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Cathie Huber, owner of Tastalotta
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While visiting family in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Cathie Huber found a shop selling olive oils, vinegars, and salts, which intrigued her. Flying home, she couldn’t wait to get the shipment of vinegars and oils she’d purchased, lamenting that there was nothing like that shop where she lived. After that trip, Huber thought over and over about opening a shop in Harrisburg like the one she fell in love with. And Tastealotta was born.
Stepping into Tastealotta is like leaving the Susquehanna Valley exclaiming, “Ciao bella!”
The shop is little slice of Italy right in Lemoyne. The black and white tiled floors and olive green and burgundy wine walls set off the mahogany and stainless steel shelves where the products are stacked with artful precision, gleaming beneath the lights.
Tucked away in a Lemoyne shopping center, Tastealotta operates with such a specific purpose and product line. And that’s exactly why it succeeds. It has something that other shops don’t: Huber and her expertise in fine olive oils and vinegars.
Having a background in sales helped Huber when she went to open Tastealotta, and she’s been met with nothing but success. Huber sought out the best olive oils and vinegars to fill a tasting room where customers and locals would be able to come and taste what the world has to offer.
“Word of mouth has been one our best advocates in building the business,” she says, along with some advertising. “Our postcards that we send monthly are a big builder.”
Cultivating a sense of community with her customers is just as important as teaching them the deliciousness of cooking with oil and vinegar. With its postcards, Tastealotta lets customers know details about upcoming events and what products they’re featuring so that no one misses out on the tasty fun.
When customers enter the shop, they’re encouraged to browse and sample before purchasing. Huber and the rest of the staff at Tastealotta want to make sure everyone goes home with nothing less than the finest ingredients for culinary creations.
Tastealotta sources only the best and takes into account all the different aspects that go into crafting a product Huber is willing to put her brand behind.
The soil, temperature, olive tree, picking time, and crush method all go into choosing the olive oil that best suits your purpose and personal taste. Sourced vinegars are aged to just the right consistency. Plus pastas and soups are all homemade and bursting with authentic flavor. And if you want to add some more flavor, Tastealotta also carries a variety of salts and peppers for seasoning.
Not only have Susquehanna Valley residents discovered this purveyor of quality oils and vinegars, but so have top-notch chefs from around the county. Tastealotta has become their go-to when searching for a variety of oils and vinegars to use to prepare their dishes at their own restaurants.
From her traditional and authentic approach to providing only the best olive oils and vinegars, she’s never lost the Italian flare that inspired her as she continued to add new products and services to her loyal customers.
But it’s not just about bringing Italy and other parts of the world to the Susquehanna Valley; it’s also educating the community about cooking with the products Tastealotta has to offer.
“We have a unique product and have become the experts in the Harrisburg area on olive oil and balsamic vinegars,” says Huber.
The experts at Tastealotta share their knowledge through cooking demonstrations and classes with local chefs that they host for groups and customers of all ages.
Reiterating what she says on her website: “People really want to enjoy cooking more. Our demographic runs from 80-year-olds to the teenager and to young people just starting out,” says Huber.
These education classes are what Huber says she loves most about Tastealotta.
“Passion is the key,” says Huber, and to pass that on to valued customers is what drives her to continue to bring new and creative products and education to the greater Harrisburg area.
Tastealotta
829 State Street, Suite 1005 / Lemoyne, PA / tastealotta.com
Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.