WEB EXTRA New Polson specialty grocery to serve up authentic St. Pattys Day grub
A well-known Missoula specialty grocery shop has migrated north, leaving its name behind, but bringing its worldly-themed goodies, meats and cheeses to Lake County.
Formerly known as Dee Dees Market in Missoula, the new Atlas Foods was brought to Polson by owner Victoria Harris, now lives in Polson with fiance Paul Boaz. The coupled moved themselves to Polson first, and decided soon after to move the shop with them.
Boaz and Harris continue to work to put together the shops’ hundreds of foreign food offerings.
The chocolate counter is full of treats, including the much sought after Marzipan chocolate.
“It’s kind of a fresh place for people who love to cook,” Harris said. The faire often isn’t easily found elswhere in Montana, but is “the everyday food from Europe,” she said, what is found on the every shelf in places like Italy and Germany.
Harris and Boaz are planning a grand opening in the spring, when Harris is hoping bulk candy, a sandwich and soup bar and a larger variety of baked goods will be offered. That portion of the sandwich shop is kicking-off with a St. Patrick’s Day event.
“We’ll have authentic lunch all day long, until it’s gone,” Harris said.
Starting at 11 a.m. , the menu will include Irish pork bangers, Irish soda bread and corn beef and cabbage with sausage rolls.
What really flies off the shelves is the meats and cheeses, Harrirs said. The shops refridgerator and freezer is stocked with meats from around Europe, including blood sausage, a suberp block of 4-year-old gouda from Holland and bulk feta cheese. As the market gets doing, Harris said, they’ll have more than 50 different cheese.
Harris is also planning to hold cheese tastings, cooking classes and have an event room for people to rent and spend time with a personal chef.
For now, “we’re making a really good cup of coffee for a buck,” Harris said. “People need something that’s a bargain once in awhile,”
Want a sweet-treat with your brew, try a made-to-order cannoli (which has been saling like crazy each morning, Harris said) flash-frozen and flown from Italy, or fresh baklava from Seattle.
A local baker has teamed up with Atlas to offer double-chocolate turtle brownies, homemade pies and speciaty cookies. Or, patrons can pick a box of Dutch cookies off the shelf and eat them with a friend.
The shop also offers wi-fi Internet for customers. Diner-style seating is available.
“There are no rules here, it’s just foodee-fun,” Harris said.