Move aside, Cheers!—there’s a new neighborhood rendezvous in Boston. Co-owners Matt Thayer and Andy Fadous originally outfitted American Provisions as a cheese and charcuterie shop, but the selection has since expanded to include beer and wine, pantry items, and a sandwich counter. As the enclave of Southie quickly changes, American Provisions seeks to provide newcomers with delicious options while maintaining the integrity of the neighborhood. “We have really beautiful specialty cheeses from Neal’s Yard in England,” says general manager Kara Chadbourne, “[but] we’re also going to sling the best Italian sandwich ever and do lunch service for folks who just want that.”
Although initially stalled by a fire, American Provisions is set to open a second store in the nearby neighborhood of Dorchester. Any move brings change, but “we want to maintain our culture because our culture is what makes us successful,” Chadbourne says. Now an integral addition to the neighborhood, it’s common for the shop’s customers to request certain staff to make their latte or to help them select the perfect cheese for a dinner party. It’s a place where everybody—staff and customers alike—knows your name.
culture: What’s your favorite cheese right now?
Kara Chadbourne: Probably the Cravero Parmigiano-Reggiano, which is the only one we carry. I just got back from a trip where I visited different cheese producers in Europe. Having actually visited the pasture [in Emilia-Romagna], it’s so wildly rich in my memory.
culture: Why is it important to make cheese accessible?
KC: Cheese and wine can seem like snobby things to talk about, and I don’t want that to be the case. The people making them are really humble. They’re farmers.
culture: What’s the strangest request you’ve ever gotten from a customer?
KC: The most common request is also a big misconception—we have people asking for grass-fed goat cheese. Grass-fed goats don’t exist. Goats don’t eat grass!
613 E. Broadway
Boston, MA
617.269.6100
americanprovisions.com
Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
Sat.–Sun. 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Madeline Upson
A longtime lover of cheese and wine nights, Madeline finally gets to use her love of cheese in an actual job as Editorial Assistant at Culture Magazine. She lives in Boston.
