When I first heard about Motts Oils & More in downtown Wooster, Ohio, I was intrigued. A store with specialty vinegars and oils. It sounded like a place that Bobby would like to go. He came home from covering the Small Business Saturday event in November saying he had visited the store. (He covered the event for a story in The Daily Record.) He said that you could taste all kinds of vinegars and oils. That sounded a little strange. Not sure how one goes about “tasting” oils or vinegars. I mean it isn’t wine–although I don’t really know how you go about tasting wine either, because I don’t drink.
Well, I got my chance to get an up-close and personal experience at Motts taste testing this past December. Bobby and I were taking a “stay-cation” and playing tourists in our own town of Wooster, Ohio. We decided to visit several different downtown establishments during our “trip,” with Motts being one of them.
When you walk into the store you are surrounded by shelves of these silver canisters (for lack of a better word). In each of the canisters is a different flavor of vinegar or oil. Thankfully we had owner, Charlene Moore, explaining the different options to us. First of all, I had to try their classic balsamic vinegar that is aged for 16 years. I was given this little plastic cup to sample. I took a sip. It was really good! I was hooked.
Charlene gave us explanations of the vinegars and oils. She suggested different pairings, like a spice infused extra virgin olive oil mixed with a vinegar which makes a great salad dressing. There were balsamic vinegars infused with different types of fruit like lemon and peach. There was one with coconut and one espresso. I didn’t try those, but Bobby did. He loved them all.
After a we were done sampling the many different vinegars and oils, we decided to purchase some as gifts for our family and ourselves. We got the lemon infused vinegar for our brother-in-law, Shaun. We got a garlic infused oil for my dad. Of course we purchased a couple for us. I had to get the classic balsamic vinegar and then we got a tuscan infused oil as well.
This store is just one example of the specialty shops you can find in downtown Wooster. What is nice about doing “touristy” things close to home, is that you don’t have to do everything in one day. Also, it is not a big deal to revisit stores you enjoyed the first time. That being said, I’m sure to grace the doors of Motts again. I’m pretty sure I’ll need to taste some of my favorites and try a couple of new ones, too!
