Anacortes Oil & Vinegar Bar
THE SHOP
Anacortes Oil & Vinegar Bar is a haven for olive oil and vinegar connoisseurs. It specializes in Ultra Premium extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), the cream of the crop in olive oil standards. Ultra Premium certification requires vigorous testing of the oil’s chemistry and freshness. Real extra virgin olive oil also has an unbeatable taste and is chock-full of phenolic antioxidants, which can help fight disease. The store stocks five Ultra Premium extra virgin olive oils at any given time and a dizzying array of fused and infused olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars, and other accruements to finish off dishes.
THE ATMOSPHERE
A knowledgeable staff welcomes patrons amid neat rows of stainless steel dispensers filled with flavored and unflavored Ultra Premium extra virgin olive oil and Balsamic vinegars.
KEY PEOPLE
John Olsen, a Marine veteran, got the idea of opening an olive oil store in Anacortes after visiting the Lively Olive Tasting Bar in Port Townsend. His partner, Kriena Pelusi, is originally from Canada, but settled in Anacortes and worked as a personal trainer for almost 20 years before becoming the store’s manager and cooking expert. Pelusi is known for making spot-on flavor suggestions that combine their flavored oilseed vinegars with other ingredients.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND
If you have a friend who loves cooking or entertaining, the Anacortes Oil & Vinegar Bar is a one-stop shop for gifts. Of course, there are flavored olive oils, both fused and infused. The flavorings are all-natural ingredients– nothing is made in a lab. All the balsamic vinegars are aged in Modena, Italy and undergo the same flavoring treatment as the oils. In addition to the 66 oil and vinegar options, you’ll find delectable jarred dips from The Bread Dip Company. There are rubs, seasonings, and gourmet salt such as black Cyprus Flake Salt and pretty Merlot Salt Fusion Flavored Sea Salt. Bulk bins of dried pasta claim an entire shelving unit, with recipe ideas affixed to each bin. Finally, if you can’t make it down to Anacortes, visit their online store.
OWNER’S FAVORITE
One of the store’s best sellers, the Persian Lime Olive Oil, is surprisingly versatile in savory and sweet dishes. Another favorite is the Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic Vinegar, which works well with seafood and is refreshing in cocktails. Pelusi raved about the Neapolitan Herb Balsamic Vinegar, the store’s most savory choice among the balsamic vinegars. “It’s fantastic as a marinade, as a bread dip, as a salad dressing, I use it for all of my recipes that call for Worcester sauce.” There are more flavors than we can name here. You really need to taste for yourself.
