Most couples head to the South of France for romance. And on a trip there a few years back, retail consultant Didem Tapban and her husband certainly found it–with the olives growing there. “We are in love with the tree, the fruit, everything about it,” she says. So inspired, they’ve just opened the first American franchise of Ta-ze, a Izmir, Turkey-based olive specialty shop. Her store reveres cold-pressed, early harvest extra virgin olive oil like wine connoisseurs revere Beaujolais Nouveau. Their best seller so far is the Erkence ($19.50/500 mL), a special October-harvest oil from the Aegean coast. “Rich, tasteful, with a pepper finish,” Tapban says. Also check out their line of imported fancy olives ($7-$11.50),
100 percent olive oil soaps ($7.50) and line kitchen accessories. 520 N. Michigan Ave. Third floor, 312-527-2576.