This wonderful little grocery / cafe soft opened three months ago in January -- and I'm furious…read morewith myself for driving by it four times a weekend for so long without checking it out! Located at the funny intersection of CT-4 and CT-7 (where from certain directions you have to craaaaaaanne your neck to see if there's oncoming traffic) and just a short drive away from Mohawk Mountain, this bright, clean newcomer is small, but absolutely chock full of wonders.
What we tried of the menu was truly excellent and it makes me wonder who is hiding out in the kitchen, here. Whoever it is has mad skills.*
- The chicken, white bean and kale soup ($8) was clearly made from scratch, with care, the broth clean, rich, and flavorful.
- Thai steak salad (grilled skirt, spicy aromatic herbs, parched rice, tangy dressing; $12) had no business being this good given that it's from a tiny general store in a tiny town in CT. This Isaan-style classic was surprisingly legit, pungent with fish sauce, packed full of lemongrass, lime juice, mint, and other herbs. It wasn't Isaan spicy (which quite literally makes me cry... but happy tears), but it was spicy. The steak was perfectly tender / chewy, sliced a little more thickly than I personally prefer for this preparation -- but of course that's a matter of preference. I would've loved to have had this with sticky rice. (I noticed after the fact that you can get a side of rice for $2. Next time!)
- A hazelnut tiramisu tart ($7) had a nice, crisp crust; coffee-laced cream; possibly marzipan as part of the filling; and crisp hazelnuts on top. The adults thought it was lovely, but the kids are still extremely partial to the baked goods at Wilson's in nearby Kent.
The produce in the case (lettuce and other greens, winter root vegetables like radishes, turnips, and sweet potatoes) were very fresh, gorgeous to behold. Pricing was reasonable, e.g. what you'd pay at a farm stand or farmer's market, though of course more than what you'd pay at a grocery chain.
There were lovely looking cheeses and butters in the fridge, too, Ronnybrook Farm yogurt, dried chilis, spices, tea and coffee, maple syrup, and even ceramics made by a local artist alongside a few household contraptions.
The staff were REALLY nice (and very fashionable, I should add) and there are two clean, all-gender bathrooms -- pretty impressive for such a small place. There are just a few tables set up for eating in, and a counter with bar stools in a side room -- but when the weather warms, we'll enjoy taking this beautiful food to the picnic tables at Kent Falls.
* I'll answer my own question. Based on my shameless Google stalking, it looks like the chefs are Tyler Forve, who per this website (https://www.cornwallmarket.com/), trained under several "Michelin level chefs in the San Francisco Bay area" and CIA-trained sous chef Emma Terhaar (https://lakevillejournal.com/country-market-reopens-with-fresh-take-on-local-food). Chef Terhaar is also a food writer with some strong thoughts on burgers: https://thetakeout.com/author/emmaterhaar.