Before a dinner party or the holidays, I always pay a lengthy visit to this gourmet shop. The staff has a wealth of knowledge regarding cheese that they’re always willing to share and you can sample — they all seem to genuinely love what they sell. Be prepared to wait at this wonderful and often crowded emporium of fine cheeses, imported and domestic; as well as select, delicious salami, dried sausages, chorizo; olive oils, wines, dry pastas, legumes and rices. It is well worth the wait.

Recently, I could not find some key ingredients on the west side of LA to make a spanish paella. Thankfully, they offered the premium Palacios spanish chorizo and La Bomba paella rice that made this dish the hit of our party.