Gustare Oils & Vinegars

I'm often sampling wines late Saturday afternoon. But this Saturday, I found myself hustling down a back road from the Chatham Bars Inn to get to Gustare Oils & Vinegars before they closed. I'd exchanged Tweets with them a few times, and was eager to check it out during our Chatham visit...a perfect stop on Small Business Saturday!

 I made it to the shop a bit before closing time, and found an amazing array of olive oils and vinegars available for sampling. Now I've eaten plenty of olive oil, but this was my first time sampling it straight. I figured a similar technique to wine tasting would be worth trying, so I swirled sniffed and took a small taste. I should have applied another concept from wine tasting--being strategic about tasting order. Instead, the spicy Harissa oil caught my eye and I tasted that first...next time I'll start with the more mild stuff! I did get a bottle of the Harissa, along with some garlic oil and some 18 year aged balsamic vinegar--the real stuff! (much of what is sold as balsamic is gets it flavor and colors artificially).

 I could have easily left with a lot more great stuff, but wanted to save some money for dinner! If you are a foodie (or have one on your list!), and find yourself in Chatham, I encourage you to stop by. They are also in Wellesley and Mashpee, more details can be found on their website.