Branching Out

sample extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

“I called my Yorkie my ‘VP of sales’; he drew them in, and I sold them.”

Te selling part is a lot easier these days, thanks, in part, to the cooking classes, which have gained a loyal following. Te majority of those at January’s class had been there before; one couple were attending their 13th straight month of classes.

Before and afer class, many spend time in the retail shop.

“A lot of them want to buy something that was used in the class and then when they are in here, they’ll say, ‘Oh, you’ve got chocolate-covered pecans. Let’s get some of those too,’ ” says Utgaard.

Tere’s no doubt in his mind that the move to South Ashland was a good one. “Our business has grown a lot just by moving in to the Ashland Avenue building and having the cooking classes on-site.” KM