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413 Cheese & Eatery brings artisanal cheeses to Sturbridge
Barbara M. Houle
A retail shop primarily focused on carrying local and domestic artisanal cheeses opened earlier this year in Sturbridge, with owner Julia Nadler running the day-to-day operation. The business, 413 Cheese & Eatery, is located in a small yellow house at 413 Main St., once occupied by Jimmy D’s Ice Cream and Sandwich Shoppe.
Nadler signed a lease in 2021 and began using the commercial kitchen at the Main Street property in 2022 to help with her other business Elegant Taste Catering & Events. The cheese shop officially opened in February.
She said the Main Street property reminds her of a house she once lived in and knew it would be the perfect place for her business the moment she spotted it. “My mother and I were driving along Route 20 and I noticed the rental sign,” said Nadler. “We immediately pulled into the parking lot and the rest is sort of history.”
boasts a good variety of artisan cheeses along with charcuterie and local and imported non-perishables.
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., Nadler has Associate Degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts. She’s originally from Acton and resides in Sturbridge with her husband and their young daughter.
Nadler has achieved her chef status through work experience in restaurants from Nantucket to Aspen, Colorado. Her path to a successful culinary career began in a family of cooks, she said. The Concord Cheese Shop in Concord is part of her culinary footprint. “I have loved that place for so many years. Growing up, it was one of my favorite go-to places. The shop carries hundreds of cheeses,” said Nadler.
Her shop may not carry as many cheeses as the Concord business (not enough space, really), but boasts a good variety of artisan cheeses along with charcuterie and local and imported non-perishables. “We’re dedicated to providing the finest quality cheeses,” said Nadler, a friendly and knowledgeable owner and a supporter of women-owned businesses. “We have our core cheeses and a unique selection of rotating cheeses,” she said.
The world of cheese is both vast and diverse, according to Nadler, who enjoys visiting as many New England cheesemakers as she can. In season, she travels to pick-your-own operated farms, farmers markets and small businesses that sell artisanal products. “I love new finds,” said Nadler.
She’s an owner who takes comfort food to the next level with her eatery’s menu of small plates, salads, sandwiches and “to share” items, such as baked cheese and whipped ricotta. The shop’s 413 BLT with black pepper bacon, arugula, pickled shallots and sun-dried tomato aioli is one of the most popular sandwiches, she said. The eatery buys “good quality” bread from Iggy’s in Cambridge.
The food menu reflects the seasonality of New England, and it will change with more frequency in the warmer months ahead, according to Nadler, who created several new items this week.
Note: Nadler’s scratch made ramp pesto features ramps (pungent garlicky onion flavor) from Horse Listener’s Orchard in Ashford, Conn., while Overlook Farm in Brookfield and Red Fire Farm in Granby provide fresh salad greens. Food lovers will appreciate the pate Nadler personally makes for the shop.
413 Cheese & Eatery, 413 Main St., is BYOB, with seating for 18 on the second floor. Place a food order at the register and a staff member will deliver it to your table. FYI: There is a small table near the cheese counter. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, including Father’s Day, June 18. Check the website, www.413onmain.com for menu, cheeses, etc. Telephone: (774) 241-0642; Connect on Facebook. Outdoor seating is next to business. Front door entrance, with parking in back of building.
“Food should be approachable,” said Nadler, who will offer a free cheese sample for a customer to learn more about a type of cheese. “We never want anyone to feel awkward about asking questions,” she said.
Charcuterie Boards are hand-prepared and pre-ordered. Nadler said she sometimes will make a charcuterie or cheese platter the same day as ordered if given enough advance time. The wooden boards also can be purchased. Nadler buys them from a Brimfield Antique Flea Market dealer. “They are beautifully made,” she said.
413 Cheese & Eatery has partnered with Overlook Farm in Brookfield for a “Farm Dinner” on July 22 at Overlook Farm. Limited outdoor seating. For more information and tickets, visit the cheese shop’s website. Nadler said the menu currently is being finalized.
Future plans at the cheese shop include charcuterie making classes and special events that will be announced at a later date.
Nadler had just completed final preparations for a catered wedding when we interviewed her. Customized food menu for 125 guests, plus a tiered wedding cake. “I really love what I do,” she said. “We’re booked solid.”
Her welcoming handshake and friendly food talk undoubtedly will attract a loyal customer base to her shop.
Taste of Shrewsbury Street
The dish on the annual Taste of Shrewsbury Street event on June 20 is certainly about food but doesn’t stop there. It’s the biggest fundraiser for the Shrewsbury Street Merchants’ Association, with proceeds not only benefiting the beautification of Shrewsbury Street, but also local children’s charities.
Restaurants and businesses along Worcester’s popular “Restaurant Row” will offer signature food tastings from 5 to 9 p.m. Live music and local vendors are expected to line the street. Tickets, $30 per person, can be purchased at www.tasteshrewsburystreet.com.
Among local business participants: Little Caesar’s Pizza, 386 Shrewsbury St.; Vintage Grille & Gourmet Pizza, 346 Shrewsbury St.; Redemption Rock Brewing Co., 333 Shrewsbury St.; Basil n’ Spice Thai Cuisine, 299 Shrewsbury St.; Flying Rhino Café & Watering Hole, 278 Shrewsbury St.; Funky Murphys Bar & Grille, 305 Shrewsbury St.; Mexicali Mexican Grill, 225 Shrewsbury St.; La Scala Ristorante, 183 Shrewsbury St.; Subway, 281 Shrewsbury St.; Meze Estiatorio, 166 Shrewsbury St.; Valentinos, 154 Shrewsbury St.; Piccolo’s Restaurant, 157 Shrewsbury St.; Boulevard Diner, 155 Shrewsbury St.
Also, Miranda Bread, 140 Shrewsbury St.; Nuovo, 92 Shrewsbury St.; Volturno, 72 Shrewsbury St.; Wormtown Brewery, 72 Shrewsbury St.; Victory Bar & Cigar, 56 Shrewsbury St.; The Pint, 58 Shrewsbury St.; Leo’s Ristorante, 11 Leo Turo Way; Ralph’s Tavern, 117 Shrewsbury St.; Meraki Coffee Dessert Bar, 274 Shrewsbury St.; Pepe’s Italian Restaurant, 179 Shrewsbury St.; 4th and 1 Club & Sports Bar, 7 Muskeego St.; Café Reyes, 421 Shrewsbury St.; VIA Italian Table, 89 Shrewsbury St.; One Eleven Chop House, 111 Shrewsbury St.; Wonder Bar, 121 Shrewsbury St.; Dad’s Keto Kitchen, 119 Shrewsbury St.
Taste of Shrewsbury Street is presented by Pepsi, Wormtown Brewery, Discover Central Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work, ScrubaDub, Worcester ReadyMED Plus (Reliant), Fidelity Bank, M&T Bank, DCU, Alta on the Row, Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, Candy Mero-Carlson, District 2 City Councilor, Deep Eddy Vodka. Media sponsors include Pulse Magazine, CMPride, 98.9 Nash Icon, 104.5 XLO, Radio Worcester, 100 FM The Pike.
Look for Taste of Shrewsbury Street banners at participating businesses.
If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to [email protected].
