Discovering the World of Flavor: A Conversation with Kim Lodwich of Press For Oil
Nestled in the heart of historic downtown Ashland, Oregon, Press For Oil is more than just a specialty store—it’s an invitation to experience the flavors of the world. Located near the Plaza at 60 E. Main Street, this unique destination offers an incredible tasting experience featuring ultra premium extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars sourced from Italy, Spain, Chile, Tunisia, and Australia, among other exotic locales. Customers are encouraged to “Try Before You Buy,” ensuring they leave with flavors that excite their taste buds. In addition to oils and vinegars, Press For Oil features an array of specialty items, from sea salts to pastas as well as carrying products from local artisans such as Inspired Leaf Teas, The Bee Store, Holm Toffee, Wildwood Chocolates, and wines from some favorite local wineries. Join us as Kim Lodwich, the passionate owner behind Press For Oil, shares her story, her inspirations, and the secrets behind her culinary haven.
Hi Kim, thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me today in the LocalsGuide.
Thank you Shields! It has been so fun chatting with you and honestly, I never get tired of sharing my story on how Press for Oil came to be.
To begin with, what first inspired you to create Press For Oil, and how did your journey in specialty foods begin?
This is going to sound like a strange beginning but it was a homeless cat that put me on the eventual path to Ashland and the creation of Press For Oil.
I usually summarize the story quite a bit but since we are telling the tale, the story actually began about 10 years ago.
I had been living in a condo complex in California for a few years when one night I heard a strange noise outside, which I now know is the sound of meowing. There was this hungry kitty which I started feeding and continued to feed for the next 4 years, whom I named Chester.
Over time my little friend became less fearful of humans and little did I know, he started branching out to the neighbors for additional kibbles and bits.
One day, about 4 years later, there was a knock on my door. It was Sharon, though to me at that time she was a complete stranger. Sharon inquired about Chester saying he had been spending a lot of time on her porch, which was just a few buildings away. Though I felt a little betrayal on Chester’s part, as I had religiously fed him for 4 years, I could understand him wanting to raise the bar and find a nice place to call his own. I told Sharon that technically he wasn’t my cat even though the complex seemed to think he was.
Sharon’s original plan was to take him to a shelter and though I was a bit sad to lose my Chester, I thought it was the best for him, giving him the chance of finding a forever home. A few days later, that dream had come true for little Chester as Sharon had decided she couldn’t give him up. He found a forever home.
Sharon was nice enough to come over and let me know she had decided to adopt Chester and that I could come over and visit anytime I wanted and so I did.
As the next few years had progressed, Sharon and I had both begun talking about leaving the Bay Area as it was time. We were both leaning in different directions until Sharon brought up the idea about an olive oil and balsamic store. I thought it sounded crazy and dismissed her idea. A year later, we were both still in the Bay Area still deciding on the locations of our new forever homes and the idea of an olive oil store was brought up again and this time I didn’t think it sounded so crazy, as I had started using extra virgin olive oils and they were a game changer for me in my everyday cooking.
I was ready for a new adventure and something creative! I have been an accountant my entire adult life and I always say, accounting isn’t that creative, unless you are doing something you shouldn’t be doing!
The wheels were in motion! If anyone knows me, they know that once an idea is in my head, it’s full steam ahead!
The next big decision, minus how this was going to come to be, but where it was going to come to be. We both loved the West Coast but were ready to leave the Bay Area, and we decided to take a road trip to Oregon. We ended up in Ashland at about 1:30am one weekend and I couldn’t believe how many deer were meandering in the middle of the road. I loved that! The next morning, when I woke up and opened the curtains, I was completely taken aback with the beauty of Ashland and the surrounding mountain views. In just 2 days, I fell in love with Ashland, its charm, the kindhearted people I had met and Ashland’s absolute beauty. My decision was made. A year later I was living in Oregon and 6 months later, Press For Oil became a reality. What a fantastic creative adventure that was setting up shop. Though Sharon and I parted ways almost immediately, that cat, Chester, will forever be a part of my heart and the Press for Oil logo. Because he happened into my life and the subsequent events that followed, I took a leap of faith and I now live in the beautiful PNW and was fortunate enough to create a beautiful boutique olive oil & balsamic vinegar store that is lovelier than I ever imagined.
That’s a long answer but I hope it answered your question.
Your store is located in the heart of historic downtown Ashland. How has this location been the perfect choice for your business?
Ashland has so much to offer tourists as well as locals that it makes it such a fabulous town to be located in. Between the theaters, parks, wineries, skiing, hiking, restaurants and shopping, why wouldn’t you want to spend time in Ashland? Oregonians are fanatically supportive of their local artisans and businesses as well. It’s just so much fun to be a part of.
Press For Oil features olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world, including Italy, Spain, Chile, and Australia. How do you ensure the quality and authenticity of your products?
One of the things I am most proud of is the quality of the products I sell. The products do come from all over the world and are tested at a site in Winters, California for their quality and authenticity before they are received and bottled in my store.
Last October I attended a 3 day class on continuing education for the store owners in Winters, CA. What an educational experience having a few of the olive growers from Australia, Chile and Portugal attend and listen to them speak about their farms and processes. On our last day, we went on a tour of that olive farm in Winters and we saw the olive oil process in action. Minus the land and equipment needed, it’s a relatively simple process. What I didn’t realize and what I learned at this class was that there is actually a small pocket of olive oil in each olive and that is what is extracted and used, not the entire olive. During that tour, we were also taken through the lab where all of the olive oils are tested and it is quite the chemistry process, which I will gladly leave to them. The finale, a sample of freshly pressed and finished extra virgin olive oil. What a treat!!
The “Try Before You Buy” experience is a unique feature of your store. Can you share how this concept enhances the customer experience?
Customers love the fact that they can try the products before they buy them and how can you blame them. Food shopping is so expensive and it’s hard to want to buy something new if you don’t already know what it tastes like. One of my favorite things about being in the store is hearing customer responses after tasting the products. Some of the comments really make me laugh. I believe for a small store like mine, it’s important that people have a unique experience which will likely bring them back. Being able to try any and all of the olive oils & vinegars and mixing & matching is all part of that unique experience.
These are not just oils to use for the holidays–these are everyday oils. Please say more.
Extra virgin olive oils can and should be used in everyday cooking. I can’t deny that I am a bit of a garlic fan so my go-to olive oils are my Tuscan Herb, Garlic & Ginger & Black Garlic olive oils. I use them on chicken, vegetables, bread and one of my favorite uses is as a homemade pizza base. These oils can be added to any types of meats or seafoods, veggies, bread dip or for garlic bread. If you are interested in something a bit lighter we also carry Lemon, Orange or Persian Lime olive oil and they are lovely on salads as well as chicken or veggies. Any of these oils, and there are about 30 to choose from, can be used when sauteing, grilling, broiling, included in a crockpot dish or even as a finishing oil. Extra virgin olive oil is much healthier for you than butter or other types of oils and the flavors absolutely enhance any meal.
Beyond olive oils and balsamic vinegars, your store offers a variety of specialty items like sea salts, spices, and teas, even wines. What are some of your favorite products and why?
The olive oils & balsamics vinegars are my favorite items but I have met some fabulous local artisans and absolutely love carrying their products as well. I was introduced to Holm Toffee & Inspired Leaf Teas, both from Bend, at the Chocolate Festival several years back and fell in love with their products and am so excited to continue to sell them in my store. I was introduced to Wildwood Chocolates, a Portland-based company, by a customer a while back. He had come into my shop to place an order to ship to his daughter and asked if he could add a chocolate bar. It was honestly the prettiest chocolate bar I had ever seen, with dried strawberries & raspberries with dark chocolate. I asked where the chocolate came from and he told me Wildwood Chocolate in Portland.
He said it was the best chocolate he had ever had. That was it, I needed to get that in my store and I now sell several of their beautiful chocolate bars. I call them “designer” chocolate bars because they are just so pretty but very edible. Since I have become a huge fan of Oregon wines, I have added a wall of local wine as well in my store to be able to carry some of my favorite local wines from Talent, Medford/Jacksonville & White City.
Kim, what are some of the most unique or popular flavor combinations customers have come to enjoy?
Tuscan Herb, which is a blend of Garlic, Rosemary & Marjoram – pairs well with Pomegranate or Raspberry Balsamic
Wild Mushroom and Sage – pairs well with Peach Balsamic
Orange Oil – pairs well with Chocolate or Espresso or Blueberry Balsamic
Garlic – pairs well with Strawberry Balsamic
Lemon Oil – pairs well with Blackberry Ginger, Peach, Elderberry, Black Cherry and really almost any other balsamic
Can you tell us about the difference between the different olive oil grades and what we should be looking for in choosing a great oil?
Extra-virgin olive oil is the highest-quality olive oil. It is an unrefined oil, which means it is made by cold-pressing whole olives without any additional heat or chemicals. Extra virgin olive oil is a great source of antioxidant compounds.
Olive oil or pure olive oil is acombination of refined olive oil and extra-virgin. Refined means that the oil has undergone additional processing to neutralize any defects in taste, aroma or acidity.
Light and extra-light olive oils have the same monounsaturated fat and caloric content as olive oil. Here, light means the blend of refined and extra-virgin oils leans heavily toward refined, so the color, aroma and flavor are lighter relative to the other olive oils.
What are some of the health benefits of both olive oil and balsamic vinegar?
Studies have shown that extra virgin olive oil has loads of benefits, but high-polyphenol extra virgin olive oil is at the top of the list when it comes to combating chronic diseases and other health issues. Research suggests that polyphenol-rich olive oils may help lower cholesterol levels, reduce heart disease risk, lower blood pressure, improve cognitive function, support mental health, reduce inflammation, reduce diabetes risk, help fight cancer, improve gut health, aid in weight loss & much more.
Balsamic vinegar has several health benefits as well. These include improving skin health, reducing blood sugar levels, aiding digestion, lowering cholesterol levels, weight loss, reducing hypertension & relieving congestion.
Kim, what do you enjoy doing in your time and off?
When I get time off, you can generally find me either hiking, at a winery or at the beach with my friends and our dogs. My dog, Bella, is a rescue from Taiwan. Rescuing a dog from Taiwan wasn’t my plan but it’s what happened. She has been with me for 7 years and she is the sweetest dog in the world but also the most skittish dog. She is also one of the reasons I needed to leave the Bay Area. She loves Oregon and going on hikes and the beach is her favorite place on the planet, so we spend a lot of time at those places. Her best friend is Harley, her Golden Retriever bestie.
My free time basically revolves around my dog’s happiness and a little wine for mom with friends.
Ashland is truly a magical space. What are some of the favorite parts you enjoy?
One of my favorite places to go in Ashland is the Cabaret Theater. The plays are always spectacular and I love the dinner theater experience.
The restaurants never disappoint and Lithia Park is just beautiful!
Being involved in the community is important to you.
When I opened the store, I wanted to fit in and be part of the community. This was a new experience for me and I wasn’t sure how to go about doing that and I was simply overjoyed at how welcoming so many people were. I have met so many wonderful individuals I now call friends. The invitations have also started rolling in to partake at events and shows and holiday fairs and I’m excited to announce that I will be at the Chocolate Festival this coming March. My first time there as a vendor.
Looking ahead, are there any exciting plans or new offerings in the works for Press For Oil?
I will always be thinking about new ideas and ways to promote Press For Oil. In 2025 I will be participating in 8-10 festivals which will be posted on our Facebook page so like us on Facebook for those announcements. We will be continuing with our 1st Friday music and wine events starting in March. I have recently started selling some products at Roxy Ann Winery in Medford so as to start engaging more Medford peeps. I have a booth at the Collaborative Theater in Medford & I donate 20% of any proceeds sold back to the theater as a donation. Other ideas are in the beginning stages so I can’t mention them just yet but always wheels in motion!
When are the best times to visit?
Best time to visit is when I am open: Tues-Sat 11:00-6:00 & Sunday 11:00-5:00.
We will have winter hours for January & February which will be Tues-Sun 11:00-5:00.
Learn More:
Press For Oil
60 E Main St, Ashland, OR
(541) 625-9225
