Cooks & Curds at Back Forty Cheese

Jun 22, 2022

When Jeff and Jenna Fenwick moved from Lanark County to the picturesque farm property overlooking the Mississippi River on Gulley Road in Frontenac County, they also built new facilities for their two home-based businesses – Back Forty Cheese and Jenna Rose textiles.

They also had pland develop, over time, a farm to table destination, with meat and produce from their own and other local farms, including a kitchen, patio and an outdoor dining space overlooking the river.

When COVID hit, they had to re-think how to get Back Forty Cheese to market because the restaurants, which were a major portion of cheese sales, shut down. One of their strategies was to enhance their social media marketing in order to sell cheese directly to customers.

“We also decided to implement our full vision for the outdoor space,” said Jenna Fenwick. “We had a mason put in a pizza oven, and hired a builder to put in a pavilion. We are now fully set up for casual dining, and our liquor license came through last week.

Earlier this month, they began their summer season. The Cheese Shop and Tasting Bar is now open Fridays from 3pm-7pm and Saturdays from 11am-6pm throughout the summer. The shop offers a full selection of raw-sheep’s milk cheeses, as well as locally produced cured meats, honey, maple syrup, and preserves. The outdoor tasting bar serves a seasonal farm-to-table menu, including wood-fired oven pizzas, and the riverside patio features Ontario craft beer, cider, wine, and kombucha.

And they are ramping for the “Curds and Cooks” festival on Saturday, July 2nd, also from 11am-6pm.

The popular event has been on hold for two years, but will be better than ever in the renovated space. In addition to Back Forty’s raw sheep and water buffalo milk cheeses, local food and drink producers Stalwart Brewery, Seed to Sausage, Dairy Distillery, and Perth Pie Company will be on hand. There will be beer battered deep fried curds, pizza and other specialties, and a calypso and reggae band will be performing.

For further information, go to www.artisancheese.ca