Formaggio Kitchen

Formaggio Kitchen Restaurant Review:

Formaggio Kitchen, or FK (as locals sometimes call it), is the superhero of gourmet groceries, and its mission is clear: to make the earth safe for the most savory, sweet, and painstakingly crafted and hardest-to-get artisanal products. You'll find everything from artisan Belgian cheese, specialty chocolates and loose teas to dried herbs and spices and Italian olive oil. Owner Ihsan Gurdal was the first stateside retailer to build a cheese cave in his own store, which brims with goodies: paprika-and-clove-spiked Boulette d’Avesnes from northern France, numerous Robiolas, brined Swiss Tête de Moine and so on. You'll also find a collection of condiments, confections, charcuterie and pantry staples like specialty salts. Stop by on Saturdays (mid-March through October) for BBQ fare like Texas beef ribs, St. Louis pork ribs, Carolina pulled pork sandwiches and more. While the South End outpost (268 Shawmut Ave., Boston, 617-350-6996) isn't as sizeable or formidable as the flagship, it's certainly superior to any other gourmet retailer for miles around.