LEXINGTON — Step inside Kimmy’s Cucina, and it’s like Italy found its way to 275 E. Main St. in Lexington.
Owners Kim and Roger Sterry know their way around Italian food, curating a market where shelves are stacked with hand-picked ingredients, fridges brim with meats and cheeses, and the goodies in the pastry and gelato cases are practically begging to be devoured.
Tucked among the fridges and cases, Kimmy’s frozen meals deliver fresh, homemade Italian flavors ready for your oven.
From food blog to Italian market
What began as Kim’s food blog eventually grew into something bigger: Kimmy’s Cucina, a full-on foodie destination rooted in that same love for Italian cuisine.
“I started out with a food blog years ago, and we had Sweet Basil Eatery many years ago downtown, so we were in the restaurant business before,” Sterry said.
Kimmy’s Cucina isn’t a restaurant, but it’s packed with ingredients to build your own Italian feast, along with family-sized freezer meals and hot, ready-to-eat specials made right here.
These aren’t dishes you’ll find in a big-box freezer aisle, but homemade flavors crafted for a pasta night that feels effortless and unforgettable.
“Roger and I have always loved hospitality and cooking; it’s just part of our nature. We knew we didn’t want a restaurant again, but we thought maybe we could make some lasagna. That’s how Kimmy’s Cucina came to be.”
I got to sample four of Kimmy’s dishes, each showcasing the flavors and care that go into each of her meals.
A Taste of Italy in every bite
First, the Bianca Lasagna. Handmade pasta, layered with sautéed spinach, Italian sausage, and a dreamy alfredo sauce, seasoned with just the right amount of garlic and spices. Each bite was creamy and savory, an indulgent flavor that wraps you in comfort.
Next, the classic meat lasagna. Made with tender noodles layered with rich cheeses and slow-cooked meat in a garlicky, savory tomato sauce. Proof that with simple, fresh ingredients done right, even a familiar classic can feel unforgettable.
Eggplant lasagna followed. The golden-baked eggplant is tender, each bite carrying natural sweetness and earthy richness that contrasts beautifully with bright tomato sauce and gooey cheese. Every forkful is a perfect harmony of flavor and texture.
Finally, campanelle pasta with meatballs. The flower-shaped noodles hold the bright, red sauce in their folds, while the meatballs, made with local beef, garlic, breadcrumbs, and Mediterranean seasoning, explode with flavor. Pretty and flavorful, sparking pure joy on a plate.
In every dish, the pasta itself deserves applause. Thick, cooked perfectly al dente, each noodle is a love letter to craft, care, and patience. These aren’t just carriers for sauce, they’re stars of the show.
Just when I thought the meal couldn’t get any better, dessert arrived: semolina chocolate chip cookies adorned with Ghirardelli chocolate and kissed with sea salt. Crunchy edges give way to a buttery-soft, chocolate-studded center, the nutty depth of stone-ground grains shining in every bite. You’ll want one, then two, then all of them.
Generations of flavor
Many of these recipes are layered with history. “My mother is Italian; it was my great-grandparents that came over from Italy. Roger’s grandparents came over from Italy, and his dad is from Greece,” Sterry shared. “A lot of what we make is just what we’ve done our whole lives and what we know.” The family recipes carry on in the meatballs, the eggplant parm, and even the manicotti, made with delicate crepes instead of pasta shells, just as generations of Kim’s family have before her.
Sterry said it best: “Food is an emotion.” Every bite carries the sun-warmed flavors of Italy, the love Kim and Roger pour into their cooking, and the laughter of family gathered around the table.
This food isn’t just nourishment, it’s an invitation into a moment, a memory, a feeling of home.
Dining and Cooking