You’ve heard about people following their dreams? Well…Crystal Dutil literally listened to a dream she had about a successful business, specifically named The Rustic Paw. Crystal, who had long planned on starting a business of making infused oils, says she added the name of the business to a list that she’d been making and went to two best friends, without telling them about her dream, and they picked The Rustic Paw. She took it as a sign.
Three years ago, she began experimenting with infused oils when her pet boxer developed degenerative myopathy and became partially paralyzed. “She needed protein, vitamins and antioxidants,” Crystal says. “So I began researching about more natural ways of feeding my dog. I started learning about herbs and cooking their food with them. From then, I began cookingmy husband’s and my food with it too.”
Soon Crystal began making the infused oils for family and friends. Though she only started selling her oils at farmers markets this year, turning the flavorful cooking condiment nto a business was in the plans for a while. As she shares, “I actually purchased the bottles to do this three years ago and didn’t do anything with them. It didn’t become a reality until this year.”
Her process begins with extra virgin olive oil; she prefers one with “a little bit of a bite to it.” She’s observed, “If it’s too light an oil, the flavor doesn’t infuse well. The cold-pressed oils make the flavor pop more.”
While some infused oils are flat because they aren’t infused with enough herbs, Crystal doesn’t skimp on the aromatics. “I put a lot of herbs and the same amount, depending on the herb,” she assures.
She infuses the oil with the freshest of herbs, organically grown at Scarlette Acres Urban Farm and Nursery in Youngsville. “Founder and co-owner Dustin Frederick has mentored me and has given me advice on how to use the herbs,” says Crystal, who also credits the support of her husband and father. From her home just outside of Delcambre, she incorporates the different flavors of both fresh and dried herbs, using an air fryer to dry them. “Combining fresh and dried herbs gives the oil an amazing flavor,” notes Crystal, who also zaps the fresh herbs in the air fryer for a couple of minutes to sanitize the leaves.
With a logo that pays homage to one of Crystal’s chihuahuas, Maui, The Rustic Paw offers several varieties of infused oils. Currently in stock are: 5-oz bottles of sweet basil and parsley, the trio of basil and parsley, oregano blend and parsley, German thyme and parsley, rosemary and parsley, and a basil blend. Customers can also purchase 2-oz bottles of sweet basil as well as rosemary olive oil.
Crystal says best sellers include the basil and oregano blends, which are almost always the first to sell out. Perhaps that’s because she combines different types of basil and oregano in the blend.
The oils can be used for seasoning and cooking, but customers are cautioned against frying with them so as not to burn the herbs. Otherwise Crystal says, “They are very versatile; I cook almost every meal with them. A friend, who is a chef, has given me tips. She uses the oil to cook white or red beans for a creamy texture. They are great with grilled shrimp or on a roast. I put the oregano blend on ground pork. My husband brags about my roasted potatoes with the oregano oil; the kick of the oregano is almost a spicy substitute. I started airfrying broccoli and using basil, rosemary or thyme oils. My dad makes a caprese salad and uses my basil oil. I’m going to experiment with making a tapenade using some of the oils. Customers have also gotten creative, drizzling the basil oil on their scrambled eggs. One makes her own hummus with the basil or oregano oil.”
Though Crystal goes through a bottle every two or three weeks, she says the shelf life of the infused oils is about four months.
Having only been a vendor of the Delcambre Market since June, she says it is her favorite market. “I love how organized the market is and how big it is, with a large selection of items. I like how people come together; they meet and talk. I’m partial to small businesses; I grew up supporting them because my father had one.”
Be sure to stop by The Rustic Paw’s booth at the September market. The mini crates that Crystal puts together, with two 5-oz. bottles and one 2 oz. of your choice, make great gift baskets for Christmas or birthdays. “Men who cook have said that they really like the flavored oils,” Crystal adds.
Customers can place special orders, including business gifts, through The Rustic Paw’s Facebook site.
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