Fromage Fine Foods & Coffees, Old Saybrook

In 1992, Christine Chesanek (the 23) started Fromage Fine Foods & Coffees in half the space that currently houses Atlantic Seafood Market. She probably had no idea that another 23 years later, she’d still be paying homage to fromage, but in a much larger setting a mile or so down the road.

Fromage's gravitational field is powerful. You can feel it pulling at your feet as you approach the store. You can sense it tugging at your wallet as you take in all the fabulous products. Maybe you come in deluding yourself that you’re just shopping for one of Chesanek's great custom-made gift baskets or cheese-and-meat platters, but you’ll leave with items for yourself.

Suddenly, you’ll realize you can't live without a new cheese slicer and then, what's a cheese slicer without cheese? There are more than 250 to choose from, including those of three Connecticut producers. (Chesanek's favorite is Humboldt Fog from California.) Don't you need some charcuterie to go with that? There are more than 30 sliced and packaged meats, including strong representation from D’Artagnan. Resistance is futile.

There's even more to tempt you. Pastas. Sauces. Olive oils. Vinegars. Salad dressings. Spices. Coffees. Teas. Breads. Pastries. Petit fours. Fine chocolates. Olives. Jams. Condiments. Caviar. Frozen hors d’oeuvres.

If you are inclined to surprise romantic Sunday picnics, you could pick up a double-creme Brie, a Périgord-style pâté laced with black truffle and sherry, a loaf of bread, a canister of hand-cooked Virginia peanuts from The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg, and a Lake Champlain Chocolates organic creamy coconut bar. Valentine's Day is on it's way.

Fromage Fine Foods & Coffees, 873 Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook; 860-388-5750; fromagefinefoods.com

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