October 9, 2007

City officials and residents celebrate the Grand Opening of The
Olive Bar on October 3 in historic downtown Campbell

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Editor

Everything you wanted to know about olive oil just became a whole lot easier with the grand opening of downtown Campbell’s The Olive Bar.

The Olive Bar Grand Opening ribbon cutting attended by City Officials and Campbell residents. From left: Blendz Fun Fresh Food president Matt Phipps, City Manager Dan Rich, Campbell Vice-Mayor Donald Burr, Campbell Mayor Dan Furtado, Chrystie DeSoto, Ed DeSoto, Chamber of Commerce President Carl San Miguel, Diane Aza, and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Betty Deal. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

The brainchild of husband and wife team Ed [“Don Eduardo”] and Chrystie De Soto, The Olive Bar offers the freshest and high quality extra virgin olive oils, aged flavored balsamic vinegars, stuffed olives, garlics, herbs, tapenades and gift baskets. In other words, everything an olive aficionado would love.

And, you can taste before you purchase at their appealing tasting room on Campbell Avenue.

“No one was doing the European olive bar concept here,” said Ed De Soto at The Olive Bar’s Grand Opening on Oct. 3. “Campbell has welcomed us. There are great people here.”

Campbell offered its full support at The Olive Bar’s Grand Opening with Mayor Dan Furtado, Vice Mayor Donald Burr, City Manager Dan Rich, Chamber of Commerce President Carl San Miguel and Chamber Executive Director Betty Deal along with members from the Downtown Campbell Business Association and interested residents.

“The Olive Bar is beautiful,” said Mayor Furtado. “We are very pleased to have you here. I’ve heard a lot of positive comments about downtown Campbell and the variety of things we have here and this only adds to it. May you flourish and I wish you well over many, many years.”

The De Sotos’ admit they didn’t know very much about extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars a few years ago. But they did know wholesale and retail.

Don was a sales representative of food products and Chrystie, a buyer for the Emporium. They wanted to do something they loved and became fascinated with bringing the finest olive oils and vinegars to the marketplace. But they confess that they had a lot of help with the couple’s two daughters and son-in-laws helping with furniture buying, creating baskets, brochures and making The Olive Bar a reality.

Now the De Sotos’ are experts of the subtleties of extra virgin olive oils: Arbequina from Spain offers a medium fruitiness with apple overtones, Coratina from Australia with a full flavor and a slightly peppery finish or Koroneiki from Greece from the olive of the same name offering a green-gold color and a fruity aroma. Noccelara from Italy tempts with the flavors of almond, artichoke, and apple and works well on salads, vegetables, and fish. California is represented as well with Integrale and the buttery Ascalano olive oils perfect for dipping and drizzling over a grilled steak.

City officials and Campbell residents celebrated the grand opening of The Olive Bar on October 3.

Flavored olive oils are represented as well. From Tunisia, The Olive Bar offers garlic, Basil, Blood Orange and Meyer Lemon, all made by crushing the specific herb or fruit with the olives at press time. The De Sotos’ suggest the garlic and basil for pastas, salads, marinades, dipping and finishing oils. They particularly liked the Blood Orange in pancake batter and baked goods like brownies for heightened flavor and moistness.

The Olive Bar’s balsamic vinegars are aged 12 to 25 years. A wide variety of flavors include fig, black currant, red apple, strawberry, raspberry, sherry, tangerine and pomegranate. They suggest using the vinegars to enhance salad dressings and bread dipping, cheese plates, and even fruit and ice cream.

“I have shopped here and they have great olive oil and balsamic vinegars,” said Chamber of Commerce President Carl San Miguel. “Welcome to Campbell.”

But besides, the delicious tasting held at the appealing Olive Bar where you taste before buy, the De Sotos’ both have a delightful sense of humor. He calls himself “Don Eduardo” and she admits that laughing has sustained the couple through 41 years of marriage.

“Chrystie’s the boss and I’m the clerk of the month,” said Don Eduardo. “I hope The Olive Bar is different and unique enough to make an impact in Campbell as a destination for all good things.”

The Olive Bar is located at 232 East Campbell Avenue. Hours are Tuesday—Wednesday 11am—6pm, Thursday—Friday 10am to 7pm, Saturday 10am—9pm, and Sunday 9am to 3pm. Closed Monday. For more information visit their website at www.the-olivebar.com or call (408) 370-1901.