'Wow..., wow..., wow."
"Mom, you just said, 'wow' three times."
"Oh, yeah, I guess I did."
That was my reaction to my first taste of the gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars at Olivette. It was just incredible. I must admit, when I walked in to the store, I thought, "Hmm, I wonder if you can really taste a difference from what you buy in the grocery store." Well, the answer is a resounding yes. Or, wow. I couldn't believe how good the Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic vinegar tasted. So fresh. And crisp. Then the Arbosana California olive oil. I was sold. I could have gone on tasting from the many vats of oils and balsamics, but I knew I would be in trouble. I decided to get a small bottle of the balsamic and olive oil that I tasted. I wasn't sure of what the price point was, but I was surprised at each bottle just being a little over $10 dollars and my entire bill around $25. Certainly worth using on many summer salads, and excellent on arugula, one of my favorites.
Dee Lawrence, owner and manager, was extremely helpful and knowledgeable too. Who would think that you could open a store only selling olive oils and balsamics? Well, guess what, you can. And what a treat, it almost felt like walking into a candy storewith all of the choices-infused flavors of pepper, butter, blood orange, lemon, jalapeno, and many more. My thoughts turned to salads, crusty Italian bread, and grilled vegetables, fish and meats onto which I could drizzle my new finds. They also have other specialty products like jams, rubs, and honey. Check out their Facebook page for lots of great recipes. I heartily recommend giving Olivette a try, you will not be disappointed.
Olivette is located at 1084 Boston Post Road in Darien.