Pastaworks, a favorite of many gourmands, has stores in the City Market (reviewed separately) as well as the ever-hip Mississippi, and—perhaps best of all—a Hawthorne location with an attached eatery, Evoe. Don’t expect to find great bargains here; the point is that there are many imports and specialty foods made in-house that deservedly command higher prices. Produce is expensive, but it comes from local farms, and it’s of the highest quality.

This is a spectacular place to find Italian wines, from the value bottles of unsung regions to the superstars from Tuscany and Piedmont. They are all chosen with great care, and there’s a special zeal reserved for those funky little rule breakers, the farmers who make exciting terroir-driven wines regardless of how Robert Parker feels about them. This same care and passion extends to a broad Spanish selection, as well as a few French and excellent local wines.

There are a number of imported and Pastaworks-made pastas, including several different types of ravioli stuffed with seasonal ingredients. A beautifully edited array of cheeses from both the US and abroad are well cared for, and can be explained expertly to you while you enjoy a sample. Just try not to drool over cured meats and sausages, also made in-store. Sausage comes in all styles: spicy Italian, chorizo, bratwurst, merguez, and Northern Italian. There’s also guanciale (great for amatriciana), andouille for gumbo, and duck confit for risotto. How are you not heading over there right this instant?

And if, while shopping, you get too hungry to wait for dinner, try some prepared foods like lemony, delicious stuffed grape leaves. Or if you’re at the Hawthorne location, cruise next door to Evoe for a great sandwich made with Pastaworks goods.