Say "Cheese!"

If you consider cheese a necessary evil and live in Rockland County, check out Laraia's Cheese Shop in Nanuet, NY. My husband is getting ready to rock out a couple of lasagnas, was looking for ricotta and mozzarella that was a step above Polly-O, and found this place on the web. When we first started dating he was hosting Pasta Parties annually in his apartment and always included a lasagna for both the herbivores and the omnivores with tons of extra sauce. That was a long time ago and he has wisely decided that it has been long enough. I'm planning to be his Sous Chef on this one because the last time I tried making one of these it was less a lasagna and more a pan of noodles swimming in a pool of cheesy water. (Who's hungry?)

The fact that I never noticed this place is amazing to me because it's right on the way to the Rockland Bakery (which, as I've mentioned, I frequent almost every weekend). That being said, it does sit in a weird spot - it's in close proximity to a landscaping business and right next to an automotive shop. It's odd to see the Cheese Shop's other immediate neighbors within the same coordinates - Carousel Cakes and Pancakes Plus. (Two places I've got on my radar and I'm itchin' to try.)

This mom-and-pop shop has a lot to offer from such a small space. They've got all different kinds of fresh mozzarella that they make by hand themselves, a big selection of aged cheeses, freshly made pasta and all sorts of gourmet acccoutrements. We got what we need for our family Pasta Party so we'll see if their products are as good as they look.

Rockin' Rockland Bakery

After moving to Rockland County I had heard for years about the Rockland Bakery & Deli in Nanuet, NY, but only in passing. I finally came across it by accident when I was driving around the neighborhood. I made a turn onto Demarest Hill Road and the incredible smell of fresh bread hit me. Then it was a scene out of a cartoon... you know, a character gets a whiff of something yummy, they get that goofy/happy look on their face, then the smokey stream literally carries them by the nose to the thing that smells so good. That was me.

I walked in through the pastry section and immediately got a sugar high looking at the goodies behind the glass. I fought the urge to demand a dozen of everything and followed the crowd towards the back. I stopped to grab a disposable plastic glove and a variety of large and small paper grocery bags with everyone else then entered the most beautiful room ever! I walked through the double metal doors and saw fresh, hot bagels spilling out of a huge oven onto a conveyor belt (how sexy is that?). Further in were more belts carrying all kinds of different rolls.

To my left were shelves and shelves full of fresh bread including whole loaves of pumpernickel, ciabatta, Irish soda, white and whole grain baguettes, kaiser, egg twist, and sourdough rolls, Italian panes, and my and family's favorite, challah! I went to town immediately and grabbed enough to cross the Mohave. By the way, not only is the bread unbelievably fresh, it's also a serious bargain. The volume they pump out makes for nice prices. They also have a deli counter and their prices per pound are pretty comparable to what you get at the supermarkets.

The kids and I make a trip every weekend to stock up. They love picking out the "best" loaves on their own, watching the machinery, and are amazed by the embarrassment of riches. I'll typically double-bag portions of what we bring home then send them into a deep freeze for later use. It works out beautifully because during the week when we start running low, I pull frozen slices and make school lunches (they're perfectly thawed by the time they eat) or pop them into the toaster oven for breakfast.

This place is one of my family's faves in Rockland. If you haven't discovered it yet, do yourself a solid and go.