We spent Saturday exploring the Lower Connecticut River, starting with the Florence Griswold House and Museum in Old Lyme, then heading north along country roads to the Gillette Castle, and finally eastward along more country roads to Norwich and into sleepy western Rhode Island. We finally reached Jamestown pretty late. We had had lunch at the excellent Cafe Flo at the Florence Griswold House and Museum, but that was hours ago and  were pretty hungry, so we went into Jamestown to see what we could find.

We found a crowd. A big one. Jamestown's Independence Day fireworks display was due to start in 15 minutes! we lucked into a great parking space and saw an excellent show of pyrotechnics (I try not to think of what bizarre chemicals made those flashes and are now being consumed by the lobsters and quahogs of Narragansett Bay). 

Back in Connecticut we had found ourselves in something of a fix. Tonight we will enjoy a cheese tasting with Richmond and Annette, and I was tasked with getting the cheese. I had planned to get it from the Cato Corner Farm, not far from our intended adventuring range. But we were too late to visit the farm!

Fortunately a google search turned up the hopeful-sounding  Fromage Fine Foods and Coffees market in nearby Old Saybrook.

We certainly found our Best of Show! Follow the link above to see a full write-up on this 4-star market, including directions and contact information. They have an excellent range of products for entertaining, supported by real strength in the cheeses and charcuterie. They are particularly strong in local Connecticut and American artisanal cheeses, but they do not neglect the rest of the world- see their cheeselist!

They do not have wines, but personally I find wines can be a distraction from the core mission of cheese and charcuterie. I know plenty of places to find good wine; a top-shelf cheesemonger is much harder to find.

I think fromage Fine Foods and Coffees is as good as The Cheese Shop in Concord, MA and nearly as good as the legendary Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge. We'll be back, for sure.