PEARL-IN-A-HOLE: Get a 1/2 lbs all-beef Pearl hot dog grilled with BBQ sauce and onions, shoved into a half loaf of crusty french bread, at Formaggio Kitchen's legendary Saturday sidewalk BBQ (see photos) read more

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This review is mostly for the sidewalk BBQ that happens every Saturday in the warm seasons. The setup and food is great and makes for a unique outdoor experience. The pulled lamb seems popular and sells out fast. I've tried the pulled pork sandwich which is very good and pretty big even if you order the small. Of the sides I love the baked beans - thick and sweet with bits of pork, it's so good the day of and even better as leftovers. The cole slaw is okay. I like the apples and big golden raisins in it but it's not as tangy as I'd prefer. A unique and tasty item that they also have is lahmacun, which is a Turkish pizza topped with minced meat, salsa fresca, and cheese. The hot items that they offer are all premade but finished on the grill. The one major downside is that there's always a line and it moves very slowly, so expect an hour wait or longer. Aside from the BBQ, the store itself is filled with all sorts of gourmet foods and is fun to browse. read more

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The mongers here are so knowledgeable and helpful every time I come in! I tell them what I'm looking for in a cheese and they're quick to provide suggestions which are always spot on. This location also has cheeses which I've had difficulty finding anywhere else - it's still the only place I can find one of favorites in Florence Maritime when it's available! read more

All your high end cheese needs are right here. Okay, so they're expensive, but you know what you're getting, they let you try whatever you need to, and it's all good. Great great service. Here is a list of what I got for a recent party. Paglierino Bonde de Gatine Bachensteiner Fromage de Meaux Comte Marcel Petite F. S. Carre de Chevre Gorgonzola Isolabella Gruyere Alpage Yes and a fair selection of wines and breads to go along with your selection of cheeses. read more

I may be misinformed, but I keep hearing this is the best cheese shop in America. I know that there are better shops in England and France, probably canada. But I keep hearing it because I keep saying it. However, they do not have well aged cheddar, which is an astounding hole, so I do not compare them to Canadian stores that will stock it. They do not do potted cheese, but do potted meats, go figure. The lose a star for the their anti-english and australian and welsh cheddar snobbery. they have a range of things I've only heard of, but never seen in a store. which is always interesting. parmasean end sliced. whole foie gras. fish stock. petite fors (can't even spell that). Bouche Noel. really good fruitcake (but not cheap, about 4x what stop and shop sells it for, and it's only 2.5x better here). Their potato chips are the most expensive I've seen, rivalled only by their poor value, lose another star. The have some unbelievable prices. A persimmon? I've never had one, would pay $5 for it, only $2. Some of the cheeses are overpriced, some rare ones under priced to me. plain table salt, overpriced, unbelievably so. but, black, orange, golden, smoked, and pink salt are useful. But, well worth going to educate yourself. And, if you know an area better than they do, then the conversation is very interesting. If you do, not, you might get bruised in conversation, and might get helped a lot. my impression is that it will vary by customer and sever more than it should. Could be 7 star, only 5 tonight. Hope to go back repeatedly. read more

I live out of town, so it took me awhile to make my second visit to Formaggio Kitchen. I was surprised at how much smaller it was than I remembered. That's a compliment: there was so much good stuff my memory assumed a huge emporium that would have room to house it all. The fact is, of course, that FK is tiny but crammed with all the RIGHT stuff. My focus was on the cheese, though everything is beautiful and carefully curated. Do not ignore the items set out for tasting. I found two treasures this way. And do not fail to ask the cheesemonger what is good based on his/her perception of what wheels are particularly nice or at an ideal point of ripeness at the time of your visit. I think this is better than announcing what you like. I said I liked funky blues and, while I got a cheese I enjoyed a lot, when I brought it home I realized it wasn't something I would have chosen on my own. A word about the high prices. I have a basis for comparison in the craft beers, and I can tell you that the markups are less here than at Whole Foods for the bottles that are carried in both places. If you feel like you need a bargain to ease the pain, rummage in the day old bread basket in front of the cash register. These are approximately half off, and most dark breads are better on the second day. read more

Delicious boutique shop offering fine goods. They have such unique offerings and the best selection of cheeses and spreads in my opinion in Cambridge. I've been here are several occasions to buy cheeses for friend gatherings. Though the pricing is a little bit on the pricier side, the quality is really apparent and they source most of their goods directly from locations such as Europe. They also have frequent events with wine and cheese but haven't had the chance to try those out yet! read more

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This place is an absolute gem located in North Western Cambridge near Freshpond. Went there because I was trying to get my hands on some morbier & some beaufort cheese. After entering the store, my eyes lit up and it was clear that the two cheeses I came for were going to become a part of a much larger grocery list. I snagged some fresh spinach, two bottles of wine and possibly some of the best olives I've ever had (olives alfonso). I behaved and didn't try any of their pastries but it looks like my name is all over them for my next trip. The prices were pretty reasonable and the only inconvenience is parking, which can be tricky. i actually parked illegal a block away which disabled me from spending too much time in the store. Hopefully I'll find a spot next time so I can explore every little shelf of goodies that they have. Their staff is very friendly, attentive and helpful and even interact with you on Twitter, listening to requests. Unfortunately for me they didn't carry any beaufort cheese but have placed an order for it. If they are out of an item you can even setup an account on their website which will alert you once its back in stock. Very nifty. I love this place and cannot wait to make future trips there for some high quality products! read more

I absolutely adore this gourmet food shop. My main reason for visiting is always the cheese. Their cheese selection is out of his world and the cheese mongers are knowledgeable and helpful. Plus they give you tastes before you buy to make sure you love the taste! I love stinky, funky, runny cheeses and each time I come they have new ones for me to try out. Their pate and cured meat selection is also outstanding. Additionally, they sell some fantastic fresh loaves of bread, which is obviously necessary for a cheese shop! I also love their small bakery, which somehow packs a large amount of goods in a very small space. I've tried a coffee cake and it was fabulous. I'm tempted by the cookies and brownies but have thus far resisted...I live close by, though, so it's bound to happen one of these days!! read more

Amazing organic foods and very friendly staff! This place is definitely an experience. Every time I walk through here I feel like I'm Alice in a Cheesy Wonderland. Everyone is so nice and clearly loves working in this environment. They always have samples, you can try a lot of the food before you buy it. They also have a daily soup which is often quite good. I like a lot of their meats and cheeses as well, however, we bought some very expensive ribs from here once and they were honestly inedible, we had to throw them out because the flavor was so off. I would definitely categorize Formaggio as on the pricier side as well. Really fun little shop though! read more

Formaggio Kitchen - They were outside grilling sandwiches + sausages, even in the rain! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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They're moving to a new location down the street, which reminds me that I really need to write a review to thank them for their friendly service during the months of the pandemic that everything was closed. A couple of times they were good enough to let me tack something on to an order when I went to pick it up, and the quality of the cuts was always great even though the counter was closed to the public. You're going to pay a little bit more for cheese and salumi and leberwurst here, but the quality is so above and beyond anything on offer elsewhere that it really is more than worth it. Lots of other good stuff too -- dried pasta, bread, specialty flour, wine, beer. Always a treat. read more

Why are the girls at the prepared food counter so rude? Not only to me, but to my 21 year old son as well. They deliberately ignored him today and, when they decided to help him, they gave him the worst selection of meat from the platter. Why? I'm in customer service, and the general understanding is: if you don't like the service industry then find another job! Don't take it out on the customers. Be pleasant. Always. read more

i'm not really a foodie, but I'm totally addicted to the finds at Formaggio's. The staff is really helpful answering any questions I have about the astounding selection of cheeses. I "discovered" cotton candy grapes and the best tasting tomatoes I've ever had. This is a destination with only two downfalls- parking (non-existent, street parking) and the hard to navigate aisles. Well worth a visit, read more

About as good as a neighborhood specialty grocery can be. Super helpful and patient staff. Awesome Fried chicken.

Did you konw taht the olny iprmoetnt tihng to raed a wrod is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae? The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs was my culniary lfie berofe FORMAGGIO's... I undtersood the big ptictrue but not the fnie ditleas. Cokonig wnet from a mses to complete diamond-clear understanding. One day, the girlfriend and I had extra time with our zipcar and I remembered how this place has been bookmarked on Yelp for months. It is a bit of a walk from Harvard square so having a zipcar really made it possible to go with ease. The tipping point that led me to finally go here for the first time is something that I think sums up Formaggio's for what it is. I was in Vermont with good friends, at a small cheese farm in the middle of nowhere, and the owner got off his tractor for a few minutes to slice off a chunk of his cow and sheep's milk blend cheese for us. As he weighed the slices in a small room attached to the barn, he told us we could get this cheese in Boston too. After tasting a sliver of this artfully made cheese, we thought this was great news. "Where?," we asked. "Formaggio's, the Cambridge store." Oh yeah, that place, I've been meaning to go there. Since my first visit, I have been to a Cheese 101 and a BBQ/Beer class and have $10 Austrian acacia honey on my shelf (bought with a 10% discount after the classes and all those wine pairings, and it tastes oh so delicious with aged goat cheese). Now I'm signed up for the Oktoberfest class, I drive to Formaggio's for a sandwich everytime I have a zipcar, I walked the 40 minutes from my apartment in Central square in 95 degree 75% humidity to eat a pulled lamb sandwich on a Saturday several times, and I talked about this place so much that my aunt in Orange county ordered me a gift certificate for my birthday. Only crack addicts truly understands this type of obsession and addiction. So do yourself a favor, befriend this fine little store that we are so lucky to have in our neighborhood. Don't live without: - Cheese 101 class: Kurt, the son of the owners, tells fascinating stories about where the cheese comes from and you can sample cheeses that you'd rather eat than any cheap ass dinner (also beware the seconds and thirds on the wine pairings, you may spend too much after the class with your discount, but really you won't regret anything you buy here too much). After the class, you are allowed to visit their cheese cave. - Street-side BBQ on Saturdays (until it gets too cold to stand outside for a few hours), 11am - 2pm/sell out: Bon Appétit called this one of the best new BBQ places in the country, but you don't need to know that. Just get there at 11amish when it opens and you won't have to wait too long for amazing lamb/chicken/brisket sandwiches or ribs or chicken or baked beans... My favorite is whatever sausage they have that day in their perfect light Brioche bun with caramelized onions on top, along with grilled peaches with balsamic and blue cheese. At the BBQ class we learned that even if it's raining or too cold they have a smaller version of BBQ on Saturdays inside for sale. - Free samples of cheese they almost always have, and the free tastings they often have on weekends: beer, juice, granola...it's free! and tasty! and local! - The Comté: they're known for this stuff. Try it, try them all, try the one they only get a few wheels of a year. They worked hard to get it for you for a reason. - The Formaggio's beer brewed by Cisco Brewery (they make Whale's Tail) that you can only buy here. One-of-a-kind brew. Formaggio Kitchen brings skillfully and lovingly made products from small farms in Vermont, from a man in Austria with 3 bee hives, from wineries in France who only sell their wine in their local village. The owners visit these places, get to know the people that make the products (for example: http://www.formaggiokitchen.com/node/75), and then offer them to us with knowledge and advice and the desire to make the experience as close to the original as they can. I wish I could have made this review funny, but sometimes, you just can't put in jest something that is too wonderful. You just have to admire it and that will bring you as much happiness as a carefully crafted joke. read more

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Went to a cheese tasting for a bachelorette party as a photographer. The woman running the tasting offered me 1/4 glass of wine, and folks I was photographing were very friendly so they occasionally passed off a bit of something to make me feel welcome. After I left early, the person running the tasting charged the party $65 for my 1/4 glass of wine, the small glass of cider she poured for one of the participants who didn't want to finish it, 2 pieces of popcorn, and 1 slice of bread I consumed. I did NOT take part in the 3-4 plate tasting and was focused on taking pictures. That was by far, the most expensive 1/4 glass of wine I've ever had, as I wasn't about the let the party eat the cost. read more

The backlog! It smarts! Sorry, I have a lot of reviewing to do. This weekend was a Yelper's dream. Speaking of which.... Formaggio Kitchen. Day 3 of my friend Graham's visit, day 3 of incessant rain. We braved the damp for the chance to gorge on meat and cheese, and were rewarded handsomely. FK is absolutely crammed with tasty items -- specialty cookies and wine, fancy chocolates, 50-year aged balsamic vinaigrette, just-made duck leg glazed with chili sauce. Cheese samples were everywhere. Be still my heart. Graham launched into a full-on discussion with a patient staff member about what bottle of red to buy, so I wandered around the narrow store aisles, poking at chocolate turkeys and violet hard candy. By the time I returned to the wine section, he had moved on to charcuterie. I stuck around to try some meat selections, cheerfully offered to us by another staff member. Everyone in the store was alarmingly nice. We wound up with the softest buttery prosciutto slices I've ever tasted, plus round, peppercorn-studded salami, a nutty sheep's milk cheese, a supple baguette and two salty oat cookies. For all the food in the store, there was nowhere to eat inside. We walked back into the rain to feast. And feast we did. read more

Heard a lot about this place. Great reviews. Ordered a cheese platter and appetizers for an event over the weekend. Specified: 1. No blue cheese 2. No goat milk cheese. Got a platter sent over with 1. Blue cheese 2. Raspberries that had mold on them and in them and on almost all of the raspberries. Could not serve the platter. Called twice...they were going to get back to us but "very busy right now". Answer should be I am so sorry, the least we can do is refund you your money. Really sad customer service. read more

Take it from a long time cook, this place is outta this world. The cheese shop alone is worth the trek from anywhere within a 50 mile radius. (Plus, the people that man that shop really know their cheeses, meats, olives, mustards, cavier, etc.) The place is composed of 3 distinct areas: cheeses/deli, chocolate/pastries, and dairy/fresh foods/bread. If you can't make a meal here, you aren't really trying. Wait a minute? Shouldn't I be subtracting points for the high price tags on all the goods? Yeah, bite me. Go ahead...take your $20 and go buy three bags of groceries at Trader Joes and go make a 12-course meal for your buddies that will give you Botchulism, or take your $20 and go buy 1/4 lbs of imported aged gouda, 1/4 lb of prosciutto and a 6-pack of duck eggs and go home and make an omelet that will get you laid. Your choice, you financial whiz, you. read more

This is Mecca for food lovers. If you consider yourself one, you absolutely have to go. It's a great place to become acquainted with the world's best cheeses, of which there is an enormous (though still carefully hand-picked) selection. But don't stop at the cheese. Try the mostardas (candied fruit with a mustard kick), dozens of different honeys (chestnut is remarkable), the carefully selected olive oils, etc. FK also has a wonderful, low-priced selection of wines that do a good job reflecting their origins/terroirs. The deli stuff, needless to say, is delicious. Count on ingredients you've never heard of and specially imported from all over Europe. FK has the best breads available in Cambridge. Today the clerk recommended a B&R baguette over their own baguette because this was one of the things someone else clearly does better. How many stores in the country behave like this? Great produce imported from all over the world. As I write this, there is a new stock of incredible berries imported from France. A small sampling of the world's greatest beers (today I bought Alesmith Speedway Stout). Delicious baked goods, some baked on site, others brought in from places like Lakota. On and on and on. Formaggio Kitchen is perfect. This is by far the greatest foodie place in Boston. read more

Ok, sorry, but it's time I do a two star yelp. I'm not cheap. I agree that you get what you pay for but this place is just plain ole OVERPRICED. There's a difference between pricey and overpriced. This place is grossly overpriced. They have some great products, yes, of course, and they may have some rare cheeses but Best of Boston was given to Whole Foods not long ago - and at least they are on the cost savings band wagon now! That will get my business before this place does. Who do these people think they are?! Case in point: I ran in for coffee, and noticed they had one of my fave treats to go with. I got ONE french macaroon sandwich cookie - light as a feather and less than 2 inches in size - for $2.25!? Are you freaking kidding me? Price that out per ounce and it's got to be more than the fanciest, rarest truffle. I nearly died as I was driving and saw the price on the cookie bag. Should I have pulled over for a moment with my cookie fit for a queen? I don't get the economics of it. They can't possibly be paying a lot for rent. They have not expanded. It's still too small and cramped. It's not sparkling clean. In fact, I saw the cheese "cave" not long ago on This Old House and it's no more than a nasty little room in their basement, which use to house an office. They just slapped some shelving on the walls. Hello? The conclusion - they charge because their foolish, snotty customers are willing to pay. We'll see what the economy does to their price point but for now, when I shop there, I'll be sure to shop carefully, and check the prices before I cash out. read more

I'd give Formaggio five stars except this location is so cramped and difficult to manuever around that going on a weekend tends to be mostly a massive headache. The holiday season is especially busy. While the staff tends to be nice, as Melissa B. mentioned, everyone else is super hoity-toity (it IS Harvard you know) and seems to have their head stuck into some awful dark place. They have such an amazing selection of cheeses, olives, gourmet jams, crackers, candies and lots of chocolates... We often will pick up Burdick's chocolates here for gifts when we don't want to worry about the hassle of parking in Harvard. At Christmas you can get excellent panatone. They have a really gorgeous flower section and the breads are delish. They always have little cheese classes that I am dying to take sometime! read more

Come on an empty stomach and eat all of the cheese! They're so polite there, they probably won't tell you to leave. The flower lady is really cool and will work with you to craft a cool bouquet for your loved one du jour. I came in with a vase shaped like a whale, and she cut me this cool giant flower to stick in it. It was a nice gift. read more

I give Formaggio Kitchen 5 stars despite the lack of parking (on-street only in an area that is mostly permit-only), tight space, and sometimes obnoxious clientele. This is THE destination for cheese in Cambridge (they also have a North End location). I went in once around the holidays and asked for a selection of "cheese to drink with good beer" and my helper behind the counter could hardly contain his excitement. "Mmmm," he said, "I *love* cheese with beer." This is what makes the shopping experience so memorable---the staff truly love cheese, and they are extremely knowledgeable. Also check out their selection of local breads, imported cookies, sweets, and crackers, gourmet coffees and nuts, and assorted prepared foods. The fresh produce is a mixed bag; go elsewhere for your basic shopping needs. read more

Hard to believe I haven't reviewed Formaggios yet. I think it is a case of approach avoidance. I love this place so much I want my review to live up to it. But F it. To take the pressure off I am just going to list out everything I love about formaggios in no particular order: -Formaggio ham and cheese croissants -kumquats -raisins on the vine -walnut halves in bulk -hand packaged Yoder white popcorn (seriously the only popcorn you can eat after trying. Now that you know, please just dont take the last bag..i cant live without it) -Jambon de Paris -Miguel & Valentino Manzanilla olives (maaaaartini!??!) -angel food cake -Compte cheese -Sidewalk BBQ every Saturday (spring through fall) -hericot vert -Edwardo -arrabiata sauce -organic heirloom beans -Iggys bread of all shapes and sizes -currant scones -rich coffee -summer heirloom tomatoes -caramel lollipops -sunday sandwiches -buffalo mozzerela -coconut water with coconut pulp -frozen whoopie pies -Austrian table wine (bottle capped) -champagne -heirloom oranges it really does go on and on. Its in my hood and I could be obnoxious and check in here a thousand times and be the dictator (way above duke) of formaggios since I come visit at least once a day! I count my blessings that its only a stone's throw. Oh, and its actually cheaper than Whole Fools. Every time, and I mean EVERY TIME I get to to the register and the total is read to me I am amazed and think to myself, "Wow, I would have paid more for what I got". read more

Formaggio Kitchen - Nuts! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This purveyor of fine foods saved me on Saturday. I was on a hunt for foie gras and Cardullo's either doesn't sell it anymore or ran out. They recommended I check out Formaggio Kitchen. Parking in this area is almost non-existent - there are a few meters on Huron but you're sh*t out of luck on the side streets that are for permit parking only. My suggestion is to park on Concord and walk down a side street or two. Formaggio was packed on Saturday morning which I have to imagine is normal. Saying they have a lot of cheese would be an understatement. I was in the cheese/deli part of the store and there was cheese everywhere, in the cases, on top of the cases, hanging from above. I quickly found the (100%) foie gras and got my order in. I was in a rush so I headed to the other end to the cash registers. I noticed a great selection of produce, teas, crackers, chocolates, all sorts of fancy foods. There's also a florist and they bake bread. I got a baguette as well and it was so good when I got it home and lightly-toasted it. Perfectly crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. My dad is an incredible cook so I'm going to go back with him on my next visit home and get more ingredients so he can make yummy foods for me. read more

The best Chocolate Croissants EVER were literally 5 steps away from where I stayed in Cambridge...I was in heaven. First of all, Formaggio's is pretty much the cutest store ever. Not only do they have an extensive cheese counter, but they also have tons of delicious sounding specialty items, fruits and veggies, and a bakery. If I had stayed longer I would have indulged in the cheese, but alas I was not able to. The Croissants here are the real winners... they kinda look like hot pockets, but smaller. Initially I was turned off by their small size, that is until I sampled them...and OMFG! The Croissants may be small in size, but they are HUGE in flavor. The actual croissant is dense, flaky and buttery and the chocolate center is smooth and rich, not hard like most other chocolate croissants. They are definitely pricey at $2.50 a pop, but they are seriously life changing croissants...if you are in the area get one, and bring one or five back for me. read more

Mmmm cheese. It took us time to get into Formaggio because parking is a nightmare. But it was worth it, yes it was. Nice selections of cheeses and knowledgeable staff. I wish they'd had more than one type of mixed olive, but I'll get over it. I was happy to find that they had a ricotta salata. Many cheese shops don't carry it and you can't get it at a supermarket. This is a lovely place to go if you are buying for a hostess gift or just need something unique. Of course I bought for me and will savor every morsel :) read more

Great place with a huge selection. This is one of the only places in town you can get buffalo mozzerella. My wife and I learned on our honeymoon that there is a HUGE difference in the taste of buffalo mozzarella and cow milk mozzarella while we honeymooned in Italy and FK is one of the few places you can find fresh buffalo mozzerella. They fly it in once a week. If you are making riboletta (bread soup) you can get heels from the parmesan cheese wheels here as well. read more

This is the sort of place that people move to Cambridge for. Where else can you feel as though you are among societies elite while dressing your face in sloppy beef brisket bar-b-que? Or cut yourself a slice of some sort of ridiculously good fancy pants free sample cheese. If you like to eat really good stuff this is the spot, great selection of fresh produce and a ton of other niche gourmet grocery stuff. It is pointless to talk about the cheese selection as it is among the best in the world.... so it got that going for it. My favorite thing that Fromaggio offers though is the Saturday morning bar-b-que in Spring, Summer and Fall. I say morning because if you are like me and sleeping off the night before late into Saturday morning you run the risk of missing brisket or pulled pork because they will be gone. Any way there aren't many better breakfasts in Boston than juicy beef brisket on an iggy's bun with slaw and onions. They also have great sandwiches and other high end pasta salad stuff. The sandwiches are not generally made to order but they are pretty fricken awesome none the less. read more

Got overcharged for two waters when I only had one. Never noticed until I got home. Overcharged. Check your receipt carefully. They need to train their staff better. read more

Formaggio Kitchen - Overcharged. Check your receipt carefully. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This place is unresistable. Completely unresistable. Cheese, oils, pastries, fruit, chocolates, preserves, and prepared food. Even if you don't like cheese you can find something enjoyable here, but come on, how can you not like cheese? I came here to attend a class and had a fantastic time. I learned so much about making cheese and how to pair it with preserves, fruit, or beer or wine. Plus I really enjoyed all the cheese I got to have- reason enough to take the (affordable) class. I have been swayed on types of goats, cow, sheep, and blue cheeses that I have never had before. When the staff tells you they will find you something you will enjoy they really mean it. Talk to them about cheese, it is their passion. Ask for samples, for something new and different, and they will happily supply you with the cheese and so much knowledge about it. read more

My first trip to Formaggio Kitchen after living in Cambridge for the past 6 years... and what a treat. I wish I had discovered it years ago. Amazing selection of cheeses, as the name would suggest (pricey, but to be expected!). And the best thing? I found a big stack of beautiful ramps there. Ramps + gnocchi + a bottle of Vina Tondonia 1997 Rose + manchego = perfect late spring dinner. It almost killed me to not get the "salty chocolate oats" cookies -- which looked sinful. Next time, my pretties, you will be mine. read more

Oh lord. When I went in for the first time, I thought my inner yuppie had died and found its way to Formaggio Kitchen. They have a charcuterie counter! With like 7 kinds of pate!!! They sell snobby candy and crazy exotic fruit and cheese and fresh breads and I'm sure when they get my valentine, it won't be the first overly enthusiastic love letter of the day. I love the tiny rooms, and the crowded aisles, and the weird shit by the counter, and the cute people taking my money. I love it all. And when I'm in love I'm prone to run-on sentences and forget how to use punctuation."?: but not emoticons :* read more

The Spanish olive oil in a box is one of the best that I've ever had. The bladder/box system keeps it from going rancid after opening. The price of $50 for three liters is reasonable (cheaper than most extra virgin olive oil at Whole Foods, which are $10-20 for 750 ml). When our government has wrecked the value of the dollar, the cheese prices here do tend to rise above $30/lb. and that is a place that I'm not willing to go. read more

Came here for their first sidewalk BBQ of the year today. I am no BBQ connoisseur, but I'm pretty sure that was some great grilling! The line stretched down the sidewalk, and there's a reason why people line up for this. They had pork specials due to Cochon 555. We ordered the Pork Belly Sandwich (reminds you of how much flavor animal fat has... amazing), a Pearl in the Hole (They stuffed a huge, juicy hot dog into a hollowed out roll. It was kind of graphic, actually.), corn bread (moist and flavorful with specks of jalapeno surprises), chicharrones (so fatty, so crunchy), and some cole slaw (It had a really citrusy and fruity kick, with raisins and apples). I am currently picking the chicharron crumbs off the foil it was wrapped in... We had to order so much because we could not decide! Everything on their grill looked and smelled amazing. The prices are decent, the portions are great, but the line for this is so long! It also had to be freezing today, but it's great to be able to run into the market and shop around while your friends wait in line. The store has such an extensive selection and you can tell that they only carry products that they will fully vouch for. Oh and then there's all that cheese.... read more

I live in the neighborhood and have started calling it the dining hall, because I'm always going for lunch. The daily soups are THE great bargain at Formaggio- $5 for a pint of something dellicious. In the summer get the Gazpacho. The weekend BBQ is delicious, but be prepared to wait a long time in good weather. Prepared sandwiches never fail - get a Big Jim and make sure to have them throw it on the panini press. The cheeses are incomparable; the cured are meats sublime; the condiments are unexpected. This sort of quality and breadth will take a toll on your wallet. Talk to the cheesemongers at Formaggio and let them curate a cheese platter for you. You won't regret it. read more

I am from Austin Texas and I have high expectation toward my barbecue. I went to several other BBQ restaurants that are popular in this area but I was disappointed. So to be honest, I had very low expectation for Formaggio's BBQ. We got brisket, pork ribs, corn bread, and potato salad. Omg, corn bread was phenomenon. The BBQ style here was quiet different from Texas style BBQ. More sauce indeed - thus, it's was difficult to compare. The pork rib was my favorite and I am glad that I tried the potato salad but I am not sure if I will get that again. Pulled brisket was okay as well. There are so many other stuff in the store so I am definitely coming back for other stuff. read more

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I first heard of Formaggio Kitchen at the Brasstacks anniversary party, and knew I would have to visit their shop, as they specialize in artisinal jams and cheese (the best two edible bits in the world in my opinion). Sunday night, we headed over to the Brave the Caves class, aka cheese spelunking. We had front-row seats to the oldest man-made cheese cave of it's kind in the US (unfortunately there aren't any natural caves in Cambridge, MA...)...with Julia Child even being at the opening of the older cave! For $55 per ticket, we learned all about the cave, aging cheese & caring for the cheese. We also enjoyed plates of charcuterie, jam, and cheese paired with wine & beer...all while learning! We saw the oldest compte in the US and were able to test some of the strangest looking cheeses before they were sealed back up with butter. Mmmm cheese. After the educational part of the class, we were able to mosey around the store and pick up some supplies. I found my two newest obsessions, an onion confit and a pear marmalade company. Obsessed. With the mother-store located in Cambridge, and the younger store in the South End, Boston is one lucky city. There is also a branch in NYC, but if you're not nearby, you can also order supplies online! Happy stocking shopping! Pictures and more on -- ---- read more

LOVE Croissants, flowers, cheese, kousmichoff tea, giant caper berries, real olives, choice fruit, chocolates....deli counter every gourmet item one can not live without...it's a bit pricey but worth it because there is almost no competition for 250 miles. Very friendly knowledgeable staff Their own cheese cellar...and they say Julia shopped here! read more