It's weird to drink olive oil out of a little plastic sample cup, for sure, but it was also pretty tasty.
This shop isn't as big as it looks from the outside, but they pack a lot of flavor in the oils, vinegars, and salts that sell inside. I started with the oils because they seemed slightly less exotic, and settled on a rosemary olive oil. I only bought a sample-sized bottle to try on some roasted chicken, and I already know I'll have to go back and get more.
When I was ready for something more adventurous, I moved on to the white balsamics. I'd never heard of half of the ingredients in some of these combinations - Cara Cara Orange Vanilla, Alfoos (what the hell is an Alfoos?!) Mango - but was pleasantly surprised by how most of them tasted. The Cranberry Pear was my favorite of the bunch, with the Alfoos-whatever Mango a close second. But I really fell in love with the dark balsamics. Lots of deep, sweet, and fruity flavors here, but the Aged Black Cherry was the best of the best. And don't skip the variety of salts and rubs on the table when you first walk in - there are some incredible little tins of flavor there, too.
The staff was friendly and happy to answer questions about the products or make suggestions for what you could use them on. The prices were higher than I'd expected - large bottles were $30 each or two for $50 - but they are specialty olive oils and balsamics, after all. For your everyday salads and basic recipes, head to your nearest grocery store for something basic. But if you enjoy cooking with different flavors, know someone who does, or are whipping up something special, the goods here might be worth the price. I can imagine coming back for birthday and holiday gifts for the cooks in my life, and treating myself to a bottle or two in between. read more