8/12/2008 1 photo

Today, whilst wandering around the neighbourhood during a break from a temp posting, I stumbled upon this electrician-cum-boutique olive oil producer. Smoking a cigarette and reading the card posted to the door an old man exited and insisted quite quietly that I pop inside for a sample. I smiled politely and thanked him for his endorsement. I was already intrigued. Electrician? Boutique olive oil? Surely this is the stuff of good London city stories!

Made short, the experience was wholly gratifying. The proprietor - inheritor and rejevenator of family plots in Cypress and in Turkey - enthusiastically took me through his history, his growing region, his products, and at my urging his distribution model (I'm something of a  nerd), all in under ten minutes. I tasted oil from his Cypriot groves and from his Turkish groves (Cypriot - astonishingly light; Turkish - spicy aftertaste), as well as some of his olives.

Though my pockets were empty at the time I will be returning as soon as possible to stock up on his goods and share them with my family and friends. This is exactly what local businesses are brilliant for.

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