"FormaggioKitchen" news and stories

From bright red strawberries with smooth whipped cream to seductively buttery and sweet chocolate paired with wine, the thought of aphrodisiacs conjures up an array of tastes, aromas and images that are sure to romance that special someone this Valentine's Day. And sharing cheese is another great expression of love. Whether eaten alone or with chocolate or, better yet, with a celebratory flute of Champagne, the right cheese can express just how strongly you feel about your valentine.

We've checked out cheese pairings, gift baskets and heart-shaped fromages from the nation's leading cheese shops to find the best Valentine's Day cheese gifts that can be mail-ordered and shared with that significant other.

After the jump, our three favorites.

When Formaggio Kitchen, a "gourmand's paradise doubling as a neighborhood grocer" opened in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1978, no one predicted that it would grow into the importing powerhouse (now with locations in Boston and New York and historical footnote (Julia Child was a loyal customer) that it is today. We caught up with Tim Bucciarelli, one of the men tasked with overseeing the day-to-day of the empire, and asked him about the journey that brought him-and took him away and brought him back again-to Formaggio Kitchen.

I wear many hats here-I manage the website, buy the dry-good imports, and handle our mail order business, among other things. Sometimes I even get to help out at the cheese counter.