Cured & Whey
6265 S VALLEY VIEW BOULEVARD SUITE K,
LAS VEGAS
Specialty Distributor Hits Jackpot
With Cured & Whey Retail Store
Las Vegas imported-foods distributor MGP
Specialty Food has created a specialty retail shop
called Cured & Whey that has become a favorite
local destination for charcuterie, cheese, craft beer,
and other products.
"Basically, the philosophy is really simple: You
come as a stranger, and you leave as a friend," says
Michael Stamm, a Las Vegas chef who founded
MGP in 1999 and then branched out with the retail
store about six years ago.
"We always tell our customers, 'If you sample
your way through the meats and cheeses, please
feel free to do so, because how else will you know
what your likes and dislikes are?' he says.
The store does a brisk retail business selling
meats, cheeses, charcuterie boards, and other
specialty fare, conducting catering events, and
operating a deli that offers breakfast, sandwiches,
and a happy hour. It also sells beer and wine,
specializing in craft selections.
Stamm says he is in the process of expanding
the store and is considering adding a dinner
service as well. The store will likely offer a limited,
reservation-only dinner menu with two seatings
per night, he says.
"There will be a larger kitchen, more seating,
a larger wine offering, and in general, a larger
offering of items," he says.
The store currently accommodates 24
people for sit-down dining and for its cheese
and charcuterie classes, and up to about 35 or
40 patrons for its happy hours. Following the
expansion, the space will hold up to 60 to 70 seats,
Stamm says.
The store is expanding its gourmet food offering
with direct imports from France, Spain, Italy, and
other countries. Stamm is also planning to launch
wine distribution, featuring wines from France, and
possibly from Germany, his home country.
The store is often a destination for local chefs
seeking to sample the variety of cheeses available
at Cured & Whey, which number in the range of
about 350 to 380 in-stock on a regular basis. The
store's employees include several cheesemongers
and Certified Cheese Professionals.
Stamm says he's enjoyed seeing the Las Vegas
food scene evolve in the 34 years he's been there.
"When I first got here, it was steak and
potatoes, prime rib, and French fries, 50-cent
shrimp cocktails, and now we are nothing short of
any of the world's gourmet stages," he says. "We
have everything from Bouchon [the casual French
restaurant from The French Laundry's Thomas
Keller] to restaurants from Emeril Lagasse and
Wolfgang Puck.
"It really is now a destination not only for
entertainment and events, but also, clearly, for
food," says Stamm.
18 SPECIALTY FOOD SPECIALTYFOOD.COM
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PHOTOS: CURED & WHEY
