In the Netherlands, there's an old folk belief that a layer of fat around your heart keeps you warm and happy throughout the winter. And though the concept is contrary to current health trends, food that contributes to such a layer certainly tastes good.

The Old Dutch Store on Highland Drive sells traditional foods from the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia that will make you happy. In addition to chocolates and sweets, the shop boasts a deli counter with soups and specialty meats and cheeses.

I ordered turkey, havarti, tomato and lettuce on a wheat roll—and, following Dutch tradition, I passed on all condiments except butter. Americans know that butter is great on toast, and now I know it's wonderful on sandwiches, too.

The Stockholm sandwich also looked enticing, with its smoked turkey, lingonberry sauce, cream cheese and lettuce on sourdough. The sweet lingonberry and whipped cream cheese mixed together was almost like candy.

The Old Dutch Store offers a few housemade soup options frozen and ready to take home, including Norwegian cream of cauliflower with meatballs. The hot soup of the day when I visited was potato Gouda—and since Gouda alone is pretty much a religion in the Netherlands, it did not disappoint. The soup was thick like a gravy, with a creamy, powerful taste—Gouda isn't known for hiding in the background.

In Scandinavia and the Netherlands, people often go to the store daily. With food this wonderful, you might pick up the habit. And whatever all that cheese might do for the layer of fat around my heart, I know my soul was smiling.