Harbour Hatties
Celebrate 4th Anniversary
with
Sapore della Vita Luncheon

Forty eight ladies joined to hear Kristine Insalaco tell about her Italian imported olive oil business – Sapore della Vita.  Some of the women had enjoyed her presentation at the “Recipe for Happiness” charity program, so Cathy Faust invited Kristine to share both her story and her treats with the group.  She presented a lovely array from appetizers to desserts that all can be served with or were made with her various olive oils. 

We enjoyed the basic EVOO, Lemon, Rosemary, White Truffle and Chili varieties with a chicken breast topped with pesto and dried tomato, a tomato and cheese caprese, a cheese stuffed fig wrapped in prosciutto ham, a large shrimp, a chocolate brownie and delicious cake.  It was beautifully presented on a lovely tray for the eight ladies at each table, that were set with lace placemats, Italian napkins, and pretty green, red and white streamers.

The mission of the company is to provide a product of the highest quality both in taste and passion from artisans who grow the light green olives in Spoleto, Italy.  It takes 40 years for an olive tree to become an “adult.”   When the olives are harvested they must reach the mill within 24 hours.  Most are shaken from the trees, not picked. 

A Mediterranean diet that uses monounsaturated olive oil helps lower LDL(the bad) cholesterol and helps raise HDL (the good) cholesterol.  She stressed that the healthy eating style in Italy is to enjoy simple fresh foods with olive oil, mentioning that in America we often combine so many flavors that they all lose their individuality.  She also shared many ways olive oil can be used as a beauty product; just one of the ways is for lubricating dry skin on hands and feet.  

Her story is an interesting one!  Three years ago in August she met Fabio Gaioni, her business partner now, who at that time was in the U.S. filming a documentary on manatees in Sarasota.  He was to continue further filming in Egypt and Cozumel.  During his brief stay here he met her parents who approved of him.  When he came back three months later in November they both knew there was something special between them.  But they lived on opposite sides of the world!  How could a relationship grow? 

In January she visited him in Italy and met his family where she was introduced to good olive oil.  She brought some back to share with her family.  They all loved good food and now they all loved that wonderful olive oil from Italy.  So the answer was to share a business.  Fabio continues to live in Italy and Kristine is here in Florida but every 2 to 3 months he comes here and every 5 months she goes there.  The business has grown and so has the relationship, proving that absence can make the heart grow fonder!

You can find information about their products and even order them online at their website,
www.SaporeDellaVita.com

You can contact Kristine by e-mail in English at Kristine@saporedellavitaonline.com or Fabio in Italian at Fabio@saporedellavitaonline.com  

As wonderful as the meeting, presentation and luncheon were, it was quite bittersweet.  Cathy Faust who has been the leader for forty-five months of the forty-eight month life of the Harbour Hatties was stepping down.  She is a dynamo and has organizational and leadership skills which have made all she touches very successful. 

The Harbour Hatties know this and bid her a sad farewell as leader but they also know she will be a member in good standing and always ready to suggest and help, when needed.  Cathy was presented with a three-day gift certificate to a lovely bed and breakfast in Savannah, Georgia –which, we learned,  is one of her favorite cities.  She was also given spending money – the Harbour Hatties were generous, as always, but especially so to a very lovely and giving lady.  You are saluted and loved, dear Cathy, for giving so willingly,  so much of yourself to our organization.  You will be sorely missed.