Most of the businesses found in Door County are usually tourist traps filled with cheap t-shirts, stupid knick-knacks, and gobs of cherry jelly and jam. However, one place that we found turned out to be one of the most interesting places we've ever visited - the Oilerie in the village of Fish Creek (see map).
The Oilerie bills itself as America's first olive oil bar. While traveling in Europe five years ago, the Oilerie owner Curt Campbell (above) was struck by the number of little olive oil boutiques that offered their customers samples of various olive oils before they bought. Some of the oils were infused with lemon, garlic, raspberry or other flavorings. He thought it was such a novel idea that he looked into the concept when he returned home. During his research, Campbell found that no one was doing a olive oil boutique such as the ones he found in Europe. Within six months of his visit to Europe, Campbell and his wife, Amy Jo, opened the olive oil boutique.
As you enter the Oilerie, you'll find tanks of olive oil sitting on table tops. Customers are encouraged to sample up to a dozen different types of olive oils. Many of the olive oils come from Spain, Italy and Greece. The Campbell's say they've traveled to each of their olive oil vendors to meet the people who make the oil they sell.
The samples are served in small paper cups. Campbell says that he doesn't serve bread with the oil because the flavor of the bread would block subtle differences in the taste of some oils. The staff at the Oilerie were more than happy to let people try a number of different types of olive oils.
In addition to olive oils, the Oilerie also features a number of different types of balsamic vinegar. One of the balsamic vinegars they featured was a 25 year old variety. I have to say it was probably the best balsamic vinegar I've ever tasted.
It turned out that we were literally out of olive oil at home. I forgot to pick up a half-gallon of Italian extra virgin olive oil from Caputo's in suburban Chicago when I was in there the week before. So we needed olive oil.
With the help of one of the Oilerie staff members, we picked out a number of different types of oils and balsamic vinegar (the 25 year old stuff). They fill the oil into 16 ounce dark green bottles that helps preserve the longevity of the oil. They then take your selections into the back room and stamp out a metal plate that signifies what type of oil or vinegar it is, along with a date, and they affix it to the bottle.
Well, we went a little nuts in there. In addition to a bottle of the 25 year old balsamic vinegar, we got a couple bottles of Spanish olive oil, some basil infused oil, garlic infused oil and lemon infused oil. We also got some plain Greek olive oil - all of which was extra virgin in nature. And we ended up getting a couple extra bottles of Spanish olive oil for Cindy's daughter. It took them a little while to get everything together, bottled, sealed and the plate made for the bottles.
While we were in there, a news crew from a television station in Green Bay was there talking with Campbell and filming parts of the Oilerie. Click here to go to the site where the Oilerie was featured on the television report. Then in the top right hand corner, click on the blue arrow on top of the video to see the report. About halfway through, look for the large handsome guy in the background looking around the place waiting for his order to be filled.
Along with some spices we picked up, the final tally came to just under $150 bucks. Yow!! That was an expensive trip to America's first olive oil bar. But Cindy was so impressed with the place that she even talked to Curt Campbell about franchise information. (The second Oilerie - the first franchised by Campbell, will open later this year in suburban Milwaukee.) I honestly don't know how well it would go over in the Quad Cities and I don't have the money to invest in a place that I don't know what the future may bring. Still, the Oilerie was a great place to go for anybody who enjoys cooking like I do. I'm sure I'll be back some time.
$150? Yow is right! Are you sure you weren't clipped by a higher end form of tourist trap?
Posted by: Tim Lake | October 15, 2008 at 08:34 AM