WINCHESTER — If you've been longing to visit or return to France, but just don't have the means to get there, consider stopping by 30 Church St. in Winchester for something pretty close to the experience.
Celine and Tom Kimberly, owners of Nouvelle Maison Fine Provisions, have created a destination for enthusiasts of fine French foods.
Nouvelle Maison, housed where La Patisserie European Bakery Cafe? was two decades, is the result of a mutual vision the Kimberlys had for 15 years. It’s a market and cafe? that offers a curated selection of fine provisions, wines and cheeses. It also serves French pastries, a selection of standard and seasonal coffee beverages, baguette sandwiches and more.
“Our vision is to be a welcoming and fun place where you can buy groceries, sample new products, take an evening class with a friend or receive recommendations on less-known wines and liquors,” said Celine Kimberly, a native of France.
What's the meaning behind the business' name?
“We wanted something that was authentically French, but easy to pronounce in English,” Celine Kimberly said.
Her husband came up with the name, which is French for “new home."
“We want everyone who comes through our doors to feel at home and to want to use all of the products in their home,” Celine said.
Since opening in early November, the Kimberlys said response from the community has been positive.
“One woman stopped me in Whole Foods on the weekend and said we have revolutionized Winchester,” Celine said.
“We want to be a place where customers want to come back and where they’re happy to shop," she continued. "They’re exploring and discovering new things to do at home, so that was a really heartwarming comment.”
A sense of ‘wow’ when you walk inside Nouvelle Maison
When the Kimberlys visited fine provision stores in Europe and other places, they noticed one common thread.
“It was a sense of ‘wow’ when we walked inside,” said Celine.
The Kimberlys intentionally designed Nouvelle Maison to have its own aesthetic with a “wow” factor.
“We’re not just stocking shelves," Celine said. "We want the customer to feel something. We’ve seen so many people taking photos and videos of the space, which is exactly what we want."
Products offered at Nouvelle Maison
The market contains four departments: a bakery and cafe?, cheese and charcuterie, wine and liquor, and market and grocery. Seventy-five percent of all products are from France. The other 25% are sourced locally or internationally, including must-haves like Italian parmiggiano or Spanish Jamon iberico.
“We’ve worked hard to find the best New England and New York products,” Celine said.
Services offered by Nouvelle Maison
If you’re planning a party, think fondue. That's because Nouvelle Maison has a fondue machine that can be rented for parties, along with all necessary supplies.
Fondue kits are also sold at the shop.
Charcuterie boards can be ordered from Nouvelle Maison using its selection of 100 cheeses from France, the Untied States and beyond, as well as a carefully curated selection of cured meats and antipasti.
Finally, if you're looking for a unique gift, Nouvelle Maison can custom create a gift basket with products sold in the shop.