Our staff is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of quality in the work we do - from working the registers to caring for our cheeses. We are committed to providing the highest level of customer service by sharing our knowledge about the various one-of-a-kind products in the store. This entails giving tastings and in-store demonstrations. Customer interaction is one of the most important aspects of our store. We offer an educational gastronomic experience, reminiscent of the markets in France, Italy, and Spain, for every customer.

The history of the store started in the spring of 2006 when Ihsan and Valerie Gurdal discovered an empty stall in the Essex Street Market. Ihsan envisioned a store where people would explore the highest quality food products from the large selection that he imports exclusively to the United States. In late July 2006, Ihsan drove down with a truck full of some of the most unique treats from his Cambridge store: hand-made Italian mostardas from Cremona, fresh Sicilian olive oil from a family farm in Agrigento, jams from a self-sustainable farm in Mombaruzzo, Italy, and cheeses from the best affineurs in Europe. 

Maximillian Shrem helped Ihsan and Valerie open the store in the summer of 2006. He manages the store with an excitement and an enthusiasm for the variety of hand-selected items that Ihsan and Valerie bring back from their travels abroad. Making Ihsan’s vision come to life, Max enjoys sharing his passion for the food with his customers. Max moved to Manhattan upon graduation from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in May 2006. His love for cheese began at an early age and reached its height while living above one of the most famous food markets in Paris on Rue Mouffetard. Although Max was in Paris to study French literature at the Sorbonne (Paris IV), the majority of his time was spent seeking out the best cheese purveyors, bakers, and brasseries. By the time he returned to the United States, Max felt as though he received a first-rate education in French gastronomy. At Formaggio Essex, Max helps to create the same “market-experience” that Ihsan and Valerie brought to life in their South End and Cambridge stores.