It's Friday. You've got guests coming for dinner, and you've planned an exquisite Mediterranean feast guaranteed to leave a memorable impression. Everything's in order until you realize you're all out of olive oil. Or maybe, it's Thursday. You've had a long day and you want to make a simple pasta dish that the kids will eat, yet with ingredients that will inspire you to light candles for you and your hubbie. No worries. The solution is as simple as a quick run to Canyon Gourmet, where you will find everything you need for your evening's dining pleasure.
Torie Schuster brings gourmet foods to the delight of canyon foodies.
Canyon Gourmet is a boutique for the epicure. Every item is chosen by owner, Torie Schuster from her seven years of experience as a private chef. Walk into the store and visit the tasting table set with oils, salts, cheese and crackers, inspiring Topangans to "try and buy." You can get happily lost as you sample award winning olive oils, garlic avocado oil, and the pungent walnut oil. Did you know that the finest olive oils smell like freshly mown grass?
You will also find more varieties of salt than you've ever imagined. Gone are the bland old days of table salt in a blue wrapper. We now have the option of Salish, a dark, rich sea salt smoked in red alderwood, Alaea, a red clay sea salt from Hawaii, and many others, each with its own distinct flavor, texture and optimal uses. "People take salt for granted," says Schuster, "but some of these are so amazing, so pure. They make food taste much better."
Cheese selections include both local and imported varieties, including gourmet staple Saint Agur and a raw bleu cheese. A friend of Schuster's from culinary school provides fresh baked breads Friday through Sunday. Come early. They sell out.
Schuster, daughter of 40-year residents, Larry and Shelly Coulson, grew up in Topanga, and presently resides in Santa Monica with her husband. She defines 'gourmet' as "the quality of the ingredients and the passion that goes into making them." Schuster is passionate about every product she carries. You can find her behind the counter full time, where she happily gives free culinary advice, and can whip up a beautiful gift basket for anywhere from $20 - $200.
Schuster also carries treats for children of all ages, from cinnamon sugar butter for your morning dessert toast to an arsenal of gourmet milk and dark chocolates. Some of the items are recognizable and can be found at Whole Foods or gourmet stores in town, but many cannot. And why go further than Pine Tree Circle when you can stay local and get such expert service? "I'll get out a pencil and write down a recipe and put it in their bag when they go" says Schuster. "That's what I want to do."
The store opened on November 3 and already has a following. A grand opening is being planned once the wine stock increases.
Canyon Gourmet is located in Pine Tree Circle. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Phone (310) 455-4200.