With cheese boards and charcuterie platters once again on the rise, it makes sense that two new cheese shops have opened in Li’l Rhody in the past few months (with a third one, East Side Cheese & Provisions, opening mid-summer). Rind, in Barrington, is owned by Ashley LaPlante and Tim Fichera, who’ve worked together in restaurants for over 20 years. During Covid, they decided to strike out on their own. Rind features cheeses from Vermont to Switzerland, plus many gourmet items, including charcuterie to complement at-home cheese tastings. Wedge Cheese & Provisions, in Warren, is owned by a pair of moms— Sasha Goldman and Chelsea Morrissey––who bonded over their love of cheese. Although coming from journalism and business backgrounds, respectively, they both like the creativity in working with various cheeses and accompaniments to make up ready-to-serve cheese boards. They’ve also been adventurous with sourcing cheeses—Wisconsin and New York are naturals, but New England states and select imported cheeses offer many favorites. They’ve recently collaborated with Berkshire’s High Lawn Farm to produce a delicious clothbound cheddar from pastured Jersey cow milk called Berkshire Rhode, now in stock. Both cheese shops offer cheeses made from the milk of cows, sheep or goats.

Wedge: 279 Water St., Warren. WedgeRI.com

Rind: 24 Bosworth St., Barrington. RindCheeseShop.com

East Side Cheese & Provisions (opening mid-summer):
17 S. Angell St., Providence. EastSideCheese.com