What’s Inside the Bag of Cheese Master Afrim Pristine?

For Afrim Pristine, cheese is a way of life. His grandfather founded the beloved Cheese Boutique in Toronto’s west end in 1970, and now Pristine – who was granted the exclusive “maître fromager” title by the France–based Guilde Internationale des Fromagers in 2013 – and his two brothers run the gourmet grocer that carries 550 cheeses from approximately 35 countries, as well as CB Bottega, a café and gelato shop they opened last year. Pristine recently earned another title, too: host of Food Network Canada’s docuseries, Cheese: A Love Story, which took him from Quebec to Switzerland meeting acclaimed cheesemongers and tasting local varieties for the first season’s six episodes. “I love speaking the language of cheese,” says Pristine. “It was a humbling experience to get to know producers from all over who I respect, asking questions and learning infinitely more about the world of cheese.”

enRoute What’s your packing style?   

Afrim Pristine I’m an overpacker – you never know if a chef’s jacket or fancy cheese knives are needed. My fiancée showed me how to roll my clothes and she usually helps me pack, too.

ER In advance or last–minute?     

AP I start a few days in advance and fine–tune until it’s time to leave. I like to have options, especially when filming, but I always bring two pairs of Lululemon pants and my lucky Black Panther T–shirt – I’m a huge Marvel fan.

ER Top travel hack    

AP My fiancée also turned me on to packing cubes. They help me stay organized, especially when I change hotels several times during a trip.

ER What was it like to travel through four different countries for Cheese: A Love Story?   

AP We shot the whole series over 30 days, and we were always on the move, never in a hotel for longer than two days. I had never travelled this way, or this extensively, before. It was the job of a lifetime meeting the best chefs and cheesemakers in the world.  

ER The six episodes highlight B.C., Greece, Toronto, Quebec, France and Switzerland. What surprised you most of all the places you visited? 

AP In Switzerland there are cheese vending machines on the streets! Look for Cheese Xpress machines, which feature hyperlocal varieties from different regions. The Swiss are serious about their cheese.

ER Where would you recommend heading for a cheese–focused trip?

AP Go to Paris or Rome, which are well known for their cheeses and offer the familiar classics. Pick four or five cheese shops to visit, let the cheesemongers guide you and immerse yourself in the culture and the local varieties. In Paris, Fromagerie Nicole Barthélémy is probably the best cheese store I have ever been to, and Fromagerie Laurent Dubois is also amazing. In Rome, I recommend checking out La Tradizione and Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina. Ask to try types you’ve never heard of – you will always remember that moment of buying and eating it.

ER What are the most underrated destinations for cheese? 

AP B.C. was one of my favourite episodes of Cheese: A Love Story. It was beautifully shot and we showcased cheese from Salt Spring Island and Comox. Ontario and Quebec are cheese powerhouses in Canada, but B.C. is creating world–class products, too. Internationally, Portugal is underrated big time. It’s the only country in Europe where the sheep, goats and cows graze on grass 365 days a year, an amazing terroir for cheese. Other countries worth exploring are in the Balkans, including Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and especially Croatia. They do fresh and breakfast cheeses very well, like Škripavac, a mild, tangy and sweet cheese, and Basa, a fresh cream cheese.  

ER Do viewers come into Cheese Boutique requesting specific cheeses they have seen on the series? 

AP Every day! We featured a barrel–aged feta from Greece on the show – it’s the best feta I’ve ever had – and many customers want to try it. People are requesting the different types of Swiss Gruyère, too. And because of Cheese: A Love Story, we now offer more varieties from B.C. I love how people get so excited to try new cheeses.

ER How many varieties of cheese do you carry at Cheese Boutique?

AP We have more Canadian representation on our counter than Italy and France combined. We offer about 550 cheeses from approximately 35 countries around the world. Besides Canada, we predominately source cheeses from Europe, as well as some from South America and a few from the Middle East. 

Related: What’s Inside the Carry‑On Bag of a Hotelier?