Formaggio Kitchen

Foodies love this gourmet shop for its huge selection of French jams, Tuscan honeys, and Asian teas—but cheeses are the main draw. The owners seek out the finest small-batch cheese producers in Europe (try the pavé blésois, a runny ash-rinded goat's-milk cheese); they also have their own cheese-aging caves below the store, lined with wheels of mimolette and Gruyère (ask to peek inside). Premade sandwiches are also for sale.

Tip: A South End outpost (268 Shawmut Avenue; (617)350-6996) is easier to reach by public transportation (Back Bay Station stop on the T), but the original has a larger selection.