By Gianna Seaver

Last week, passing by the shaded storefront with a black awning on Church Street just as I had many times last year, I decided to venture into the Saratoga Olive Oil Company. I was immediately welcomed by a brown-speckled, friendly dog wagging his tail excitedly against my legs. He spends his days greeting customers and sprawling lazily on the store’s hardwood floor. I was surrounded by rows upon rows of golden olive oil bottles accompanied by fresh bread pieces available for sampling a variety of assorted of olive oils and balsamic vinegars in small plastic cups. I began taste-testing the oils, torn over which ones to try first.
After a few different dips, the stand-out olive oil for me was the Tuscan Herb, with its strong garlicy flavor that complimented the crispy bread. I then made my way over to the vinegar section, where the first thing I sampled was the tart and tangy white grapefruit vinegar. Disappointed with the vinegar’s light and sugary-sweet taste, I initially thought that maybe the vinegars here weren’t for me. However, as I made my way down the aisle of silver dispensers, I discovered the dark balsamic vinegars.

Flavorfully fruity black cherry, blueberry, and lavender vinegars delighted by taste buds, and I realized that these were the kinds I really enjoyed.

I was surprised to learn that the store was owned by a SMC graduate, who wasn’t shy of emphasizing her love and nostalgia for the SMC community. Kaitlin Braidwood ’09 and her husband Chad opened the Saratoga Olive Oil Company on Church Street in March of 2012, after their business originated in Saratoga, New York.

“We were really fascinated by the healing effects of olive oil on the body. I think that, and the fact that everything we sell here is all-natural, is what really inspired us to do this,” said Braidwood.

She enlightened me that olive oil contains oleocanthal, an ingredient proven to kill cancer cells. Who knew? The Saratoga Olive Oil Company prides itself on vinegars created without the sugar or caramel coloring found on the labels of ordinary grocery store balsamic vinegars. Braidwood is also passionate about using fresh fruit juice, pressed and added into their products. The company currently carries oils made from recently harvested olives in like Chile, Australia, Tunesia, and California. Before my visit, I hadn’t known that olives in various regions produce different tastes depending on the time of year.

With vinegar flavors like red apple, pomegranate, and even dark chocolate, the store’s bestseller is “Definitely the Vermont Maple!” The most popular olive oil? Tuscan Herb, containing oregano, basil, garlic, and rosemary.

Alongside the oil and vinegar, shelves stock soaps, chapstick, lotions, and bath balms, all made with olive oil. The shop also carries honey, maple syrup, and cooking salts.

With its laid-back atmosphere and multitude of oils and vinegars to experience, I’d say the Saratoga Olive Oil Company is definitely worth stopping into, and dipping into, with your friends.