THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9502280088
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
MORE THAN ONCE, Mike Adams and his wife, Smithfield veterinarian Dr. Kate Bouvier, have had to scrap plans to cook an exotic dinner because the local grocery stores didn't stock all the recipe's ingredients.
``Kate likes to cook gourmet meals,'' says Adams, who works for a Virginia Beach food brokerage firm. ``There have been plenty of times we have had recipes we wanted to prepare but didn't because we couldn't find the spices without making a special trip to Newport News.''
So the Carrollton man has taken advantage of this disadvantage: On Thursday he plans to open his own specialty food store, Bon Vivant Gourmet Market, at 1504 S. Church St.
Bon Vivant will carry dozens of herbs and spices, sold in bins so customers can buy as little or much as they need. Adams will offer dried herbs grown organically in Iowa and fresh herbs grown locally.
In one corner of the tiny but airy store are bins stocked with both traditional and flavored coffees roasted fresh in Norfolk and scheduled to be delivered several times a week to Bon Vivant. Customers can take home the beans or grind them in the store.
Shoppers also will find a variety of imported wines and micro-brewed beers in Bon Vivant. Some of the beers are imported, but most are produced at micro-breweries in Virginia and nearby states.
``Once people get used to buying spices in bulk, they will be amazed at the money they will be able to save,'' Adams said in a recent interview. ``. . . And the spices that are used will taste fresher.''
The market also will carry a variety of gourmet foods, including rices, pastas, salad dressings, cookies and teas. It also will custom-design gift baskets stocked with foods, coffees and teas.
Adams says he's confident Bon Vivant will easily find its own niche in Isle of Wight County's grocery market. Of course, competitors do not necessarily concede they can't fill that niche themselves.
Smithfield's Farm Fresh has a large wine department and carries an ``extensive'' line of gourmet foods mixed in with the store's traditional food products, store Manager Harold Penfound said.
``If his store is strictly a gourmet shop, he might handle some product we don't carry,'' Penfound said. ``But if a customer wants a certain product, we can get it for them.''
Adams' strategy is to have it already in stock.
``We are here to give shoppers another choice,'' he said. ``Smithfield is growing up and getting more sophisticated. I think there are a lot of people here who appreciate fine foods and wines but don't want to go across the water for them.
``We have had so many people say how glad they are we're opening. We're going to try to give the people of Smithfield what they want.''
To help do that, Adams said, suggestions and special requests will be welcome. An answering machine will be set up to take messages after business hours. The number to call is 365-0932.
Adams also will place special orders for customers wanting foods that even Bon Vivant doesn't stock. MEMO: Bon Vivant Gourmet Market initially will operate from noon to 7 p.m.
Thursday through Saturdays.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Dr. Kate Bouvier and Mike Adams will open their store Thursday.
by CNB