Interview with Dana and Terry Hunter, owners of Asheville’s culinary gift shop.

Oil & Vinegar’s “culinary gift shop” concept brings together a wide range of international food and cooking products in alluring, Mediterranean-style surroundings.

Their mission is to be the consumers’ first choice when looking for a unique and “tasteful” gift for any occasion. The focus is not only on the attractiveness of the gift, but ultimately its flavor and ability to accent both the palate and table.

Rapid River Magazine: Tell us a little about Oil & Vinegar.

Dana & Terry: Oil & Vinegar is a franchise from the Netherlands. It was started in 1999 and arrived in the US a few years later. It is truly a culinary gift shop. We are very passionate about taste. We have between 60-70 oils and vinegars, over 300 different accouterments and unique pottery from around the world. Our number one priority is taking care of our guests.

RRM: What are your most popular bottled and “on-tap” oils and vinegars?

DTH: Some of our most popular oils are the single Estate extra virgin olive oils from places like Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Morocco, also our nut, grape seed, and infused extra virgin olive oils are very popular. Our extra virgin olive oils have great health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, improving hair, skin, nails and even digestion.

We have pre-bottled and on tap balsamic vinegar from Modena Italy, which are very popular. Some flavored vinegars that are popular are Berries, White Truffle, and Fig.

RRM: Tell us a little about your sauces, salad dressings and olives.

DTH: We have several types of sauces, including finishing sauces, wasabi sauces, and salad dressings for all flavor palates. We have a wide variety of olives, stuffed and non- stuffed, in oil and in brine.

RRM: What is your personal favorite Mediterranean dish to serve guests?

DTH: We love to serve Bruschetta to our guests as an appetizer. It is one of our most popular items after the oils and vinegars. It starts with a dry mix and is hydrated with water and mixed with olive oil, then it can be served hot or cold on crusty bread and sometimes cheese is added.

RRM: What is your most favorite part of running a business in the Asheville area?

DTH: The people in Asheville, our customers, are our favorite part of having our business in Asheville.

RRM: Any new food products or accessories you’ll be offering this spring you would care to tell us about?

DTH: We have a type of extra virgin olive oil, called Novello, which means “early harvest”, we will be centering an entire promotion around different country’s Novello variety.

Oil & Vinegar
Biltmore Park Town Square, Asheville
(828) 676-1678
www.asheville.oilandvinegarusa.com