It was a long train ride back to Santa Barbara and Ann Addis had
plenty of time to think. September 11 had proved to be a
less-than-fortunate time to take a business trip to New York City.
It was a major turning point that helped her transition out of a
travel-heavy job managing language schools around the world. She
had already been dreaming for years of opening her own business and
now the time was ripe.
Addis’s global travels, particularly in Europe, fueled her
passion for eclectic gourmet delicacies. The bountiful markets and
imaginatively stocked corner stores catered to her love of fresh
cooking. Tired of being let down upon returning home, she decided
to take matters into her own hands. Ann and her husband, Craig,
serendipitously spotted a blip in the paper mentioning a new
Yanonali Street development that planned to include a corner
store.
They called the developer, asked to buy the store, and just like
that, Metropulos (Ann’s maiden name) was born. The couple has
clearly had fun bringing their vision to life. The charming shop is
filled with a wide array of specialty products rarely seen anywhere
else. Highlights include the vast selection of olive oils available
for sampling, tinned fish, olives (check out the “Obregon”), and
more than 100 cheeses. The small yet cleverly stocked wine alcove
is bound to offer a nice complement for any purchase.
Led by the ever-cheerful Addis couple, the Metropulos staff
seems like a family. Artisanal sandwiches reflect their fun,
creative approach and are always made with fresh bread from
D’Angelo’s. They recently started serving breakfast, too. From
their rotating selection of prepared foods and salads, the recipe
below is a simple but sumptuous springtime side dish anyone would
love.
Broccoli Salad (Serves 4) ¼c. white vinegar ¼ c. sugar ¼ c.
mayonnaise 1 bunch broccoli crowns, chopped ¼ c. toasted pine nuts
¼ c. diced red onion ¼ c. crispy crumbled bacon Whisk together
vinegar, sugar, and mayonnaise. Mix in remaining ingredients.
4·1·1 Metropulos Fine Foods Merchant 216 E.
Yanonali St. metrofinefoods.com. 899-2300