Gourmet Lady Blog

AVOCADO OIL AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE IT

One of my favorite vendors is Jim McKnight of Elysian Isle Avocado Oil, imported from New Zealand.  Jim and Sandy drive a car that has AVO OIL on the plates, and I commonly refer to him as Mr. Avocado Oil.  They have a vacation house in Yachats and when I need more avocado oil, they just deliver it in person.  I love this personal service!  Jim and Sandy were around at the grand opening of Gourmet Lady and did the very first product sampling in the shop.  It was an immediate hit and has remained a staple in in the oil/vinegar aisle of the Gourmet Lady.  We are all eagerly awaiting the day that Oprah lists this avocado oil on her list of favorite things.  Oprah, if you could be standing in my shop when that happens, that would be way cool.

Anyway, I have a fun customer named John who happens to also be my State of Oregon, Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Division inspector.  He drops in to randomly inspect things like the temperature of my refrigerators (wonderful) and whether I have paper towels hanging (yes) and if all my food products are being stored properly (yes).  He yacks it up with Gerry at the Gourmet Lady, they are old friends from way back, and then he "clocks out" and buys garlic products as if they were going out of style.  Garlic grilling oil, garlic mayonnaise, garlic dressing, you name it.  Last year I tried to persuade him to buy the garlic herb flavor Avocado Oil and he resisted.  He seemed reluctant to give up olive oil.  On his recent visit, I didn't give him a choice, I simply put some avocado oil in a sample spoon, and seconds later, he was making happy and incredulous sounds and whipping out money to pay for it.  Is that good, or what?

Customer and fabulous sign/banner maker Robbie Schoonover has been known to corner customers when they get anywhere near the avocado oil.  She talks it up so persuasively that they always buy it.  I need to put her on commission.  Robbie, come get your pink envelope with cash that you can use to buy more avocado oil.