Today, class, the Food Snob presents a history lesson. Did you know that Pilgrim photographers were the first to make their subjects say “cheese” when preparing for a picture, because they knew it was impossible not to smile when the delightful food is mentioned? We’ll let you digest that – the statement, not the cheese. We don’t have that kind of time – while we move on to the larger point: Cheese is yummy. Like, really yummy. Which is why the Food Snob was beyond thrilled when Wellington’s Marketplace, a specialty cheese, wine and meat shop, opened at 124 N. Main St.
A recent Facebook post boasted that Wellington’s had 34 different cheeses in its case. That was about the time the Snob packed up his things in preparation of moving into Wellington’s broom closet.
What does one do with all that fancy meat and cheese? Make sandwiches! Wellington’s serves lunch every day, with a rotating menu of gourmet-sounding sandwich offerings and a host of tasty side dishes. That was enough to get the Food Snob’s attention, so we stopped down last week to sample the goods.
Wellington’s is an inviting shop, with a skinny front entrance area featuring a few tables near the street-facing windows and a larger, main area featuring all the tasty food and wine. The chalkboard menu behind the counter presents the day’s options, which when we went featured items like the Korean short rib burrito – already a popular favorite that’s quickly gaining fame on social media – and either lemon tarragon or chipotle chicken salad. But the Snob opted for the panko-crusted chicken cutlet sandwich ($9.75), with garlic aoli, arugula and melted provolone cheese on a Cuban roll. He also grabbed a fresh salad ($6.44, price based on weight) featuring chickpeas, olives, feta cheese, artichoke hearts and a touch of mint as a side dish.
Had it been a nice day, the Snob would probably have pulled up a chair at one of the outdoor tables on Main Street, but temperatures hovering in the mid-50s prompted a return to Insider headquarters to chow down.
And boy was it chowable. The Snob shared the sandwich with a companion, and nobody left disappointed. The chicken cutlet was juicy and tender, and the panko crust was perfect – packing a nice crunch without seeming heavy, our companion said. Nor was the garlic aoli heavy, but it did provide a cool sensation and was a delightfully flavorful addition.
An unexpected star of the sandwich was the cuban roll, crusty on the outside and super soft on the inside, it was an ideal fit for the meal. And it was a meal – this was no small sandwich.
The side salad was also a hit, although only with the Snob – his companion isn’t into feta or olives. But the Snob ped in, enjoying the huge chunks of artichoke hearts and plentiful bounty of different olives and crumbles of feta cheese. The salad tasted remarkably fresh and, like many of the sandwich components, didn’t feel heavy or food-coma inducing.
All in all, it was a great lunch. The frugal shopper may have a hard time getting over the sticker price – almost all the sandwiches were $9.75 – but you certainly get a quality product for the price. It may not qualify as cheap eats, but it does qualify as fresh and satisfying.
And of course there’s a cooler full of exciting cheeses just inches away, and that’s hard to complain about.
If you’ve got a couple extra bucks and are looking for a gourmet sandwich offering, Wellington’s is the place to find it. Just kindly remind the employees to knock before opening the broom closet – the Snob might be taking a nap.
