These days, invading a foreign country to extract oil is a pretty unpopular maneuver.

But how else can you find something rich to dip your bread into?

Import. With the help of Annona Gourmet.

You would never guess that within the metal canteens decorating this little butter-yellow store lie tinges of Tuscan sunlight, traces of Australian grasslands, whisps of Chilean heat.

Owner Jean Rarick will lead you around the world in 80 seconds with an impromptu tasting session of any of her 22 extra virgin olive oils or nine balsamic vinegars. Our most divine pairing? The Australian Pich oline olive oil ($14.25/375mL, $27/750mL), with buttery notes of tomato and fresh-cut grass and a tickle of pepper at the end, mixed with the Traditional Balsamic ($16/375mL, $30/750mL), aged 18 years in Modena. You can practically taste the zingy mixture drizzled across a caprese salad.

We felt like we were back in Italy, sucking back flavors hot off the olive oil press on a farm right outside of Florence like we did last summer.

Rarick's products have that effect and she can explain why. Those extra virgin types you buy at the grocery store take oils from Tuscany, California, Spain, slosh 'em together and bottle them up to sit on a shelf. Whereas each of Rarick's oils have a single source of origin, giving each distinguished notes and flavors, and she bottles them right in front of you. (The store is named after the Roman goddess of the harvest.)

We recommend kicking your summer fish fry into high gear. Steep cedar-planked salmon or flaky halibut with sweet peach white vinegar ($14.50/375mL, $27/750mL) for a sweet tang and sizzle up tiger prawns with the Persian lime-infused olive oil ($15.25/375mL, $28/750mL) for some serious Southern citrus zest.

With flavors this full of ambiance, you just may find yourself on a villa balcony, soaking in the Tuscan rays, smiling at your Italian date and breaking bread...

Now there's a cause everyone can get behind.

Annona Gourmet, 2907 Pentagon Dr, St. Anthony, two bottle sampler ($8.50) and four bottle sampler ($13.75) with your choice of oils and/or vinegars.

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