Calandra Cheese

"This cheese shop is doing takeout and delivery within a couple blocks of their Arthur Avenue location. But, if you want to ship some gorgonzola to your Uncle Wylie in Nevada, they also ship nationwide. Call 718-365-7572 to place an order." - Hannah Albertine, Nikko Duren, Matt Tervooren

"The shop makes some of its own cheeses from curds brought fresh from its farm in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Ricotta and fresh mozzarella are good choices, but so are the less-ubiquitous basket cheese and Calabrese, a sheep’s-milk cheese that originated in Calabria, like the name says." - Robert Sietsema

"This dairy dynamo is not to be missed. Whether your cheese of choice is cow, sheep, local, or imported, Calandra's has it all. There is no need to play coy around the abundant free cheese samples—the friendly staff encourages nibbling as you shop and will help narrow down your selections. Calandra's burrata is out of this world, and a relative bargain. Don't miss the lesser-known burrino, with a more distinctive rind and roots in Southern Italy. Be warned that the fior di latte mozzarella should be ordered a day in advance. Calandra's makes their ricotta and mozzarella fresh daily, and stocks every Italian deli essential in the most authentic way possible. Calandra's Cheese also makes gift boxes to order—a perfect, unique, customizable gift for anyone who appreciates true New York, Italian food, or just simply great cheese. The free samples might lure you in, but the variety of pasta, cooked and cured meats, and more will fill your table and keep you coming back." - Danica Lo