The Roman Table

I attended one of The Roman Table’s cooking classes. You can have anywhere from 5 – 12 people in attendance. This particular evening, the cooking class was «Tapas.» Cindy shared the history of where and how Tapas came to be. The evening began with some wine and Roasted Fennel White Bean Dip, Leek & New Potato Salad with Truffle Oil, Eggplant Caponata, and Coconut Lime Shrimp. And when I say the starters were out of this world, I mean it. So delicious! Cindy, the owner of The Roman Table, then spoke a little bit more about how the evening would unfold and continued to bring out a few more Tapas, Asparagus Bundles with Melted Brie and a Raspberry Balsamic Goat Cheese. We then learned how to make Trapanese Rolls and Smokey Chicken Bacon Wraps.
Needless to say, no one walked away hungry. Cindy was wonderful! We learned so much, received all the recipes to the Tapas we prepared and that were prepared for us. Cindy was so attentive to everyone. She truly is passionate about the entire dinning experience. In addition to her cooking classes and tastings she has a stunning store filled with collections of tableware, drinkware, flatware, cookware, specialty foods, gifts, Provencal Table Linens, home décor, lighting, and home and garden décor.
The Roman Table has over 30 varieties of Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Balsamics. It has the largest Balsamic tasting bar on the South Shore! I was not able to leave the store empty handed. I had all to do not to spend more! There are just so many beautiful items and obviously a huge selection of olive oils and balsamics. I made a quick trip to heaven when I tasted the Tuscan Herb Olive Oil and the Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar. Go in and have a taste for yourself!

Couldn’t agree more with the two one star reviews above. The shopkeeper here goes out of her way to be rude and condescending. She seems best suited to spending her time alone with a mirror. No way will our family spend another cent in that place. There are many other lovely shops in this village that are owned by folks who are friendly, welcoming and actually appreciate your business.

This is a very pretty store with lots of eye-​catching items. They sell Italian housewares like ravioli presses and pasta rollers, ceramic dishes (known in Italian as «maiolica») from Deruta Italy and other assorted and lovely objects to give your home some Mediterranean flair.
Along the back wall is an array of gleaming stainless steel vats filled with various olive oils and balsamic vinegars. This way of selling «better» oils and vinegars has become commonplace in stores like this but the offerings here are particularly delicious.
We have sampled many of the vinegars and it always seems that I’ve found a favorite only to find the next one I try I like even better. What a happy problem! This go round I bought the traditional balsamic vinegar, aged for 20 years, and a fruity, softly-​sweet pomegranate balsamic.
There was a cinnamon-​pear balsamic, a vinegar combo I wasn’t certain would be too good, but it turned out to be really luscious. I’ll get that one next time.
These would of course be fabulous on salads but such is the divinely perfect ratio of tangy to sweet that many would be luscious if poured on a bowl of fresh strawberries or a first-​rate vanilla ice cream.
The Deruta maiolica place settings can be found fairly readily in other stores like this and the prices here are comparable which is to say high. With Deruta pottery there are classical patterns and more modern ones both represented here and all gorgeous in their own way.
I think the owners have an affinity for turtles since currently there are many turtle inspired ceramics including votive holders, soup bowls and a gorgeous turtle-​shaped ivory serving platter. I did fall in love with the turquoise turtle soup bowls.
The woman who was in the store (not the owner) on this most recent visit, was a tiny bit off-​putting at first. Oddly, we were the only shoppers in there that day and she hovered over us like a hawk. I like attentive service but this felt awkward.
When we first walked in I had the feeling we were interrupting something. This saleswoman popped out of the back of the store from where we heard several people loudly talking and a TV playing. There is a semi-​hidden kitchen area in the back where we could tell something was being cooked as a pleasant food aroma was wafting through the store. It felt like we had barged into someone’s home at meal time increasing our sense of awkwardness.
Then the saleswoman woman randomly asked me if I liked pea soup to which I answered «yes.» She then said: «Well, that’s what I’m cooking but it’s not done».
So weird! I didn’t come there for soup but why even bring it up only to tell me there isn’t any to try?
The store has a bridal registry option, so you soon-​to-​be newly-​weds might want to check out the unique offerings here and skip the Lenox. Never having been a gal who wanted brand-​new china, I’ve either sought out antique dishes or the Deruta Italian pottery so I get that registering for gifts here might be a nifty idea.
While I’m happy to have a place like this on the South Shore especially for easy gift shopping, I feel the prices overall on most everything are too high. I don’t mind spending money on beautiful, quality things but too many things are a bit of a gouge even though I am well aware they are from Italy.
It’s a lovely shop to visit and for its local convenience I have returned for purchases and will likely continue to do so but only on occasion.