I’ve always said I could live on good cheese and bread. I think I could even do good bread and butter but if there’s cheese around, yes please!
On a visit to my new favorite small city, Salem, Massachusetts, known for the witch trials of 1692, we happened upon The Cheese Shop of Salem. We were only in the store for less than 30 minutes, cognizant of the pandemic guidelines the store was following limiting the number of customers allowed in the store at one time. By the total on our receipt, you’d think we were there for hours. Can’t imagine what our total would have been if they were giving samples!
The store is well-merchandised and reminded me a bit of my still all-time-fav grocery store, The Gourmet Pantry, where I worked on occasion way back in the early 80s at Walt Disney World. The Cheese Shop’s main focus of course is cheese but they also sell a great selection of wines and unique packaged foods. They also have fresh local salamis, smoked salmon, and pickled veggies. The wines we purchased I will buy again when I go back. Here’s a pic of our Easter charcuterie with cheeses, crackers, wines, salami, and smoked salmon, all from this great shop.
Customer service at this store is right up there with the standard of Disney too. Well, the standard back in the late 70s and early 80s I shoud say. Everyone was kind, knowledgeable, and patient. If they didn’t know the answer to a question, they asked someone who did. Which I love! The cheeses are cut to specification and packaged so that you literally could leave them in your car without risking the lingering pungent smell of really good cheese. Which we did. Oh, and they will also create a charcuterie for you pre-ordered or right there on the spot! And they ship.
I’d go back to this place in a heartbeat. Conveniently, on the same block, there’s a great bread bakery which I will also be blogging about. Actually, it’s their oatmeal bread that will earn a 5 Heart Rating. Did I mention I love good bread and cheese? Oh my!
If you find yourself in Massachusetts, you’ll definitely want to visit Salem and this great cheese store. Here’s a link to The Cheese Shop’s website where you can learn all about their virtual events and classes, and their highly-qualified cheesemongers. The cheese buyer’s name is Brie. How cool is that! They also have a wine club and a cheese club. That’s it! I’m moving to Salem!
https://www.thecheeseshopofsalem.com
Also published on Medium.
