New Business: Olive That! And More

The name of the store seems to say it all: Olive That! And More. But husband and wife Steve Lehrhoff and Jennifer O’Sullivan, who have been Verona residents for about three years, might not have opened the Upper Montclair shop had it not been for a snow storm, Lithuania and Elton John. Let us explain.

During the Halloween snow storm of 2011, a tree fell on Lehrhoff’s house. Then the manager of Elton John’s band, he was scheduled to fly to Lithuania the next day for a gig.  Lehrhoff didn’t make that trip, and he soon left the band. The “karma snowball”, as he came to call it, had begun to roll.

Lehrhoff, who had always wanted to own his own business, brought his global travels together in an olive oil boutique. The stainless steel drums in the store hold oils from Italy, Greece, Chile, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and California. Each region has a unique tasting oil ranging from mild to medium to robust; some with hints of licorice, others a touch of bitterness at the finish. All are certified extra virgin and in the case of the Greek and Tunisian oils, are hand delivered by the growers themselves.

But  there’s more: 45 flavored olive oils from savory porcini, peppercorn and chipotle to fruit-infused Meyer lemon and blood orange.  With several flavors of balsamic vinegars and 12 varieties of sea salts, the shelves, tables and walls are filled with items to eat, give as gifts–or both.

Every one of the balsamic vinegars is aged for 12 years and has a thick  consistency, resembling maple syrup. It neither looks nor tastes like anything one would typically find on a supermarket shelf. The white balsamics are sweet but work well either on a salad or drizzled over cheese. The flavored dark balsamics add a depth of flavor to just about any dish, especially the fig and chocolate. Chocolate balsamic vinegar drizzled over strawberries is a staff favorite.

Before thinking that this is way too fancy, give your taste buds a chance. The tasting bar is open all day, every day and the staff is more than willing to help visitors taste their way up and down the walls of oils, vinegars and salts. The flavor-infused olive oils, vinegars and sea salts are designed for everyday cooking. O’Sullivan suggests drizzling pomegranate balsamic over goat cheese, or raspberry white balsamic over brie, and Meyer lemon oil over green beans.  “They take everything you do and make it better,” says O’Sullivan. “Not gourmet, but amped up.”

Lehrhoff and O’Sullivan have found bliss in entrepreneurship, despite the long hours. O’Sullivan’s favorite part of owning the store is that she sees it as “an extension of home. A place where food, family, and sharing brings us all together.” For Lehrhoff, he loves “meeting amazing people who keep coming back.”

The store is located at 246 Bellevue Avenue in Upper Montclair. Store hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Olive That’s Facebook page is here and the store phone number is (973) 744- 7175.