When Marilyn Donati and Erika, her daughter, opened Vidalias Fresh (vidaliasmarket.com),  in May they never expected the sandwiches to draw crowds. After all, the store is stocked with fresh local produce, (quite a bit of which is grown on Ms.Donch’s Utopia Farm several miles away in Wenham) 30-40 different varieties of artisanal cheeses, homemade soups, enticing baked confections, gourmet coffee, and a slew of selected  specialty food products.

But it is the signature sandwiches like the Donati, (my favorite ) which features sopressata, mortadella, prosciutto di parma, provolone  cheese topped with tomatoes, lettuce, red onions & hot peppers, drizzled w/EVOO & balsamic glaze, homemade meatball sandwiches, The West Beach, sliced all-natural turkey with Brie topped with mixed greens, cranberry horseradish sauce & /or mayo, that people line up for. My husband, Don, swooned over his lobster salad sandwich on toasted white bread (unlike the classic rendition served on a buttered hot dog bun, Vidalia serves their’s on toasted bread or a ciabatta roll. “It’s a little messy, but you get more lobster,” my husband remarked. Cooking classes will be held on alternate  Wednesday nights.

Vidalias Eat Fresh is located at 9 West Street, Beverly Farms. Hours are Mon-Sat 7 am-6 pm, Sunday 8 am -4 pm.