132 Cheese lovers joined to date

Leon Graafland

Artisan Cheese Instructor, Global citizen, Storyteller

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       Growing up among the many Cheese Dairies in Gouda, The Netherlands, there was not

       a day without cheese; never a day without dairy, and today this is no different.

     

       A graduate of the Professional Cheesemaker program at Conestoga College school of 

       Hospitality & Culinary Arts in Waterloo. I completed the Professional “Artisan Cheese and

       Sensory Fundamentals” program at the University of Vermont, USA. 

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       I feel lucky and privileged to be trained and guided by Ruth Klahsen, a Creative Ontario

       Artisan Cheesemaker and Founder of Monforte Dairy in Stratford. Paul Thomas, an Award

       winning British Cheesemaker and publisher of the book "Home-made Cheese, Artisan

      Cheesemaking made simple". I gained new knowledge and experience working at Ontario's most awarded homestead Gouda        Cheesemaker; Mountain Oak Cheese in New Hamburg, and- in honesty- I learnt and stumbled a lot while enduring a few little           victories and many defeats trying to perfect my own variation to the World's most delicate cheeses.   

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      Some poets called Cheese a symphony of ingredients, that require a delicate 

      balance to play together. Four basic ingredients are the foundation of more

      than 1400 different Cheeses, all with their own flavors, texture, shape and

      character. I am looking forward enjoying the Art of making Cheese together.

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       Leon - Artisan Cheese Instructor