Oleaceae - You may not be able to pronounce the name of this wonderful shop - oh lee ay’ see eye - but you will have no difficulty knowing that you have just found - olive oil, balsamic vinegar & sea salt heaven. Co-owned by Santa Fe resident Samantha Bailey-Smith (above) and her long-time friend, Diane Romley, the shop promises a delightful culinary romp
the moment you walk through the door.
There are more than 40 flavors of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and 15 to 20 flavored salts; and like a child in a candy shop - you can taste them all. And who wouldn't want to taste a luscious extra virgin olive oil infused with Persian limes, blood oranges or porcini mushrooms?
Or fig, blackberry ginger, dark chocolate or juniper berry balsamic vinegar?
Mosey down the center of the shop where rows of fustis - stainless steel vats - keep the beautiful olive oil and vinegar dark and cool;
and choose which oils or vinegars you'd like to taste.
and choose which oils or vinegars you'd like to taste.
If you'd like your very own fusti, they come in smaller sizes and would be
perfect plopped onto a kitchen counter.
And then there are the sea salts - espresso, Yakima apple wood, Durango hickory, Maldon, Himalayan, black truffle and Bali pyramid, just to name a few.
And there are even thick sea salt slabs that are heated on top of the stove or on a barbecue and then used as a cooking surface to sear seafood (or other delights) to perfection, imparting a subtle salty flavor in the process.
And if you haven't a clue what to do with these yummy oils, vinegars and salts, just ask Samantha or one of her charming assistants - Paul on the left Ahmed on the right - and they'll clue you in.
All in all, this is one delicious shop that you'll want to visit again and again. And, if you happen to buy some raspberry or dark chocolate balsamic vinegar or blood orange olive oil, they are swell - according to the duo above - on a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Oh my!
OLEACEAE
at La Fonda on the Plaza
Old Santa Fe Trail
505.819.0887 or 505.795.7780
And don't forget to pick up one of these...
