Foodie Spotlight | Stock up on delicious artisanal cheese at the Fromagerie du Vieux-St-François

Laval is a vast island that still boasts a thriving agri-food sector, primarily in the Saint-François neighborhood. I had the pleasure of meeting Marc-André and Christelle Marchand from the Fromagerie du Vieux-St-François, inspiring and passionate master cheesemakers who showed me around their beautiful farm, introduced me to their charming goats, and let me taste their delicious cheeses and wide variety of products, all made from goat’s milk. They are young entrepreneurs with big ambitions!

How did this love affair with cheese begin?

It was our father who first started a dairy farm near Marieville on the South Shore. In 2001, we traded the cows for goats. It was a dream we’d had for a long time. But it wasn’t until 2006 that we really began producing and selling our cheese. We later met Mrs. Latour, the founder of the Fromagerie du Vieux-St-François. She was looking to sell, and we were ready and interested in acquiring the farm.

We have a variety of dairy goats here (Alpine, Nubian, Angora, and Sahone). In total, we have about forty goats on our farm.

Since this is a family business, what role does each person play within the company?

I studied dietetics in Saint-Hyacinthe and had some experience in food processing. My sister studied and worked in childcare. We learned a lot from Ms. Latour and her team of cheesemakers, who taught us how to carry on their recipes and how to develop our own! My mother makes sausages and my father takes care of the goats. My sister and I focus more on product and business development. I mainly handle production, and my sister is in charge of… everything else (laughs)!

What are the benefits of goat's milk?

It is very mild and easy to digest because it is similar to breast milk and contains very little fat.

What products do you make, and what can customers buy at your store?

We produce more than 20 types of cheese, including our famous Boule d’amour, which has won several awards.

Our shop, located in Old Saint-François in Laval, is open year-round. We sell our cheeses, of course, but also non-homogenized whole milk, our goat cheese yogurt, gelato (in the summer only, served in cones), and homemade sausages made by our mother using goat meat, as well as a selection of other artisanal products we love. In the summer, we offer the perfect spot for a picnic. We recently set up an area with tables. The many cyclists who pass through the area often stop by to visit us.

What is your best-selling product at the cheese shop?

People love Les Bouchées d’Amour (which are all handmade, by the way). These are small goat cheese bites packed in jars and covered with a seed oil flavored with chives, herbes de Provence, garlic, and parsley, or in a plain version. This product is delicious in pasta, salads, on a bagel, etc.

Of course, there’s our cheddar (plain and pink peppercorn) and Le Lavallois, a soft, bloomy-rind cheese made from pasteurized milk. Its white, fluffy rind has woody notes and a pleasant taste of fresh mushrooms.

Our La Tomme du Haut-St-François cheese pairs perfectly with a good beer (pale ale or red ale) as well as with a sweet or dry white wine. This summer, we served our goat cheese gelato, and it was a huge hit. So you definitely have to give it a try!

We also offer a variety of meats from our farm: goat sausages, goat meat salami, free-range chicken, and more.

Where can we find your products?

You can purchase our products at our shop at the Fromagerie du Vieux-St-François, as well as at several specialty grocery stores, including Chez Hamel, Bleu et persillé, Moisson Ste-Thérèse, Metro, and IGA, and online at the Les Fermes Lufa website.