New on site: Wheyfarer Cheese Shop

Wheyfarer Cheese Shop opened in 2022, a new California Avenue business launched at about the same time as its neighbor Elixir Superfood & Juice. Despite their seemingly choreographed debut, the two stores couldn’t be more different.

Wayfarer stays true to its name, an upscale cheese shop that brings hard-to-find cheeses and other products to the Reno community. The small store supports farmers who specialize in food from grass to fork, giving it a unique mission.

Inside, the shop sells cheese, of course, but also everything you need to make a cheese or charcuterie board. The walls are lined with interesting crackers, honey, pickles and jams. And with experienced staff behind the counter, you’ll be able to mix and match ingredients to create a complementary plate.

If you want to take the guesswork out of the way, you can also commission your boards from Wheyfarer. After all, a large part of the trade consists of custom-made cheese and charcuterie boards. Start with the mini option for individual sized “boards”. This is most recommended for events where each guest should receive their own mini charcuterie in a plastic container. Like the larger versions, the mini ($18) includes meats, cheeses, and accessories like jams, nuts, olives, and crackers.

Larger boards may focus on cheese and come in sizes to feed 10 or 20, or they may offer both cheese and charcuterie for people of the same size. Vegetarian dishes and tapas are also available.

And while it’s a handy addition to have a shop ready to make these coveted boards, either at your request or on your own, it’s not the only way Wheyfarer thrives. My favorite part of the business is their grab and go lunches, a collection of rotating sandwiches, salads, and appetizers available for a quick lunch at the store or on the go.

Despite the connotation that “grab-and-go” may have, each item is made to order. The paninis are freshly pressed in front of you and salads are put together piece by piece to meet customer requirements.

Although the offer changes about every week, you can count on the quality.

The Arti-key, when offered, is a personal favorite. The pressed panini starts with buttery Truckee sourdough bread that’s equal parts soft and crispy, with those coveted grill lines perfected. Inside, artichoke, turkey, bacon, spinach, and caramelized onions sit beneath the melt-in-your-mouth cheese curds and chevre cheese, for a burst of complex flavors.

Other favorites on the menu include grilled cheeses with varying options; this week offered The Four Cheesy with four coveted cheeses blended into the ultimate adult grilled cheese.

In addition, choose from a house salad (organic vegetable mix, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and red onion sprinkled with balsamic vinaigrette) or Zapp’s chips.

The small shop also sells a selection of beers, wines, bubbles, soft drinks and specialty drinks. When dining indoors, it’s hard to think of a meal more accessible and luxurious than pairing a glass of bubbly with a grilled cheese sandwich.

Not sure what you’re looking for? Helpful staff are quick to offer samples of cheeses from the box.

Details