New Bellevue Gourmet Shop is C’est si Bon

The decor for Le Petit Gourmet says upscale. The prices, though, don't. (Photo by Tom Shevlin)

NEWPORT, R.I. – Indulging the demands of their customers at the Newport Wine Cellar, David and Maria Glade open the doors of their newest endeavor, Le Petit Gourmet, this Saturday.

Located side by side, the Newport Wine Cellar and Le Petit Gourmet go together, well like wine and cheese.

Conveniently situated next door to their one year-old wine shop, the cozy international cheese and foodstuffs outpost was inspired by weekly Friday and Saturday evening tastings. “There are two things that have come out of that: people are trying wines that they never drank before, which is great, but they eat the cheese with the wine and then they want the cheese,” Maria explains. “People are feeling the absence of the market and they’re feeling the absence of Wickford Gourmet and we’re not trying to be necessarily either one of those businesses–we’re much smaller–but we’re trying to offer people gourmet food items at all price points so that they can put together an appetizer or a meal that will complement a bottle of wine.”

Price is definitely on the minds of the couple, who acknowledge that specialty food, including international cheeses, gourmet chocolates and artisan breads are commonly not inexpensive, but the Glades have adopted the same approach that has made the Wine Cellar so successful: offer a variety and make it approachable. “We’re definitely a specialty shop but we’re going to try really hard to have things that are affordable, reasonably priced and good values,” says Maria.

A window front bar looks out across Bellevue to the Hotel Viking. (Photo by Tom Shevlin)

She is keenly aware that the Bellevue Avenue address and upscale aesthetic give some the preconceived notion that the goods inside will be unaffordable. “And that’s hard to combat because I want it to look attractive and I want it to feel like it’s our living room,” she says, “and at the same time, I want people to get that it’s not pretentious and it’s not intimidating and we have wine from $7 to those very special occasion bottles.”

Drawing from her globetrotting shopping encounters, Maria has always been impressed with European shopkeeps who, in her experience, can talk about where everything sold originates, how it tastes and its distinctive characteristics. To achieve this standard, she and David have handpicked everything to be sold at La Petit Gourmet. “It’s kind of like Christmas– everything we open is pretty remarkable,” laughs Maria. She points to a wheel of Fiscalini Banded Cheddar as one of her favorite cheeses, and points to the Cashel Blue, an Irish farmhouse cheese, the Caerphilly, and the Zamorano, a sheep’s milk cheese from Spain as other exciting flavors in the cheese case.

Inside, it's a foodie's dream. (Photo by Tom Shevlin)

Charcuterie crackers, flatbreads, organic sauces and kitchen accessories pepper the shop; not enough product for a through shopping but plenty to inspire a savory meal. “So you can pick up some pumpkin ravioli and toss it with some white truffle butter and shave some Fecorino Romano or some Parmigiano Reggiano, if that’s your preference, over the top and enjoy an immediate meal and go next door and get a nice $10 bottle of San Genovese.”

If you’re not salivating already, sample some of Le Petit’s offerings this Saturday during the Grand Opening from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 24-26 Bellevue Avenue. There is available parking in the rear of the building. Bon appétit!

Tagged as: Food and Dining, Newport