"One of my first food memories was of olives," Prey says, sitting on a bench by the single cash register. "I was four years old, and my mom was pregnant with my sister and craved salt. We'd sit on the couch and watch soap operas, and eat green olives. When the olives ran out, we'd drink the juice."
Prey's mother introduced her not only to the taste of olives, but also to the smell of olive oil. She savored her mother's and grandmother's cooking, and counts these memories as her earliest inspiration for her eventual occupation.
Prey left the lab in January 2007 and prepared to open her new store in downtown Clayton. In order to educate herself about olive oil, she enrolled in an intensive two-day session at the University of California, Davis Extension School.The class covered everything from the anatomy of taste to the economics of olive farming, giving Prey a good foundation for her future business.
"I took the class to see if I could make a distinction between flavors, so I could help customers," Prey explains. "As part of the class, we tasted about fifty different oils. Given my background in science, I wanted to make sure I had a good, strong knowledge of olive oil that I could carry over into retail."
Prey's olive expertise is apparent. The store carries more than 30 different types of extra virgin olive oil alone, in addition to 20 varieties of flavored oils and 30 different vinegars. The store's diversity of products sets it apart from many retailers, Prey says, as other olive-oil stores in the United States focus more on a single type of oil.
After four years of attending conferences and gaining product knowledge, Prey has expanded her store to include not only oils and vinegars, but also products that are directly connected to olive oil. Her shelves are stocked with Italian pastas, Israeli honey made with olive oil, Polish serving platters, and ceramics and glass from local artists.
"We easily have three times the volume of product, in terms of the number of items, breadth and scope," Prey says. "When I look back on photos from when we first opened, the store looks so empty."
Despite her vast assortment of products, it is clear that Prey's true passion lies in oils. She proudly displays her collection of extra-virgin olive oils to the side of the cash register, with small tasting cups available for sampling. She seems completely at ease discussing the product, but says that it took time to be able to distinguish between the oils.
Prey hopes to grow her business in the upcoming years and be seen as a "go-to" resource for cooks throughout the area. When asked about her proudest professional moment, she reflects and then responds with a smile.
"It's not just one moment -- it happens over and over. People are new to the store and leave here thanking us for such a great experience."
Check back tomorrow for a recipe from Marianne Prey.
