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Friday, local wine and cheese enthusiasts flocked to Le Petit Comptoir, a new wine bar in Marblehead, for its soft opening. The event featured a complimentary grazing table with the purchase of a glass of wine.
Owner Alex Lewis has created a warm and inviting space that drew out some of Marblehead's friendliest faces. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood; and were happy to chat and pose for a photo. The atmosphere was an instant draw.
The crowd was so welcoming, in fact, that local Lesli Mead-Read — who I've met before around town — insisted on making me a plate so I wouldn't miss out on the grazing table while I was busy taking photos. I love this about living in a small town: the people at the next table often end up becoming friends. That's exactly how Lesli and I met, at the Barnacle.
I joined Lesli and her friends at the back left table — for official journalist research, of course. I needed to taste the food and wine to do this article justice. I tried the Squealing Pig Rosé, which was suggested to pair well with the Manchego on the grazing board, one of my favorites. I'll admit the name alone might have been enough to tempt me into ordering a glass! It turned out to be the perfect pick for a warm summer evening: a dry rosé, clean and crisp with subtle fruit notes, and easy to drink alongside the cheese and fresh fruit.
Several others at the table recommended the Squealing Pig Rosé as well. I also heard good things about the Tarongino, a sweet orange wine. It sounds like I'll have to go back and try it myself! Also on my list for next time: the fancy grilled cheese. Apparently it's so good that one couple told me they changed their dinner plans to make room for it, along with a few other appetizers.
Le Petit Comptoir will be open from 5-10pm Wednesdays through Saturdays. They have future plans to host classes, tastings, raclette nights, offer cheese boards to go, curate grazing tables for events, and more!
A special thanks from this photographer and writer to Lesli and her friends: Abby Feller, Bob Feller, Rick Bliss, Rob Reed, and Janet Spurr — (at the back left of the image below) for welcoming me to sit and chat for a while. If this is any indication of the crowd Le Petit Comptoir will draw, it's going to become a treasured part of the community in no time.
What other Marblehead Morsels would you like to see covered in a future column here in The Independent? Send your suggestions to hello@katiering.com.
