A store.
A store that exclusively sells olive oil & balsamic vinegar.
A huge store that exclusively sells flavoured artisan olive oil & balsamic vinegar.
This is my happy place.
If I was ever stranded on a dessert island, I could happily survive off of baguette, olive oil & balsamic vinegar. And avocados. And scotch.
... I suppose that's more "all inclusive" then camp/danger times but you get the gist: fancy condiments make me exceptionally gleeful.
Hands down, my favourite "stumble upon" find of the year, this massively large, bright and almost industrial looking store is well worth making a dive off the highway when your ferry and/or Point Bob bound. Tsawwassen resident? You lucky bast*rd.
Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar.
I wasn't kidding.
That's all they have.
Save the one little table up front of soaps made from (you guessed it) olive oil and balsamic vinegar...
They have oils and vinegars from over there and right around the corner. Virgin, cold pressed, international tasty times galore. Rows upon rows and tables upon tables of oils and vinegars with tiny tasting spouts, where you can taste to your hearts content, bread provided.
I left exceptionally full.
Highlights:
Honey & Ginger white balsamic vinegar - light and sweet with a kick
Blood Orange Olive Oil with Dark Chocolate balsamic. Oh dear god.
All natural aged Tahitian vanilla balsamic paired with Chipotle olive oil. Sweet and spicy. Oh double dear god.
Organic Tuscan Herb Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil - because... that's just fancy.
But the one that won me wholeheartedly:
All Natural Aged Cinnamon Pear Balsamic.
This bad boy is sweet with a hint of that cinnamon spice. Perfectly balanced with the hit of vinegar. It's the balsamic that little baby salads one day hope to meet. On mixed greens with fresh blueberries? OH GOD.
I can't even talk about how good it is with brie and baguette. It makes me tear up a little.
And the price point? Super reasonable. I can't quite remember as I was suffering from happy overload at the time, but my bottle ran about $12. Which is significantly less then my last fancy condiment from Whole Foods.
Go here.
Just go. read more