I'm not sure what age I was at but it was about after college and before graduate school I figured out how wonderful olive oil could command a meal into something really spectacular. It was an Italian restaurant in Queens NY, "Peps" on Lefferts Blvd. My colleagues from work took me to a "real" Italian restaurant. Everything was roasted with olive oil and garlic. The "everything covered in mozzarella cheese" ethos didn't exist here. Weeks after that dinner I was still amazed and somewhat ashamed by the experience. I slowly poked my nose into the world of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, armed with a fresh baguette. This is easy in NYC, in Topeka.. not so much. A crust of bread and some springy olive oil makes the tastiest lunch. So, I was surprised and happy that Tasteful Olive was here. If you are "into" olive oils I'm sure you'll find something here, great gift ideas too. If you are from either coast or especially Europe where olive oil is 25€+ and often diluted this spot is a inexpensive home run.. read more