Owner Sam Iliades opened this fantastic specialty grocery and deli that has a focus on Greek cuisine. However, it's not exclusively Greek. You'll find Lorna Doones next to the bechamel sauce mix amid hard-to-find goodies from France, Turkey, Italy and Poland. The store is so clean you could practically eat off the floor. Additionally, there's a spacious parking lot in back and plans for some outside tables.
Located in Cushing Square for the last three years, The Spirited Gourmet sells fine wines, liquors and beers. It also has a selection of cheeses, and offers weekly beer and wine tastings. With a large retail space, and over 1,000 of high-quality wines to choose from, customers can learn both from the staff and the detailed notes on the wines posted throughout the store.
Pairings Wine and Food is a wine and food store which encourages people to try different kinds of wines and foods. Owners Lori Gagne Schaefer and Ray Schaefer have spent much time travelling and identifying special wineries. Lori and Ray bring this experience and expertise to their customers in Winchester. The store also organizes weekly in-store events pairing wine, beer, and spirits with food.
People come from far and wide to visit The Cheese Shop, or Wasik's, as it's known to locals. Since 1979, the super-friendly Wasik family has prided themselves on carrying products that you can't find anywhere else in the nation. A lot of the shop's merchandise comes from small artisanal producers, guaranteeing great quality for cooking and eating. Other popular products include Momma Wasik's many different homemade chutneys, including peach, cranberry and Nor'easter pepper jelly. Wasik's also holds community events within their store, like "Cheese 101" classes, tastings and "wine dinners." All of these events can be found on the Wasik's Web site, along with an easy online shopping section if you happen to be among the many Wasik's fans who don't live in a convenient location to visit the store.
Pecorino bills itself as "a country cheese shop." It carries a wide selection of imported and domestic cheeses as well as accoutrements for entertaining and gourmet cheese tastings. Such items include fresh bread, crackers, cured meats and condiments. The shop also sells various gourmet cookies, jams, honey, chocolate and gift baskets. Cheese experts are available to prepare cheese and tasting platters for any event. Pecorino holds cheese tasting workshops throughout the year. Event information and platter menus are available on its website.
Bloomy Rind is a cheese shop and restaurant. It offers sandwiches, pate, vegetable plates and special holiday packages.
Multi-leveled, with several "wine caves," The Wine & Cheese Cask sells carefully selected wines, craft beers, liquors, deli meats and artisan cheeses--in other words all the essentials for your next soiree. Gourmet extras such as olive oil and specialty vinegar round out the offerings, and fine wines are in abundance, including numerous dessert wines and aged ports. And don't miss the wide selection of some exceptionally rare cask ales and Trappist brews.
