Years ago, I discovered this little pocket of cheap foodie Toronto awesomeness -- Kensington Market. Mixed in with irresistible spice and veggie stores, and the rather sketchy uncovered beans that sometimes meet the dirty feet of pigeons, lies Cheese Magic.

Run by an army of cute slacker dudes of seemingly unending supply, Cheese Magic is one of those places that makes you want to buy more and more cheese. No one barks at you for your order, and within a few glassed cases and an overflowing-with-cheese counter, there's almost anything you could possibly want. And if you're not sure -- just ask for a taste, or two, or three. They're happy to help; they're generous with their samples; and the cheese has always been insanely tasty.

I remember going early one weekday morning to acquire a selection of edibles for a wine and cheese party I was throwing that night. I told the woman behind the counter that I was throwing a cheese-themed party, and for the next half hour, she introduced me to a myriad of options, giving me a taste of each. I learned the eye-rolling wonder of Smoked Applewood Cheddar. I picked up some chaumes, havarti, brie -- while trying to refrain from picking up one of everything, being in debt for forever, and growing bigger than an expanding Violet Beauregarde.

That same woman was in the store today, as I walked in and was slapped with the shock of an empty counter. While both refrigerated cases were full, the long expanse that is usually 2-3 rows deep and a few feet tall was just gone. She was telling another customer about how the inspectors came in, poked a bunch of cheese, and all the counter cheese that she wasn't required to throw out was had to be stored in the back. She has to replace the counter with refrigerated storage, or that's the end of Cheese Magic. So much for room-temperature cheese.

The place is wonderful, and I urge you to go down and see for yourself and bring whoever you can -- whether you're a resident or tourist. The foodie world thrives on these sort of places, and it would be a shame to lose some place so great.