Patch Snacks at Wellesley Roche Bros. Test Kitchen

by Theresa Knapp, Medfield Patch Editor

It was a tasty day for Patch when we headed to the Roche Bros. test kitchen in Wellesley. 

Roche Bros. has been rented the former Lord's space in Medfield, and has announced they will be building their first-ever small-concept store in Medfield, which is aiming for a February opening. Earlier this month, Patch was invited to the Test Kitchen here in Wellesley. 

There, we met with executives from the supermarket chain while we sampled foods prepared by their own professional chefs in their quest to create a menu of creative and unique foods to be offered at their first-ever small-concept store set to open in Medfield in a few months. 

Chef Brian Dunn prepared two grilled sandwiches -- one mushroom, one roasted asparagus -- and an arugula salad, all of which were delicious in this editor's opinion. The recipes have been perfected with the feedback received at weekly taste tests. 

Director of Store Operations Aimee Morgida also the small-concept store has yet to be named but they have narrowed it down to two possibilities and hope to finalize it soon. 

They want to make sure the name, like the store, is unique.

"We're really doing something special in Medfield, something similar to the Legal Sea Food test kitchen," Morgida said. "It will be small, innovative, very food-oriented, very customer service-oriented, very high neighborhood touch concept."

During the meeting, I learned many interesting things including: 

• The company is working with local farmers' markets to feature their wares in the new yet-unnamed store
• Officials hope to have a new store name before Medfield Day (which they hope to attend) 
• The new store will have a lunch counter but not the one currently at Lord's (it is affixed to the floor and cannot be moved in one piece) 
• Chefs and cooks are often traveling to perfect their craft 
  
• They know that students will frequent their store, and they have teen taste testers to help them in that regard
• If this small-concept store is successful in Medfield, there will create many others like it

Also attending Thursday's taste testing, which is held every week for feedback from the team, were cooks Robin McNamara (who will be the opening store manager in Medfield) and Jessica Winship, national award-winning Chef Brian Dunn, and Wellesley Store Manager Maggie McLaughlin.

Morgida said the culinary staff is well-rounded and well-qualified to create an experience that will impress Medfield shoppers.  

"We're excited about Medfield, and we want them to be excited about us," she said. 

Roche Bros. officials said they are currently accepting applications from people with a strong food background who are interested in working in the Medfield store. Anyone interested should contact the Roche Bros.' Human Resources Department. 

Construction Update

Morgida said the store is definitely going into the former Lord's Building despite the "for lease" sign that is still in the window; and Zigun said the architects are finalizing the interior floor plan for the project which is making its way through Medfield's permitting process. 

Designers are trying to work the Lord's sign into the final design for the front of the building.