Back Alley's Will Be Empty No More

Friday is going to be a big day in West Tisbury. Dan Sauer and Wenonah Madison will finally, after much anticipation, open the doors to 7a Foods at Back Alley’s. 

The husband and wife team have been working for months renovating and revamping their store, in the hopes of providing the community with the best local, sustainable and artisanal food and drink. Now is the community’s chance to support their efforts and reap the delicious benefits.

Sauer has worked in some of New York City’s best restaurants, including Oceana, Craft and Hearth. After moving to Aquinnah, Madison’s hometown, he took over the kitchen at the Outermost Inn, where he worked for five years.

All the while a passion for growing food was stirring in Sauer, and in 2010 he and Madison launched 7a foods. What started as a small farm in Aquinnah and a table at the West Tisbury farmer’s market has launched into a full-service farm-to-take-out market.

7a will offer breakfast and lunch to go, complete with fresh baked goods, a daily frittata with seasonal vegetables, salads, hearty soups, artisan sandwiches and a selection of prepared foods. Made-to-order breakfast sandwiches offer a choice of English muffin or biscuit with breakfast meat, cheese, onion, spinach, and seasonal tomatoes. Be sure not to leave without trying a cup of Stumptown Coffee. 7a is one of the few sellers of the specialty coffee, based out of Portland, Oregon, and if you don’t try it here you’d have to go to Brooklyn for a taste of this special brew.

Lunch selections include crispy chickpeas with hummus, red onion and Tzatziki on a pita, and 7a pulled pork with shaved garden vegetables on a brioche bun. In a few weeks look for 7a’s homemade ice creams, as well.

While Sauer and Madison hope to provide a memorable food experience every time you shop with them, they are also there to educate about the history, origin and significance of their product. Their goal, they say, is to create a place where the shopkeeper has a genuine relationship with the customer.

7a will celebrate its grand opening n Friday, June 17, and will be open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.