Cocoa Michelle - Not Just for Coffee Anymore

I am a frequent visitor to Cocoa Michelle's coffee shop at the Westport station, where the baristas know their commuter-customers by name and have their "morning specials" ready to go just seconds after they walk in the door. But I made my first foray yesterday to Michelle's new addition to the Saugatuck neighborhood's growing list of businesses: CM Gourmet Market.

And I was impressed.

Michelle Weber knows Westport.

She's teamed up with chef Molly Brandt, who trained at the Culinary Institute of America, to offer Westporters the best of the best. Most recently, Brandt served as Chef de Cuisine of 150 Central Park onboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, where she developed and designed seasonal tasting menus, taking them from concept to plate while overseeing the restaurant's fine-dining operations.

Brandt has also worked at the Food Network, in the kitchen at many reputable restaurants, including the Michelin starred Cafe Boulud in New York City, and was named a Food and Wine best student chef in 2006.

CM Gourmet Market features a delicious selection of foods prepared under Brandt's direction as well as fresh homemade pasta, gorgeous vegetables, and a wide array of gourmet cheeses.

I went in with my sons, 11 and 7, who are pasta lovers and very picky about their sauces. We chose the spaghetti and the homemade red sauce - more pink than red - along with two specialty sodas.

And then we went home to cook.

The proof was in the happy faces and the lack of leftovers. We'll be back to CM Gourmet Market very soon.

There's also a sit-down cafe on the premises, open for breakfast and brunch, which we're looking forward to trying.

As Michelle herself says on her website, "Please stop in and see what's been missing in Saugatuck!"