Minding Your Business- Gustare Gourmet

“Gustare in Italian means to taste, to enjoy, to savor,” said Dave Ferraresi, who owns Gustare in Chatham with his wife Catherine. “Our objective was basically that you came in and tasted, enjoyed your experience and then savored your selections.”

For 17 years, Dave and Catherine have been introducing customers to new flavors while building Gustare into much more than just an olive oil and vinegar shop. The legendary Chatham business began in 2009 as Gustare Oils and Vinegars and was inspired in part by the Ferraresis’ 10 year stint living in Europe. There, shopping for food was often an experience where customers tasted products, talked about what was fresh and brought home ingredients they were excited to use.

Gustare’s original Chatham location operated as a tasting room, where customers could sample olive oils and vinegars before choosing what they wanted to buy. At the time the concept was still very unfamiliar in New England, and especially Cape Cod.

“We were the first ones in New England that had a tasting room,” Dave proudly said.

While in-store tasting had always been central to Gustare, the COVID-19 pandemic really ramped up their online shipping and very popular curbside operation (which is still available today). 

Gustare has more than 11,000 active customers in its loyalty program and ships their items to customers around the country. The loyalty program gives customers one point for every dollar spent with a $25 reward earned at the 250 points mark.

But whether someone shops online, over the phone or in person, Dave and Catherine still emphasize personal service and how much Gustare values the shopping experience.

Dave, who previously worked for 3M, notes the company’s emphasis on “customer delight” rather than simply customer satisfaction. And you genuinely feel Dave and Catherine’s positive vibes the minute you meet them in the shop. The pair are so warm and welcoming, with an incredible passion for what they do.

Now positioned as Gustare Gourmet, the shop offers ample parking and carries specialty foods, including olives, tapenades, nut butters, local honey and other products the Ferraresis seek out because customers aren’t likely to find them everywhere else on Cape Cod.

“We truly want to be unique,” Catherine said.

One of Gustare’s newest additions is Legù, an Italian line of vegan and gluten-free foods made from legumes. The connection came through one of Dave’s former colleagues in Italy, who introduced the Ferraresis to the company.

One incredible fact about Gustare is that Catherine has created more than 200 recipes available online, and products and materials in the store include QR codes directing customers to recipes and preparation ideas. This element makes the shopping experience truly next level at Gustare. 

The couple has also made community involvement an important part of Gustare’s identity. They said the business donates as much as 10 percent of its profits annually with an emphasis on health and human services and food insecurity. Dave serves on the board of the Family Table Collaborative and Gustare supplies olive oil used in the organization’s prepared meals. The nonprofit works with community partners to distribute nutritious meals to Cape Cod residents in need.

The Ferraresis are also involved with an upcoming screening of “Marcella,” a documentary about legendary Italian cookbook author Marcella Hazan. The event which takes place Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chatham Orpheum Theater will support the Family Table Collaborative and Cape Cod Regional Technical High School’s culinary program.

What started as a cool local concept centered around tasting olive oil has grown into a specialty gourmet market and a place built around conversation and personal connection. This is what makes Gustare such a special gem in Chatham and beyond for so many people.

DETAILS:

Gustare Gourmet

400 Main St., Chatham

508-945-4505

Open daily 10 a.m. to  5 p.m.