By: Sophia McDonald | August 08 2011
Posted in Eugene - Find It - Eugene

Olive Grand's welcoming interior encourages you to take your time shopping.  Photos by: Sophia McDonald

Tamara Oldenburg, Owner and Manager of Olive Grand, wants you to drink olive oil. Seriously. “Tasting olive oil is like tasting wine,” Oldenburg says.  “There are so many different nuances to the flavor.” The best way to figure out what you like? Forget about the bread.  To really experience the different flavors of good olive oil, it needs to go straight down the hatch.

Any time the store is open, Oldenburg invites guests to sidle up to the tasting bar, where she will pour a “flight” of seven or eight different extra-virgin olive oils for sampling. After you’ve sipped each one, she’ll add the balsamic vinegar that best pairs with each oil. Next, try the flavored olive oils, which include blood orange, lemon or lime, chili, and garlic. Groups of six or more should make an appointment for a tasting.  Oldenburg can also schedule parties for large groups in the evening. 

A selection of handcrafted olive oils.

Oldenburg has been a student of food since visiting France in 2006. Soon after her return home to Wisconsin, she went to a store that specialized in olive oil and was blown away. “Being from the Midwest, I grew up on butter and bacon fat,” she says. Her only frustration with the experience was the lack of even basic education available to customers.
  
Today Oldenburg strives to provide her customers with a learning experience as well as top quality ingredients for cooking. Besides oil and vinegar, Olive Grand features artisan pastas and sauces, herbs and spice blends, salts, condiments like tapenade and mustard, and organic teas. One of the shop’s most popular items are gift boxes, which include a bottle of olive oil, a bottle of balsamic vinegar, and a custom herb blend intended for bread dipping. Each gift set comes packaged in a locally-made wooden box. 

Olive Grand is also one of the most popular stops on the August First Friday ArtWalk in downtown Eugene. Oldenburg likes to feature both visual and food artists in her store, so she showcases photography by Anne McRae, paintings from Diane Lewis, frozen yogurt from Vanilla Jill’s, and Brutto ma Buono Italian chocolates. She enjoys doing what she can to support other businesses in the area. “We’ve had so much support as we’ve started our business. We know sometimes you just need something to get you rolling, and we’re really happy to return the favor.” 

Stop by and see Tamara at 1041 Willamette Street in Eugene and let her guide you through an olive oil tasting. It's a unique experience that will leave you with a wealth of new culinary ideas! 

Sophia McDonald is a freelance writer from Eugene, Oregon.  In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening, spending time with family and friends, and dreaming up new recipes.

 

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