slices of heaven by the generously endearing cheese-boys.
Besides the Applewood the complexity of their Whisky cheese won me over. Cheese Magic even has the courage to stand on the merits of a simple 6 year-old aged Cheddar and come out victorious.Listed in: Best Cheese
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Review from Rachel L.
Toronto, ON
10/6/2009
I only really buy two types of cheese (feta and mozzarella) but in the spring time, I can't help but make feta and watermelon salad all the time, so I frequented Cheese Magic a bit and discovered two things:
1. There is a cult of people who worship the Cheese Magic boys.
2. Hummus.
Going back to the first point, I am too short to really see who is on the other side of the counter, but sure, the guys are nice. I don't understand how this appreciation came to be, but whatever. One time I saw a really funny missed connection that was comprised of cheese puns and thought it was brilliant.
Anyway, the hummus is a special thing. The owner makes it herself but it is not sold every day, and in fact, she apparently only makes it on Tuesdays (I think). I was quite devastated to find this out because I had an out-of-town friend in tow for an impromptu picnic on the Island and the hummus was the secret ingredient to the most perfect afternoon.
I'm also a fan of their sundried tomatoes, yum! -
Review from Catherine M.
ON
11/22/2008
Ahh Cheese Magic...the Kensington shop in which people will gladly pay a premium to crowd in close with the pungent stinky cheeses wafting odors into their hair and clothes. But! The cute boys who work there, I mean, the delicious cheeses, they make it all worthwhile.
The "cute boys at Cheese Magic" trope has played out over many city-focused message boards, and the truth is you do see a whole lot more female customers asking to be hand fed samples of gruyere than (straight) males. However, just because there's a good business model at work doesn't mean that the shop isn't a worthwhile trip for its goods as well.
With a couple coolers of deli-type refrigerated items as well as some breads and gourmet non-perishables, the real emphasis of Cheese Magic is...wait for it: cheeses. The great thing is that the guys who work there (cute as they may be) really do know their stuff. If you like something but find it too mild, they are quick to slice up a sample taste of something more flavorful for you to try.
Unless you're looking for a specific cheese for a recipe, your best bet at CM is to ask what's good, what's on sale, or what's recommended. It's a really wonderful way to open up your cheese world beyond the usual block of President's Choice brand cheddar cheese. -
Review from Sophia K.
Toronto, ON
5/4/2009
I'm really not surprised that the abundance of cute male workers at Cheese Magic has been mentioned more than once. It's not a myth, they really do exist! And they're friendly and helpful and I really love Cheese Magic.
They have a fairly wide selection and also a couple extras on the shelves like pasta, sauces and other treats! I seriously mean to try something different every time I go to Cheese Magic but I always end up with a big chunk of applewood smoked cheddar. It's seriously to die for.
One star off because yes it can get very cramped if it's busy...but I still prefer it to the larger Global Cheeses. -
Review from T S.
Etobicoke, ON
2/19/2011
Got very fresh and sweet Mozzarina there. Don't care much about boys, but after reading reviews here I recall that the young man serving me cheese was indeed gorgeous, and most importantly, well mannered.
I was actually surprised by the offers to try cheese and by generous amounts of the cuts.
The store is amazingly cheap. They don't accept plastic, but who cares - I paid 18 bucks and took home lots of cheese. I normally leave around 30 bucks and up.
One visit was enough - I am going to be a regular. -
Review from Deanna W.
12/28/2008
I come for the smoked cheddar.....I linger to read the awful and brillant cheese jokes/puns on the walls. E.G. Let's get brie-tarded
Quirky little cheese shop in Kensington which is manned by cute boys who know their cheeses. Need a cheese for pasta or casserole? They got you covered. Need some dried pasta or sauces? They are there as well. And I used to recall them having prepared pizza dough on hand too which was convenient. Cons are that their selection of canadian/regional cheeses is not as big as some other cheese stores in town and this place can be a pain to navigate when there's a crowd inside. -
Review from Andy O.
7/3/2010
I find it interesting that not more people mention how cheap this store is. Maybe it's just the low-fat cheese though that I've been looking for at various grocery stores and have finally found here. Should anybody know of any other store that has cheese with max. 10% fat at even lower prices - by all means, drop me a message!
Considering this, I don't really care about anything else in the first place but the guys there still always are very friendly and patient. And I love the metal or at least a bit rougher rock that they usually got playing.
There are only two things that keeps me from giving this store a perfect score:
1. The stench. I usually like the smell of cheese but this thing is a wild beast born out of the smells of dozens of cheeses, kept in the small cage this store is. Would love to see (or smell...) some better ventilation in there.
2. Only debit and cash is accepted. I guess that's no big deal for most but as I currently can only pay with cash or credit and usually forget to get cash before I go there, this is really annoying. -
Review from A.J. S.
12/31/2009
This place was pretty awesome, the people know lots about cheese and are really helpful. I walked into the cheese store and they were singing songs in meows, which was hilarious. The atmosphere was nice, and we bought a few cheese which we really liked when we took home. Otherwise, I would definitely recommend this as a good place to pick up cheese in the Kensington market. I really enjoyed shopping here, from the fun people who worked there, to the HUGE line of different cheese, to their willingness to let us try cheese to see what we liked, to their awesome suggestions. It was a great cheese experience.
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Review from Matty K.
Toronto, ON
8/15/2008
Every cheese imaginable. What's better than cutting the cheese? Buying it here. What's funnier than cutting the cheese? The jokes on the wall behind the counters. Yes, the cheese is cheaper than at your local grocer...and you can sample !
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Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
10/10/2008 1 photo
I love cheese stores. I like that rotting milk can be prepared in so many delicious and wonderful ways and that I can eat cheese my whole life and still find new varieties that excite my taste buds. I went into Cheese Magic because they made the bold claim to be the best Cheese Shop in Toronto, as is often the case with claims of this nature there was some truth to it. It is a very good cheese store but the truth is that it's very hard to be the best cheese shop in Toronto and Magic Cheese just isn't it. The store has a very good selection but there was a disturbingly large amount of cheese that came pre-wrapped from the factory. Now I have no problem getting this sort of cheese from Dominion (or should I say Metro) but in a cheese store they should know better. I was looking for a snack and went with cheese curds which were good but not the best I've had. I would recommend Magic Cheese for people who are in the know about cheese as one of the stores (but not the first) that you would go to when looking for the perfect pieces to that cheese platter.
Like the review? Check out the link to my blog on my profile. -
Review from T. G.
Toronto, ON
4/14/2009
It's not the biggest in the market and it doesn't compare to the stalls at St. Lawrence, but I'm in Kensington every week and this is one of my stops. A good basic selection and they'll give you samples if you ask. Don't forget there's fresh unsalted butter by the slab too. Nice assortment of oils, vinegars, crackers, olives, yogurt and eggs. There's pancetta and homemade pates in the deli case. That the owner has an eye for a certain type of fresh young male beauty doesn't hurt either.
