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| Savor by Anneliese Doyle Whether you’re in search of something you once tasted abroad or just browsing for something new, Savor Specialty Foods in Buckhead is bound to carry it. Whole figs in syrup, hibiscus-flavored sea salt from Portugal, Provencal mustard pots, and those coveted honeycombs from the Savannah Bee Company line the shelves of Atlanta’s newest purveyor of fine foods, tabletop accents, and luxury gift baskets. Husband and wife team Ren Hodgson and January Johnson-Hodgson opened Savor last December to bring unique, inspiring products to Atlanta. “It’s everything we use, it’s the lifestyle we want to have,” says January. The couple has a passion for exploring the world’s bounty. January has lived in Ireland, France, and Kentucky, and Ren traveled the globe during his prior career as a hydro geologist based in San Francisco. They each fell in love with the good food and authentic products they encountered during their travels. The couple cooks almost every night at home, tasting and experimenting with products before they approve them for Savor’s shelves. The shop’s motto is, “Food should be extraordinary,” so hand-picking each product is critical. Savor has a great aesthetic. Their tabletop selection is fantastic, with glassware ranging from martini glasses to casual tumblers. Tableware such as Lindt Stymeist, one of January’s favorites, is stylish but not lavishly over-the-top. “They’re so organic looking that you can dress them up or down,” she says about the collection. The shop’s style is elegant, filled with remarkable products that may be gourmet or imported, yet they are all everyday items that can be used comfortably with guests or given as a unique gift. Handmade, hand painted home accents blend well with casual, reasonably priced items and boutique goods like apricot-lychee scented candles. Gastronomy-themed antiques, including etched plates of citrus fruits from the 1600’s and a charming, wooden Epernay Champagne riddling rack from France really make Savor exceptional. Vintage maps of Puglia, Italy and France are at home beside the marvelous furniture - an Italian farmhouse table, a 1900’s French buffet, and antique reclaimed pine cabinets, made to order with distressed, rubbed finishes. Savor specializes in custom gift baskets, with great themes like ‘Italian Pantry’ (filled will balsamic vinegar, Puttanesca marinara, handmade pastas, Sicilian extra virgin olive oils), the ‘Gentlemen’s’ leather-bound basket (filled with a martini shaker and glasses, cocktail napkins, olives, chocolate truffles), and the ‘Market in Provence’ basket (brimming with French mustards, honeys, olive oils, vinegars, and herbs.) Those engrossed in the Southern phenomenon of picnicking will go gaga for her selection of picnic ware – everything from exquisite baskets filled with bone china to more casual backpacks filled with durable plastic ware. It’s the knowledgeable staff factor that makes Savor stand out. January can point out which olive oils have been grown on the same estate for hundreds of years, she can teach you how to mix up the antiques with new pieces, and she knows which bottled marinades will help you create a gourmet meal at home. She can make it all work, from the cheese course to tea service to chocolate truffles. Nearly seven years at a retail gourmet shop in Kentucky polished her skills, from buying to merchandising to display. The shop is expanding into the adjacent retail space, soon tripling its floor space. A European-style cheese case will be introduced in the coming months. Expect to see fine cheeses, olives, coffee, and even more indispensable kitchen basics like Microplaners, oven thermometers, and kitchen twine. Savor carries the usual gourmet suspects such as The Republic of Tea, Stonewall Kitchen, and Carr’s, but the selected fine teas, honeys, cookies, savory crackers, vinegars, cocktail fare, grilling sauces, marinades, pastas, marinaras, jams, soup mixes, and extra virgin estate olive oils are the shop’s specialty. “We taste every single thing before we buy it,” says Ren. Items like goat cheese and olive vinaigrette from LuLu’s restaurant in San Francisco are surely hand-selected from this long-time Californian who has returned home to Atlanta. Ren put his suits in the attic when he retired from hydro geology, now pursuing Savor full-time with January. He bustles around the shop in jeans, clogs, and an Oxford shirt while January puts the finishing touches on displays, wearing a jean jacket, a flowing skirt, and sandals. The two are so welcoming that it’s easy to strike up a conversation about the handmade chocolates or the vintage kitchen equipment on display. And that’s when you find out just how excited they are by the shop. Located beside The Plantation Shop just off the Roswell-Peachtree intersection, Savor is well-suited for Saturday afternoon antique and gift shopping. The inspiration for Savor was “the kind of shop that you stumble across in Paris.” Although it’s a long way from France, you’ll be just as charmed here on Roswell Road. Visit Savor at 3187 Roswell Road, Atlanta, (404) 869-0070. |
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| From top: Assorted products and specialty foods from Savor; Including a great selection of imported table wares. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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