Chef Dave Andersen of Taste the Olive in Landfall Center now has a new chef on staff, Meri Serpillo, a longtime friend with an extensive background in Italian cuisine.
 
“She reached out to me at the perfect time,” Andersen said. “I’m at the point now where I couldn’t do everything myself, and having her on board will allow me to expand our class offerings and continue to grow the business.”
 
Serpillo learned to cook the old-fashioned Italian way from her mother and grandmother. She began waiting tables in her family's restaurant in downtown Florence, Italy, when she was just 14 years old. Serpillo also spent her summer months working at seafood restaurants on Italian beaches, where she mastered the art of preparing fresh fish and seafood. She will be teaching cooking classes and hosting events alongside Andersen.
 
One of the first classes Serpillo (pictured above) will be teaching is a pizza-making class, followed by a tour of the Mediterranean later this month, featuring hummus, baba ghannouj, taziki, falafel and chicken kabobs. Andersen will host a wine and cheese pairing class, as well as a class featuring all things pumpkin. A full list of events is available on Taste the Olive's website.
 
Andersen said he has continued to expand Taste the Olive’s wine selection, and offers membership to a wine club where members pay $50 a month for one bottle of red and one bottle of white, as well as an additional product from the store and a recipe to go along with it. Wine club membership also includes a monthly pick-up party with free tastings and appetizers, as well as discounts on special orders and in-store events and classes.
 
Beginning this week, Taste the Olive, in Unit BB at 1319 Military Cutoff Road, will be carrying a variety of cheeses, all pre-packaged for quick and easy shopping. They will also carry a selection of pre-packaged charcuterie. 
 
Holiday hours are now in effect: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
 
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