For those who believe that extra virgin olive oil is the real fuel for amazing food, discovering Old Town Oil is like finding the mother lode. For olive oils that have traveled the world to find your kitchen, there is nowhere quite as impressive as this shop.

All of Old Town Oil's olive oils and balsamic vinegars are shipped to Chicago in 20-gallon containers straight from olive-rich regions. Customers are encouraged to taste each and choose which they would like bottled for their kitchen cupboards. "It is so customers can taste it and try each variety...so they can experience the difference from what is in the grocery store," says a shop employee.

Well-educated hosts take time with each customer and advise which oil is right for which cuisine and palette. For every olive oil, there is also a tangy vinegar to complement it, which is why Old Town Oil has at least a dozen varieties in stock. Flavors range from traditional balsamic (aged 18 years) to Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar imported from Modena, Italy. The 375-milliliter bottles of oil and vinegar sell for less than $20 each.

Intrigued but have not touched the stove in decades? Take a bottle of each home, mix one part vinegar to four parts oil and use it as a dip for crusty French bread. It makes for an easy-to-prepare romantic evening, especially when you add in a bottle of Chianti. Old Town Oil also takes orders online or by phone and has a unique curbside pickup option. Mouthwatering gift baskets are available and can include olives, olive-oil accessories (like soap for $3.99), and your choice of vinegars and oils.

Centerstage Reviewer: Pasha Carroll