Los Olivos specialty gourmet food store a quaint pleasure for
the palate
Now
in her 40s, she’s abandoned the hustle and bustle lifestyle of jumping flights
worldwide to serve her graphic design clients and has settled into a jewel of a
store in Los Olivos, where all of her passions
converge, spawning Global Gardens.
The
specialty olive oil and gourmet food store offers an array of zingy vinegars,
local and imported olive oils, tasty appetizer spreads and even home-made
confections — most created, canned and packaged locally.
“I’ve
always been an entrepreneur,” Theo said. “I remember ridding
my bike and going door to door…that was 1969.”
First
it was seed selling, then jewelry making. Theo even went into recycling. But
now she’s all grown up and is making a living from doing what she loves.
Her
little shop has many influences, some local and some international, but the
common theme is healthy eating and living.
Theo
said she’s inspired by travel and how cultures worldwide are sustained on what
they grow.
“It’s
more meaningful for me to eat what I grow,” she said.
With
Greek blood running through her veins, it’s no surprise that she also is driven
by her passion for and love of olive oils.
“I
just love olive oils,” she said.
Though
she grew up in Dayton, Ohio, the valley’s beauty and its capacity to grow
olives inspired her to make the small town of Los Olivos
home. She owns 2,000 olive trees in Los Alamos, a tasting room that features
the fruit produced on her farm, and she recently has opened the Global Gardens
Green House, which can host a party of up to 100 people. The green house also
offers organic catering services that use Theo’s food products.
Opened
in 2006, Global Gardens is not just a one-of-a-kind in the valley, but
nationally as well. It is one of the only food tasting rooms and clubs in the
area.
Its
olive oils range from mild and buttery to intense and pungent – but certainly something
for every occasion.
It also offers an unbelievable assortment of
vinegars, including mango, blood orange and raspberry, which don’t contain any
artificial flavors or fillers that other such products are known to have. The
difference is in the taste, and taste never lies.
Even
Theo’s bottles are premium. She designs the labels herself and slaps them on
specialized European glass.
The
presentation of the products is just as important as the taste, Theo said.
Global
Gardens has not gone unnoticed by the valley community or visitors.
Daniel
Bivins, D.C., who owns Daniel Bivins
Chiropractic in Los Olivos, said his favorite item at
the store is the walnut oil.
“It’s
a very special place,” he said. “It’s so different and unique and high quality…
It is such fun to have something like that so close by. There is no one who
does what she does…”
Pam
Pilcher, who owns the Santa Ynez based catering
service Let’s Eat In!, uses Theo’s gourmet food
products in many of her culinary creations.
“The
quality of her products is consistent, and she’s very innovative. Her products
are quite handy for the personal cook,” she said. “Plus Theo is fun. I’m just really happy
she’s there.”
Global
Gardens’ inventory changes with the seasons. Every first Saturday of the month
the store introduces a new product. In June Global Gardens will be presenting
“The Magic of Mustard,” which will feature two new mustards that Theo has
created.
Though
Theo and Global Gardens are relatively new to the valley, she’s making it clear
she has no plans to leave anytime soon. Many projects are on the horizon for
her, including writing a cook book for her food product line and working
steadfast to make Global Gardens a staple in every home across the nation.
“I really want Global Gardens to be like the
old fashioned Harry and David,” she said.
“I just want it to be known all over the country as a
wonderful food item, whether it’s a gift or something people treat themselves
to as a staple in their cupboard.”