Custom charcuterie boxes for beach picnics are what keep me coming back…read more If I'm anywhere near Del Mar, I make a point to stop into one of my favorite cheese shops. I always take it straight to the beach because everything tastes better with your feet in the sand and front-row seats to the waves. This small European-style cheese shop is known for its curated selection and cheesemongers who actually listen. They follow my preferences every time: nothing spicy, no olives, no dried apricots, and always something sweet like jam or honey. There's never a hesitation or attitude like I've experienced at other shops. Whether I need a box for just myself or something larger, they customize it perfectly. Beyond their global cheese selection, they carry artisan charcuterie, truffle products, European crackers and breads, local honey and jams, boutique chocolates, and small-batch pantry items. I also love the little surprise chocolate they throw in. Thank you for always listening and creating the most beautiful, delicious boxes for me. I rave about your shop to everyone and will continue to do so.

A cute shop with a wide variety of meats, cheeses, and other tasty treats. We went in for a 6-item…read moresampler. We had no idea what to choose. The associate that helps us was very patient and knowledgeable. We ended up having them chose the items for us. We were pleasantly surprised at the beautiful arrangement. The social picked the perfect tasting plate for us.

Wonderful specialty shop! We are addicted to their black truffle butter and duck salami. The owner…read moreand workers there are wonderfully friendly and knowledgeable. Putting the cherry on top...they now have a restaurant next door. Amazing sandwiches and scrumptious desserts!

Great new market in the Carlsbad business strip mall just behind Pragers. Both theemployees and…read moreowner were ridiculously kind and helpful. The owner greeted me and had the biggest smile saying hello. I was not used to such a warm welcome by a proprietor. The employees greet you in the aisles and explain the products and make lots of helpful suggestions. They have lots of specialty cheeses, meat, salami, fish, bakery, wine and fresh bread, soup and sandwiches. I thoroughly enjoyed the turkey and mozzarella sandwich with truffle oil. Prices are very reasonable and quality is spot on and fresh. Will definitely be returning.

Great customer service amazing cheese selection, and overall a win. I don't live in California…read moreanymore, but I tried to make it there when I visit. I suggest stopping by and getting a few samples before you buy, but beware if you sample too much you may max out your credit card. Everything is amazing. My favorite is the Gouda with black truffle.

Hickory Farms is open! They sell meats and cheeses, great gifts, especially for the holidays. The…read moreman working inside is super nice. Definitely recommend this location. He said they moved here from where they used to be at the North County mall.

Really good deals on a variety of packages either cheeses, meats, or both. Excellent options for…read moreelegant gifts. The staff were super helpful and friendly. This is a seasonal store that opens every year from Thanksgiving up until New Year's.

I was in Carlsbad about a month ago, staying at a nearby hotel for a meeting and wanted to make…read moresure I came back East with some fantastic California Pinot Noirs. I've been researching them a great deal lately and had a fairly good idea of what I was looking for. I came into the store on a Saturday back in April and described what I was on the hunt for: Fruit forward, vibrant, with a little spice. The very nice man working there that afternoon suggested several wines, including the 2023 Roar Rosella's Vineyard from Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County. I was sold. The wine made it back safe and sound to South Carolina. Just opened it up this afternoon. In a word: perfect. The wine is everything he described it to me. Thankful for his time and attention. Would recommend this great store to anyone in Carlsbad.

Great tentative Wine server... I guess there's new owners now. Good quantity of seats and a diverse…read morevariety of wines to pick from. We tried the sheep goat spread, It was delicious.

Once upon a time we joined in on one of Isabella's classes at her manufacturing facility. We…read morelearned about her chocolate making processes, travel experience and how she acquires her favorite & top tier product/ingredients that she personally selects & has familial and cultural connections to. Since then she is continuing to produce products and flavors that live up to the Dallmann name! Definitely Gourmet Quality!!! Isabella and her staff are true artists when it comes down to creating mini art pieces with unique flavors to choose from. You get to customize your order online (as this establishment is not a storefront) make your payment and it will be shipped to you. By special appointment only you can do a pick up. I suggest reaching out to them in order to arrange that. Her business facility is in an industrial complex shared with other family owned businesses and mainly this establishment is only for her private preparations of her delicious creations! Kept very clean and functional! We've been sporadic as customers ever since we got to pipe in the Grenache ourselves and sample the chocolate making process & yummy goodness! She's got very creative packaging too. So a special occasion can be very personalized too. Dark, milk, and even vegan options available. You've a choice to swap or double up on a flavor choice if she happens to run out of a particular selection. Truly spectacular products. You might even see them at a chocolate fest, or even wine or food pairing type event elsewhere! This time we tried a bar in conjunction too a chocolate box and my daughter is happy with it! I mean who doesn't love chocolate for any occasion but February is just that more special in our home. Thanks Bella and staffers! You're the best!

I was pleasantly surprised by the type of business this was and they are very professional and…read moreshowed kindness to us. And they gave my husband and I a chocolate sea salt caramel and it was yummy!! They allowed me to buy two different chocolate boxes, see pics and the chocolates are beautiful!! Not only do they taste great, but beautiful too, I plan on ordering again! It's not your normal store front, they make and put chocolate boxes together on-site, so it was very interesting and I'm glad I went!

I am so in awe over this place. My partner heard about it over conversation from some really cool…read morecustomers at her work, and decided to suprise me! Wayde (I hope thats spelled correctly) was so sweet when we walked in and gave us the run down and made some great suggestions. If you plan on sitting down to eat, I highly recommend getting there early because seating is limited but also its a great spot to grab and go to the beach! We got the DBL (as first timers) with the beef fat fries. The flavor profile and portions are SOOO worth it. Be wise and come to The Wise Ox

If you're looking for the best of the best meat, visit The Wise Ox in Carlsbad. The cuts of meat…read moreare prime and well worth the price. Wade is incredibly knowledgable, helpful and provides excellent preparation methods. The cuts of meat and service are top notch! This place reminds me of the old-fashioned meat shops. I get personalized service, am warmly greeted and I always learn something new! If you can't settle for less than the best, visit The Wise Ox in Carlsbad.

We're addicted! Family owned and the staff is fantastic - especially Kelsey! Went with the intent…read moreof buying two bottles, left with 6 w/ great recommendations by Kelsey. Highly recommend!

Baker and Olive is a specialty store known for its high-quality olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and…read moregourmet food products. I love going to specialty stores for specific products, in my opinion the products are better curated and higher quality. This shop is my go-to for balsamic vinegars and their impressive gift boxes, containing four bottles of oils and vinegars. They're perfect for housewarmings or gifts for cooking enthusiasts. Before buying, you can sample every oil and vinegar they offer. My latest obsession has been fruit vinegars and soda water, prompting me to purchase several bottles of white sweet vinegars to create my own flavored beverages.

Delicious meat pies!…read more I picked up these pies at their location in the Escondido Auto Park area. They have parking out front but it looked like a doozy with its incline into the dirt so I just drove around looking for street parking. I do not recommend trying if you have a lowered car. I did not put in an order but was glad to hear that they had many of their items available frozen. They are expensive so expect that. The pies are a decent size with generous fillings. My favorites were the Sausage Rolls & the Minced Meat & Cheese, tasty! Since I got them frozen, she gave me a rundown of how to heat up the pies & they came out perfectly. The directions are online too.

Can't believed they closed. Closest thing to home I've tasted. Wish they were still open.read more

Smoked and Tasty is amazing. I picked up catering from Smoked and Tasty for several days of…read moreholiday group eating. Absolutely everything was fresh, extremely tasty and visually appealing as well. Over the course of a couple of days, I ordered roast ducks, baked salmon with dill and pomengranate seeds, prime rib, arugula salad with apples and pecans, arugula salad with feta cheese, mandarins and pomengranate seeds, roast brussels sprouts, green beans with almonds, roast potatoes and roasted mixed vegetables. There wasn't a single dish that was a miss. Everyone was amazed at how well everything was seasoned. I was looking for authentically good catering. Smoked and Tasty more than delivered. The owner is also super nice!

I was working in the area and was first drawn in by the window advertising, very classic and not…read moreflashy. The second thing that drew me in were the smells of smoked meats and fish (not overpowering at all) I was originally just looking for a place to grab a quick snack and do some computer work. But once I got to talking to one of the friendly staff, my three slices of salmon turned into a lox bagel and I decided to grab a small block of smoked cheddar to take home. *I should note that the lox bagel is the only sandwich item they offer from the menu. Everything else can be purchased by the pound No frills is something you will notice I personally look for in a small business. If there are too many frills, I start to wonder what you're trying to distract me from. Smoked lox was fantastic, the bagel was nice and fresh. Like I said NO FRILLS, just honest smoked offerings made by people who care. I ran into this place without trying and I will definitely come back to try the smoked chicken wings and salmon jerky!