Where Oil and Vinegar Mix in Luxury
Austin
American-Statesman
by Kitty Crider and Dale Rice
Walk into the Oil & Vinegar shop at the newly remodeled Dallas Galleria and you will be impressed with the wall of amphorae, clear glass vessels that dispense more than two dozen oils and vinegars by the 100-milliliter portion. (They are highlighted by a special ultraviolet light that does not damage the oils and vinegars.) Taste the various samples, then buy a reusable bottle from the shop and they fill it with your choice of oil or vinegar; then cork and paraffin-seal it for transport.
"It's a very interactive way to shop," says co-owner Lara Schalken, a native Dallasite. Her husband and co-owner, Wim, is from The Netherlands, where the five-year-old chain has its roots.
The 1,200-square-foot Dallas store also has prebottled oils - even mini drums of oil - and vinegars, as well as foods complementary to them, pottery, books and utensils among the 450 items. The most exclusive oil is white truffle oil from Italy, at $11 for 100 milliliters. The most unique is pumpkin seed oil from Austria. There are vinegar sprays - mango, peach, melon - from Italy. Also, a trio of wine vinegars; Pinot Grigio, Merlot and Chianti. A best seller is raspberry vinegar. (Try it drizzled on Blue Bell vanilla ice cream, raves Schalken.) The store is located on level two of the Galleria between Nordstrom and Saks.
Originally published by Austin American-Statesman January 2005
Last update 09 May 2007