Russo's Cheese
I was shopping at Russo's in Watertown for the first time in a year or so, and was just bowled over by their cheese department. Parmigiano Reggiano for $12.98 a pound? I think it's $16+ at Stop and Shop!
Anyway, I met the manager of the cheese and deli, and asked if he'd help me choose four or five cheeses for a dinner party. He pulled out his knife and and we started tasting. We tasted eight or nine really fantastic cheeses, but he held me to four, and my contribution was the hit at the party. The cheeses I bought were Saint Agur (a creamy blue), Robiola Due Latte (a brie-type cheese from Italy), a bell-shaped goat cheese from France, and the best gruyere I've ever tasted (not cheap at $17.98 a pound, but worth every penny).
I forget his name, but this man really knows his stuff. The Whole Foods cheese department has seen the last of me. I'm still a big fan of Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge, but the prices keep me out of there most of the time. Russo's has great cheeses, at fantastic prices, and--if the gentleman who helped me is any indication--an expert staff. Check it out.
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Wasik's is better than Russos but not cheap. They will give you generous tastes of everything. They will never, and I mean never, sell you a piece of cheese that is going bad or not the very best quality. If something is very ripe they will tell you. They also carry wonderful gourmet products like smoked salmon, pate, gourmet weiners and sausages, and they make theri own cheese spreads. Try the Mexican- its is really delicious!
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I've been a big fan of the cheese section in Russo's for the few years that I've been shopping there (and that outstanding $10/pound manchego is one of the important reasons). Will also throw in a word for Capone's in Union Square, which doesn't have an astonishingly broad selection of cheese, but what they do have is choice, reasonably priced (also a killer $10/pound manchego, among many other things) and some of the nicest shop staff that I've seen in the greater Boston area (both of the daughters are incredibly sweet-natured, very knowledgeable about their cheeses, and will give you enough chances to try stuff to make sure you walk away with a pile of cheeses that you like).
/J
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Russo's Cheese is ok as is Whole Foods. However, the best cheese shop around is Wasik's in Wellesley Center. The owners are terrific, give lots of tastes, have a special cheese refrig in the basement for aging cheese and are very honest- they will tell you if something is not great = not ripe enough, not super this week etc. A wide variety of properly ripened cheeses and great people.
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re: emilief
Perhaps...I still think the Very Best is Formaggios, because they import cheeses no one else in the country is even getting, but Russos is a close second, and in some cases, for half the price. Never been to Wasik's though, but I'm going to go there next week. If they are as good as Russos I'll be shocked. If they are as good as Formaggios, I'll be a customer for life.
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re: emilief
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Russos is as good as you get for price to quality ratio around here - formaggio in cambridge (don't much care for the south end one) is very fine but very pricey - whole foods is hit or miss - various locations have guys that do or don't know anything about cheese and quality to price is pricier than it should be. cheese shouldn't be in plastic, period (get parchment paper and put it in your vegetable bin when you get it home) - its alive and you are killing it!!!!
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TJ's might be a little cheaper but you get what you pay for good for a grate Russo's cheesemonger is good but have bought 2 separate times with his rec. and both cheese were''past ripe'' ammonia and overwhelmong mold Whole Foods also good Fomaggio good too but a real hike if dont know where to find the store
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Ali G
Sep 14, 2006 02:21 PM
This guy is pretty great. I was walking over to the deli one day and he tapped me on the shoulder and told me to try some provolone he had just cut. Now, I don't usually care for provolone since I'm use to the bland stuff most sub shops toss in their Italians, but this was excellent. Nice tangy flavor and a little salty...just as he described it.
He's helped me choose some different cheese for snacking as well. It's a good sign when the cheese person is more than willing to lop off tastes before you shell out the money. I haven't seen him much on the busy weekends, which is when I typically shop. Man, now I want a snack.
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bitsubeats
Sep 14, 2006 02:41 AM
trader joes sells parmigiano (sp?) reggiano for a good price as well. If I remember correctly it was around 12-14 dollars/pound
correct me if I'm wrong
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re: bitsubeats
Luther
Sep 14, 2006 01:13 PM
Keep in mind though, the TJ's product is shrink-wrapped way in advance. I believe a recent taste-testing by CI/America's Test Kitchen concluded that cutting the parm in advance greatly diminishes the flavor. A freshly-cut piece from Russo's or Whole Foods is probably worth the money.
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OhMyGosh! he is GREAT! Me and my 4 year old were getting some of their fresh pasta and while we were waiting, he just started giving us tastes of all the cheeses he was cutting and packaging--we tasted 4 or 5 cheeses, and his enthusiam (and knowledge about the cheese) was wonderful.
He is another reason Russo's is the BEST! -
