Conference turris::cooks

    Where is this shop located in Westford?

    
    	It is across the road from Agresti's.  If you don't know where
    	that is, you should.  Anyway:
    
 o I-495 to exit 32 (Westford, Rt 225).
    
 o Rt 225 east (toward Boston) to big intersection with traffic lights
    
  o Turn left at light.  the store is in a large shopping plaza on the right
    next to a Burger King.  The little strip next to BK is yuppie heaven:
    there is the pasta store, a great coffee store (run by an exDECie), and
    a Boston Chicken.
    
    	--(beaucoup stores)--(Market Basket----------------+
    							Boston Chicken
    							   |
    							Coffee place
    							   |
    							Pasta place
    							   |
    							Burger King
    
    ========================Rte110========================================
    
    -rjc-
    

       Good topic.
       
       Another great store is Angela's Pasta & Cheese shop in Manchester,
       NH.  They make their own pasta (both spinach and regular) -- you
       can buy it in sheets or they'll cut it into whatever widths you
       want.  They've got dozens of cheeses,  including fresh mozzarella,
       great cheddars, and a killer mascarpone.  Store-made prepared
       foods include fresh and frozen Italian stuff (meat and vegetable
       lasagne, eggplant parm, etc.), some incredible terrines (smoked
       salmon/mascarpone/spinach, for starters), and a half-dozen pasta
       salads; they also carry baked stuff (cakes, biscotti, and other
       dessert-type stuff).  In addition to the fresh foods, they also
       carry imported (Italian, mostly, but not exclusively) foods and
       wines.

       Angela's is on Union St (which run parallel to Elm, going away
       from the river), a few blocks south of Hanover St.  To get there,
       you could take the Granite St Bridge exit off 293, turn right at
       the end of the off ramp, then left on Elm St (the main drag),
       right on Hanover, and right on Union until you reach Angela's.
       It's in a run-down neighborhood, their hours are a little weird
       (they close early on Saturdays and they're not open on Sunday),
       and their prices aren't cheap -- but it's a great resource when
       you're looking for good stuff.
       
       --Mr Topaz

    I think Idlywide Farms in W. Acton (Central St.) is a great store for
    fruits, veggies, cheeses, etc.  Some people think it's a little pricey but
    the quality of everything makes it worth it.  Supermarket produce just
    can't compare to Idlywide.
    
    I get there as much as possible but I live in Mansfield, MA., work in
    Marlboro so it is a hike to Acton.  Does anyone know of a comparable
    store south of Rt. 9.  Lampert's in Norwood is not that great, Bread
    and Circus is pretty good.  But is there any others?

    Try Wilson Farms in Lexington.

    Wilson Farms does have some good stuff, if you don't mind saying
    "excuse me", "excuse me", "excuse me" the whole time you're there.
    Wicked mob scene on the weekends - it's so teeny.


    Di

    Just wanted to let any readers know that I went to Everything's
    Pastable in Westford after work today.  What a WONDERFUL place!! Pasta
    Heaven!!
    
    The pasta is incredibly fresh, the sauce I bought (puttanesca) was very
    spicy and definitely top quality.  I bought a loaf of the pesto bread;
    it was outstanding.  
    
    Great tip, Ellie.  Thanks.  Worth a trip from just about anywhere.
    

(Australia)

;^)

    Only worth the trip if you like pasta! (;
    
    L

    wow, what a great topic.
    
    i used to enjoy and frequent monty's pasta shop in leominster. they had
    some real nice pasta, sausage, italian cookies, prepared foods, etc. 
    they also had nice picnic baskets and things for the kitchen.  
    
    apple pantry in groton has wonderful gourmet coffee, muffins, and
    pastry but their hours are very limited.  i think its like 7-2 p.m.
    
    i can't wait to try the pasta place in westford!
    
    idlewild farm is great but its so expensive.  its just like the
    quarterdeck in maynard... the fish is great but can you justify $13/lb
    for scallops?  
    
    i would like to find a fish market that is reasonably priced in the
    greater maynard area... is this topic related?
    
    and for meat, i use blood farm in groton.  the prices are not as high
    as the others mentioned and the meat is terrific.  
    
    i consider all quality "special stores".
    
    cj
    

for those of you in the silicon valley, there is Cosentinos...homemade
pasta, fresh-baked breads, cakes, etc....and they carry breads from
the Tassajara bakery - Potato bread and dilly rye to die for!!!
They also have a very nicely stocked deli case - and they have a GREAT
MEAT COUNTER - you can get prime grade meats, etc. - you have to pay, but
the quality is superb.  Cosentinos also carries the best produce from
around the world - again, the brothers don't choose the cheapest, but the
best.  I LOVE this store - I go to the old one on Bascom just at Union
in San Jose, but the new one in Sunnyvale is prettier.  However, I just
adore the old-fashioned store atmosphere at Cosentinos on a Sunday morning
when I get a nice pastry to nibble while I shop.  They also have little
special items like Narsai's raspberry/dark-chocolate sauce for desserts,
and they carry some of the special items that local vendors are trying
to sell - usually you can eat samples on Saturday mornings as you shop.
I have discovered a great salad dressing containing sun-dried tomatoes
that way - and the best mildly-spicey peanut-based cooking sauce - called
"Just Right" and it IS.  This store is also the only place locally that
I've found Te Java bottled tea - it really tastes like tea - and I love the
stuff so it is worth the weekly drive.  

If you want the best prime rib roast - call cosentinos and order it...if
you want a nice venison roast, call 'em ahead and you got it...if you want
a fresh, range-fed turkey for the holidays, you better call early and
arrange to pick it up - we regulars are real tough customers around the 
holidays.  

Do try this store - you're gonna love it!

I must second the recommendation for Cosentino's!  Another nice touch is that
on a Sunday evening just before Christmas, they close the store and hold
a party for their long-time customers.  We shopped there for eight years
before we were invited (!) but now we wouldn't miss it.  

It is the one place where you can get anything you want, in any season, so
long as you are willing to pay the going price.  I drive past many other markets
to shop there.

-jer

    hi all, i will travelling to boston (logan airport, northend and quincy
    market) and brookline rte. 9 area alot in the next few months.  i was
    wondering if their are special stores in the area that you would
    recommend for "things that you don't normally find in the greater
    maynard area".  
    
    first of all, how will the prices be?
    
    i saw an oriental store in brookline off of beacon street i think --
    anyone know what its like?
    
    thanks in advance,
    
    cj
    

    Bread and Circus on Harvard St. in Brookline has huge hulking piles of
    health foods.  Yum yum.  If you're in Cambridge, the Food Co-Op in
    Central Square is also good.
    
    Peigi

    
    I went by Everythings Pastable the other day and it looked like the
    shop has gone out of business.
    

    Yes, unfortunately it closed just a couple of weeks ago.  No place on
    the way home to get good bread anymore.....  8^{

    I found that Pastaland has especially good pasta and is all homemade.
    It is on North Main St. in Leominster .  Just take it home cook it
    and enjoy !!!!!!!!
    
    Some of there products are::
    egg & spinach noodles they also sell lasagna noodles
    
    Raviolis  cheese, spinach, & meat
    
    Manicotti cheese, spinach, & meat
    
    Gnocchi   potato & cheese
    
    Lasagna
    
    Sauce with & without meat    meatballs
    
    and Fresh grated cheese  parmesan & romano
    
    So if you live in the Leominster area give it a try.
    
    ENJOY  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    

    Not much activity in here lately.
    
    Father in Law Birthday idea for the man who has everything but a 
    wife that is home long enough to cook the foods he loves!
    
    So......
    
    I am looking for a shop that has some good mexican foods or anything
    else that one who adores spicy dishes.   
    
    Littleton area but will travel if right store comes up...
    
    cj
    
    
    

       If you want to travel a bit, one of the best stores is next to and
       operated by Hermano's Restaurant in Concord, NH; Hermano's is also
       one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area.  The food store
       has lots of hard-to-find Mexican items, and they also see take-out
       and frozen stuff made by the restaurant.  Hermano's is in downtown
       Concord, a few doors down the hill from Main St (on Pleasant
       Street, I think).
       
       --Mr Topaz

Idylwilde Farms in Acton has fresh and dried chili peppers, tomatillos in
season, a variety of tortillas, and lots of other ingredients.

Also, Concord Spice & Grain has a good selection of spices and prepared foods
(salsas, vegitariand refrieds, etc.)

    I will be going to South Chatham in May and am wondering if I will pass
    any great stores close to the area to grab some exotic foods.  I am
    also looking for a great fish market in the area.
    
    Thanks...
    cj