The taste of authentic extra virgin olive oil impressed a group of friends so much they decided to set up shop and share the experience with others.
“The four of us had tried a similar product in the States,” said Rick Zuccato. “It opened our eyes and we just got so excited about it that Mike and Molly came over for dinner in March and said ‘what do you think about opening a store together?’
Shortly after that March dinner, Zuccato and his wife Claire teamed up with Mike Blinn and his wife Molly Charko to open The Olive Experience, an olive oil and balsamic tasting bar in downtown Guelph (at 132 Wyndham St. N.).
“We did a bit more research and went down to Oakland, Cal. to meet with the suppliers,” said Zuccato. “They shop the entire planet, so we get it from South Africa, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, California, Chile, Australia and Greece. We get it from wherever it is the peak time for that harvest.”
Zuccato said their olive oil is superior to other popular brands because the olives are harvested when they are green and cold pressed preserving high levels of polyphenols.
“Polyphenols are antioxidants,” he said. “They fight cancer, diabetes and aging and there are even studies that suggest they help with Alzheimer’s. It is part of that European diet you hear about.”
He said their olive oil is never heated or treated with chemicals.
“What we have across the line here is pure olive oil with a minimum of 130 parts per million of the polyphenols and some of our product is 440 ppm,” he said. “If you go with some of these other oils at the grocery store you are lucky to hit 30 or 35 (ppm) of the polyphenols because they have been stripped out.”
All of the balsamic vinegar they carry is imported from Modena, Italy.
“The only true balsamic vinegar comes from Modena, Italy,” said Zuccato. “They are no less than 18 years old. There are no sugars, just fruit and grapes locked in an oak keg. They leave it in there until it distills down to a nectar.”
He said their products combine to create a pure, authentic dining experience and customers are encouraged to sample all the varieties in the tasting bar.
“We carry about 44 flavours and all of our products are vegan,” said Zuccato. “There are other businesses carrying similar products but there is only one The Olive Experience, so far. We think we are doing it a little bit better than everyone else.”
