A local cheese connoisseur has received recognition for the best fresh cheese in North America.
The conference
Fabiola Dela Pria, owner of Unique Brazilian Dairy, recently travelled to Sacramento, California, to attend the American Cheese Society Conference. There, her Minas Frescal cheese took home the top award for fresh cheese.
“It was awesome because last year we won second, and it was a big thing for us. We weren't expecting it. So, this year when we went to the competition, we were expecting at least to be held second again, and then suddenly we were first fresh cheese of North America, which is amazing!”
This was only the second time Dela Pria entered the competition. The goal was originally to receive feedback from expert judges.
“They are internationally known judges,” she says. “It's very important to have their comments. And then we won second, and then this year we won first, which takes away the Impostor syndrome, because you're like, ‘Oh, they made a mistake, right, maybe I'm not that good.’ But then two years in a row, and well, maybe I'm that good.”
A taste of home
She says what makes Minas Frescal stand out from other soft cheeses is that it tastes like childhood.
“It's like a milky taste. It's cozy, it's warm, and it just reminds me about warm childhood in Brazil. And I think that people can relate to that. I really believe that food connects people.”
For Dela Pria, the win goes beyond personal recognition.
“It's a win for Brazilian culture and food. It's a win for Manitoba, for Canada, because we not only took first place in many categories inside of the event, but Canada was named the best of the show, meaning that Canada was the best of 1,600 applications.”
She adds, “I'm inviting everybody in Manitoba to celebrate, because guess what, we have the best fresh cheese of North America, so let's celebrate together.”
More awards
In addition to the first-place win for Minas Frescal, Unique Brazilian Dairy also earned a third-place award for their BBQ Cheese and Ricotta Spread.
“I was walking towards the booth to get the medal, and I heard my name again. I was like ‘Oh my goodness,’ I didn't even know what I won because I was behind the big screen, and then as I got the first medal, I heard my name again, and I was like, ok!”
Growth and community support
Since entering the competition last year, the business has seen major growth.
“We were able from last year to this year to put this in more stores. We are in big grocery stores like Co-op stores. Now we are in all local stores in Steinbach, so if you want to try our cheeses, any place in Steinbach basically carries it.”
Dela Pria says the feedback from the local community has been heartwarming.
“It's also reassuring that we are doing a good job because people stop me and say, ‘I love your cheese,’ and it's so cute. Like I have little kids saying, ‘Oh, I love your cheese. I love the Brazilian cheese,’ and it’s very cool.”
Looking ahead
Next on the horizon for Unique Brazilian Dairy is expanding beyond Manitoba.
“Very soon, people from Vancouver and Quebec will be able to also try our Manitoba cheeses, and I'm very proud of carrying our Manitoba flag in our packaging. So yeah, so now we can say that we are Canadian.”
Dela Pria says they are currently operating on a small scale, producing about 1,000 litres of cheese each week. As they expand into new provinces, she notes they are preparing to triple production to meet the demand from just one additional province.
“It's a big challenge. We are working with the University of Manitoba right now, that helps us to scale up and being able to cross the borders.”
Support from the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce and other local groups has played a big role in their progress.
“We have a lot of support, small business around and I can’t thank you enough, all the peers that help me improve and grow. And the most important thing is not losing the opportunity, so when the opportunity arises, everybody comes together and helps us to push forward and keep growing. So, it's very, very important to support as well.”
Where to try it
Dela Pria encourages people to support the local businesses that carry their cheese.
“Thank you to all these amazing local stores. They are carrying our cheeses and giving us the opportunity to show off our work. Because they were the ones that trusted us.”