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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The Smelly Gourmet

Good morning,

Above is another shop in the tourist town of Metamora, Indiana.  Nice looking old home converted to a shop, right?  It was closed the day we were here.  We were here very early in the season so not all of the shops were open in the middle of the week.  I have a feeling many of the shop owners have other jobs and are here mostly on weekends until the height of the tourist season.  I just have to return to get inside and see what is here because the name of the place intrigues me.  Why, you ask?  Check out the name of the place:
"The Smelly Gourmet" is the name.  Hmmm.  Below that it says "Gift Shop European Coffee Bar."  Hmmm, again.  I hope that cat isn't a clue....  I hope the "smelly" reference is to a good "smell."  ;)  I've been in European coffee bars and they have a lovely aroma of coffee and fresh baked goods.

Please stand by and I'll issue a report on the smelliness of this place when we return sometime in the Fall.

All the best,
Lois

PS - I have received a comment from the owner of The Smelly Gourmet who has answered many of the questions asked here.  So, take a look at the comments and you'll find out just what (WHO!) is Smelly!  Thanks, Steve!

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's funny!! Perhaps, they have a kitty that lives there with them. lol Neat looking place. Hope you go back soon. Now we are allll curious!! Have a good weekend!! ...debbie

Jan n Jer said...

Now you really got me wondering...don't forget to let us know when you find out!

Hootin Anni said...

First off, love the Sweet 16 blog post below this...that looks like one fun time had by all!!!

As for the smelly gourmet...I'd like to get inside too. I be it'll be worth the extra trip come Autumn. And I can't wait to see what is inside. The 'shoppe' looks like an old Amish home if you ask me. Am I werid?

Nedra said...

I was thinking they must cook with a lot of garlic. That is a funny title!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Hmmmm - not the most appetizing name for a place but intriguing.

Anonymous said...

What an interesting name! I'd be really curious, too! Can't wait to see what you find out in the Fall. :-)

TexWisGirl said...

i like it! :)

VP said...

Smelly... OK, let's wait for the report!

River Glorious said...

*Standing by*

Diana said...

Interesting! I'm intrigued.
Love Di ♥

Montanagirl said...

Well, keep us posted on that "smelly" place! I'd be curious to know about it.

DeniseinVA said...

It's an intriguing name. At first I thought maybe it sells a selection of cheeses. Whatever it is I hope you get to find out soon.

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

LOLL, one has to wonder about the "Smelly" part. Although in Belgium I tried the world's smelliest cheese and it was a combination of dirty socks, dead cats and decomposing vegetation. Not to my taste...

Michele said...

It will be interesting to find out! Im intrigued!

Nancy said...

Wondering if the cat is a skunk? :) Strange name -- now I'm curious!

Steve said...

Hi Lois,

I saw your blog post and wanted to respond. Let me introduce myself: I am Steve Collier, a.k.a. known as "Smelly" because I am the proprietor of the "Smelly Gourmet" in Metamora along with my wife. I am so sorry we missed you when you visited. We were in fact open that day (see the red & yelllow "open" flag hanging on both signs in your photos- the sign in front, and the smaller sign on the side of the house, and the "open" sign in the window of the front door. The front door also has a smaller sign saying "Use side door" with an arrow pointing to the left. We continue to try to figure out how to make the place look more "open" without going too far in outdoor signage. We are open six days a week, closed only on Mondays, year around (yup, January through December we are open.)

In any case, my wife and I both live upstairs in this house, known as the "Jonathan Banes House", and have our shop on the ground floor, front and back. It is a lifestyle for us, and we love the 167 year old house and our lives in this quaint historic "Mayberry RFD" village. We have been doing business in town for going on nine years now.

When our jobs at a nearby nuclear weapons cleanup site ended in 2003 (I was an environmental engineer, my bride an environmental scientist), with children in high school, we were not going to move to get new jobs. We started doing our hobbies at local craft shows, and eventually wound up renting a storefront in Metamora for those hobbies. She makes bath and body products and home fragrance products (source of the "smelly" part of the name) and I make lots of things including my recycled computer clocks and refrigerator magnets, along with the "best cappuccino this side of the Atlantic" (might find better in Italy- that's where I learned to make it while I lived there for seven years) and gourmet coffee (source of the "gourmet" part of the name). We sell thirteen varieties of gourmet popping corn, most of it raised locally by our family, and I make gourmet grilled cheese panini sandwiches in eleven varieties (smoked sausage grilled cheese, garbage burger grilled cheese, greek, roasted red pepper, bacon-ribeye, etc.) Now, besides the handmade gifts, gourmet coffee/cappuccino, and sandwiches, we just built and opened a single really nice apartment suite for overnight rental (The Banes Suite) in the back of the structure.

As to the "cat" on the sign: It's not a cat, it's a cute skunk- our mascot (we think the name "smelly gourmet" exemplifies "Pepe LePew" of cartoon fame.) We have no real skunk, though we have had a few real ones visit us.

You can see more about us on our website www.SmellyGourmet.com.

We'd love to meet you when you return- we like talking to all our guests/visitors.

Have a great day!

Lois Evensen said...

Hi Everyone,

As you can see, we have solved the mystery of The Smelly Gourmet. See the post above. ;)

Thanks, Steve, for writing!

All the best,
Lois

Carletta said...

They have a lovely place and what sounds like a wonderful lifestyle.
Love the anique fence!

Tanya Breese said...

what a great looking place and how lucky for them to be doing something that they love!

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

How utterly cool that the owner of the Smelly Gourmet saw your post and left a long comment!

Empty Horse Corral

Kathy said...

Now you really have a reason to go back - to meet some new friends you've made!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Funny I am glad the smelly gourmet responded. I love to have been there. B