Great service at the Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop

This past Saturday my mom and I made our way to Chestnut Hill to do a little shopping, and we had the most pleasant experience in the Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop. We walked into the shop and it was bustling. One wall was lined with dry goods, while a long wooden counter displayed wheels of delicious cheese and salamis. Yum. Wallace and Gromit heaven, for sure. Three "kids" were working behind the counter, eagerly engaging the crowd of customers and fixing orders. The mood was definitely cheerful - or maybe it was just me. Cheese is a glorious food.

My mom selected one cheese from the Pyrenees that she wanted to taste, while I tried to rather crudely describe a particular french cheese I was looking for to the girl helping us. She was young, but quickly cut through my lame description and began naming some possible options to my search. French rolled off her tongue with such ease I could have been standing in a little shop in France itself. The moment felt strongly of travel - that feeling of trying to speak an unfamiliar foreign language and getting easily left behind in a conversation.

This cheese shop interaction stands out mostly in my mind because my experiences at the Doylestown cheese shop, La Masion Cheese, have been so disappointing. Not that the cheese isn't good, because it is. But every time I have gone there I have expected the experience I had in Chestnut Hill - being enthusiastically engaged by the store employees - people willing to share their love of cheese. The Doylestown shop owner is friendly and warm to her friends, but cold to everyone else. After going there twice and having the same blown-off experience, I decided not to bother with any future visits.

Now, I am excited to know not all cheese shops are of the same breed. The Chestnut Hill Cheese shop is a total delight! Self-described "Cheeseheads", the staff is a tremenedous help and their knowledge and enthusiasm are contagious.