The Olio tasting room isn’t just a shop; its an experience. After hearing so much about it I stopped in to check it out. When I was immediately greeted by Robin who enthusiastically told me she was the official “mixologist” I knew I had stumbled onto something good. She gave me a detailed explanation of all of the different olive oils and balsamic vinegars. There were so many different varieties and infusions. The olive oils are organized by category and contained in small, shiny steel vats. The ideas is that you take a little cup and taste each one and then mix the different oils with the various balsamic vinegars to find the perfect combination for whatever you are cooking.
Robin is someone who loves to cook and she rattled off a number of combinations that would work for cooking various dishes or drizzling on salads. I ended up buying the Portobello & garlic olive oil and the black walnut balsamic. It’s a punchy, robust mix and Robin said it would work well with both a pork loin and fall vegetables or a salad with some fruit and perhaps shaved cheese. We are so lucky to have great Gourmet Food Shops in Alexandria!
The whole experience was like a wine tasting and so much more than I was expecting. I highly recommend checking it out.
1223 King St. Alexandria, VA
