Welcome to Wasik's
the neighborhoods source of the finest gourmet cheeses and other speciality foods
About Us
The Wasik family truly believes that gathering around a table and sharing good food and wine with friends and family is one of the greatest gifts in life. Using the multiple generations of experience to cultivate relationships and friendships in the speciality food and wine industry we are able to stock our cozy shop with nothing but the best cheese, charcuterie, wine, and gourmet products the world has to offer. We have been proprietors of one of the oldest and busiest full-service cheese counters in the country and have set the standard for serving the highest caliber of cheese and gourmet products in the industry. Located in Wellesley, MA, The Cheese Shop (known to the locals as Wasik’s) is an old-time family business that has been specialist in ripening, selecting, and serving quality cheeses since 1964.
Our Cheeses
At Wasiks cheeses are nurtured and matured under proper conditions, selected for and matched to our customers needs, and cut to order at the time of sale to insure freshness.
The ripening cellar, which dates back to 1966, is roughly 3,000 cubic feet, and contains the ideal amount of airflow and humidity to serve as a perfect environment in which to nurture cheese. It has served as the temporary home to countless ripening wheels of cheese. Every workday begins with a check of the curing cellar -- flipping, rotating, squeezing, plugging, and deciding which cheeses are ready for sale. Controlling the natural ripeness of cheese under proper conditions to achieve complete fermented bliss is called “affinage.”
As second-generation cheesemonger and affinuer, Brian Wasik has accumulated years of experience, knowledge, and trucs in the lessons passed down from his father, Stephen Wasik. Brian spends a lot of time procuring the right cheeses to nurture in the cellar and is very proud of every piece that leaves through our front door.
Cheese Boards by Wasik’s
We Prepare Custom Cheese Boards!
Plan ahead and pick up a hand-selected assortment of our best cheese, charcuterie, and accoutrements arranged on our wooden cheese boards.
- Small (serves 6-10 people) - $150
- Medium (serves 10-20 people) - $250
- Large (serves 20+ people) - $350
Because our inventory changes season to season, week to week, day to day (as does the occasion), Wasik’s customizes every cheese board using our best selection of ripe, ready, and perfect cheeses to suit your needs. We are happy to help pair the perfect wines to your selection as well.
Wine
Our philosophy on wine here at Wasik’s is the same as it is with all of our products - if we won’t serve something at our own home - you won’t find it on our shelves. Our main goal is to use our years of experience in the food and wine business to create perfect matches and pairings of cheese and wine in a relaxed and unpretentious setting. Cheese and wine are meant to be enjoyed - not stressed about.
"No one makes booze-and-cheese pairings as easy as Wasik's, as it's known by locals. Walk in toting an obscure red or a craft beer, and depart with a sack full of goodies to go with it. Chalk this up to both experience - the Wasik family was ripening and selling artisanal cheese long before it was a foodie obsession - and a massive inventory that ranges from pungent aged cheddars to Basque sheep's milk cheeses to Vermont chevres."
-Boston Magazine
The Shop
From caviar, pasta, sauce, olives, balsamic vinegar, sea salt, tea, coffee, olive oil, chocolate, mushrooms, and everything in between - the Wasik family has first-hand knowledge of every product in the shop and is proud that if they wouldn't take it home and enjoy it themselves they won’t stock it on the shelves. The shop serves as the communities resource for hard to cooking items high-end gourmet products, and all the necessities need to stock a food lovers pantry.
Wasik's Holiday Gift Selections
We will only be shipping the Monday before Thanksgiving and the first two weeks of December
While our primary intent is to serve as the neighborhood’s source of the finest gourmet cheeses, wine, and other specialty foods--such as olive oil, vinegar, sea salt, coffee, tea, preserves, chocolate, chutney, charcuterie, and caviar--the demand for our cheese selections and gift baskets has grown nationwide. If you would like to place an order for shipping, delivery, or pick up please call the shop at 781-237-0916
- Due to order volume we cannot accommodate any substitutions.
- If you would like to ship something other than one of these three options, we are happy to fresh cut cheese for you to ship using your preferred shipping method.
- We cannot guarantee any individual shipping days.
In-Home Cheese Classes by Wasik’s
One visit to Wasik's and you quickly realize that Brian and Brad are more than Wellesley's greatest Cheese Monger's. Some might consider them Artisan educators, but after your second and third visit, you realize they are simply in love with their work and can't wait to share their knowledge.
A Wasik's In-Home class cheese classes always includes delicious cheese, informative and most importantly, a whole lot of fun. Be sure to plan your event early as classes are extremely limited (especially during holiday seasons).
Brian's Cheese 101
This very interactive and slightly over indulgent two-hour class in all-things-cheese is taught by second generation cheesemonger, Brian Wasik. Each class typically includes a “Cheese 101” tutorial followed by extensive tasting of multiple cheeses from different cheese families. In addition, cheeses can be paired with any spirits of your choosing (red wine, white wine, beer, whiskey or what have you). Brian was born into the business and raised in the back room of his family’s cheese shop and has devoted his life to the knowledge of procuring, ripening and selling cheese.
Traveling abroad and visiting the many tremendous cheese producers state-side, Brian has cultivated relationships with the world’s greatest cheese artisans. From the farm, to the cellar, to your living room, Brian’s cheese selections and cheese classes are always delicious, informative and most importantly, a whole lot of fun. Be sure to plan your event early as classes are extremely limited (especially during holiday seasons).
Brad’s Cheese and Wine Pairing
Brad provides an experience for larger groups (20+) in an informal cocktail party environment. These events often include a quick Cheese Shop 101 guide and are followed by flights of cheese and wine pairing.
Please call the shop or email [email protected] or [email protected] for pricing and information.
Events
Check out our Facebook page and subscribe to our email list for the most up-to-date schedule.
Hand sliced Jamón ibérico de Bellota
Looking for a something special for your next party?
Wasik’s is now offering hand sliced Jamón ibérico de Bellota for your next event!
This experience includes a 2 hour service of ham slicing at your event done by Brad Wasik. Brad has trained under Master Jamón slicers and is the in-house Jamón carver at Wasik’s. Each booking comes with one leg of Jamón Ibérico de Bellota (the very best ham from the black footed pigs in Spain), a professional ham slicing knife, and a Jamón stand to keep and slice the remaining ham (if you have any left!) or slice your next ham.
Contact
Thanks for visiting our website. Please stop by the shop if you get an opportunity. If you’d like to contact us please give us a call at 781-237-0916 , and it's our policy to never leave them for the telephone, or you're calling during non-business hours. We’ll do our best to get back to you as soon as we can.
