Tarrytown Olive Oil Shop Wants You To Taste Its Wares

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. – Zak Cassady-Dorion and Charlie Ruehr don't mind if you taste their olive oils or balsamic vinegars before buying in their new shop. In fact, that's the whole idea.

“We want ... to let people touch, try, taste everything,” Cassady-Dorion said. “We want people to come in and feel like they're walking into their own kitchens.”

Pure Mountain Olive Oil will have its grand opening Saturday. Cousins and co-owners Cassady-Dorion and Ruehr founded the tasting shop, which focuses on high-end international oils and vinegars. The shop will also sell sea salts, pastas and gift baskets, Cassady-Dorion said. In addition, the shop will host one or two food and wine pairings a month with other local businesses.

The new Tarrytown location is the company's second. The first is in Rhinebeck, N.Y. What they've seen, Cassady-Dorion said, is that people love the shop's experience and will spend 30 to 40 minutes “having fun, trying the different products and asking questions.”

“All the products are really, really delicious,” Cassady-Dorion said. “What's neat about it is, whether you're a gourmet chef or whether you're not at all, it allows you to have some of these products and cook some fun, delicious things with minimal effort.”

Pure Mountain is set up as a tasting room, with containers of olive oils and vinegars set up next to tasting cups around the store. Employees are on hand to answer questions and guide customers through the products.

Cassady-Dorion said the olive oils available at Pure Mountain are better than those you'd find in a supermarket.

“The difference between good-quality olive oil and just regular store-bought olive oil is significant,” he said, noting that some oils stay on supermarket shelves far past their prime.

Cassady-Dorion said people walking by the shop have peeked in to welcome them to the neighborhood, which is one of the things they like about Tarrytown.

“We wanted a place with a strong local community – a place where people really take their food seriously, and Tarrytown really fit in,” Cassady-Dorion said.

Pure Mountain Olive Oil is at 11 N. Broadway. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Tuesdays. Learn more about the store at puremountainoliveoil.com.

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