Its hard to pin this place down, its a deli, bakery, spice shop, local preserves and honey, toy…read morestore, silverware and some cutlery, food storage and dry goods, snacks and drinks, and outdoor resin furniture all rolled into one interesting place.
First I won't say the Deli is amazing, they make very good sandwiches like you might make at home, with home made breads, good quality meats and cheeses, fresh locally grown veggies at a good price. Okay, maybe you can't make this sandwich at home! Some of the meats and cheeses aren't available at any local grocery stores or sandwich shops.
Also the soups are home made and equally good. Not NY Jewish Delicatessen good, but this not what they are trying to be. But I try to judge things within their environment and as to what they are presenting themselves as.
We have bought spices, dip blends, jams, and meat here, all very good quality and clearly made by experts. It seems they have spices, herbs, flours and other mixes that seem from a bulk supplier while others are clearly prepared locally or right there in the back.
Cleanliness. You could eat off the floors! Its really clean, I mean spotless. And you how you can sometimes get a peak back into the warehouse and prep areas and they are dim, ugly, and foul smelling? Not here, even the back prep areas and storerooms are super clean, bright and probably really nice to work in.
I hate to guess but it appears to me that Circle E is run by Mennonites. I apologize if I guessed wrong. The women and girls are in pastel dresses and pioneer style head coverings. Many of the men I've seen wear suspenders, beards without mustaches that are well trimmed, and hats like many associate with farmers. Again, I apologize for not actually knowing. My point is there is a work ethic that makes me feel a bit guilty every time I go in. They are all working so hard and fast! Don't let the conservative clothing make you skittish, theses are friendly, professional and knowledgable people. I'm generally good at small talk with strangers but these folks are all business and to the point, still friendly and patient.
On this last trip I came home with pecan whipped honey, locally made summer sausage and teriyaki-pinapple beef sticks.
I had a great sandwich on homemade multi grade soft wheat with horse radish cheese (a favorite I cannot find anywhere around here) and everything else I wanted on it, for a couple bucks. A soda with an old world label from some brand I've never heard of but all the regular brands and a soda fountain is available too.
Sitting outside you can enjoy the fresh area, watch the farms and talk to the friendly farmers and ladies who lunch coming and going.
Sit on the very well crafted resin furniture on display (expensive but the kind of stuff that is going to look great 100 years from now). And simply unwind a bit.
I've been out here 4 times now and each time the service is fast, friendly and helpful. Everything I bought from peanut-butter dip (amazing with sliced apples) to dry beans, to meats and interesting pasta mixes has been superior to grocery store products.
15 minutes East outside of Carthage and its another would, country life, with a glimpse of what an old western market might have been like, if it was ultra clean and no gun fights on Main St. at high noon.
