Darryn Steeves and his wife Jackie didn’t just buy a business when they took over Liquid Gold Tasting Bar & All Things Olive in September 2025 — they bought into a mission. After a decade in the corporate world, Darryn was ready to be his own boss again, and Liquid Gold ticked every box: quality products, a passion for food and travel, and a genuine problem worth solving. That problem? Most people have never tasted truly fresh, authentic extra virgin olive oil — and what’s sitting on grocery store shelves doesn’t come close.
What is your business called and what does it do?
We’re Liquid Gold Tasting Bar & All Things Olive — and we do exactly what our name suggests! We’re artisan purveyors of ultra-premium extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) and authentic balsamic vinegars. What makes us truly special is our tasting bar experience: customers can sample over 40 oils and vinegars, then bottle their favourites in-store. We also carry a beautiful selection of gourmet pantry items to round out your culinary experience. You can find us at four locations across Atlantic Canada — Halifax, Bedford, Charlottetown, and Moncton — and we ship across Canada through our website.
What made you want to do this work? What problem did you want to solve?
We’ve owned our own businesses before, and after a decade in the Corporate World, I was looking for a chance to be my own boss again. We wanted something that truly aligned with our values— quality and healthy living —and connected with things we’re genuinely passionate about, like cooking and travelling. When Liquid Gold became available, it just ticked all the right boxes. We had actually been customers ourselves for many years, so we already knew and loved the products. The “problem” we’re solving is a real one: most people have never tasted truly fresh, authentic extra virgin olive oil. What’s on grocery store shelves simply doesn’t compare. We want to show people that there’s a massive difference in taste, quality and health benefits. Grocery store olive oil is often old, diluted and simply tastes “meh”. Buying fresh product makes a world of difference.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Our customers are wonderfully diverse! At the heart of it, they share a common appreciation for quality. We attract passionate home cooks and foodies who want the very best ingredients in their kitchen, health-conscious shoppers who know that high-quality olive oil is one of the most beneficial things you can add to your diet, and gift buyers looking for something truly unique and memorable. We also see a lot of people who simply wander in, curious and leave as converts after their first taste at the tasting bar!
How does your business make money? How does it work?
We operate four retail tasting bar locations across Atlantic Canada, where customers can come in, sample our full range of oils and vinegars, and purchase their favourites. The in-store tasting experience is really at the heart of what we do — it’s hard to go back to ordinary olive oil once you’ve tasted the real thing! We also sell our full product range online, with shipping available across Canada, so no matter where you are, you can experience the difference that truly great ingredients make.
Where in the city can we find you?
In the Halifax area, you can visit us at two locations: our original store in the wonderful Hydrostone Market at 5521 Young Street in Halifax’s north end, and our Bedford location at 1595 Bedford Highway. We also have locations in Charlottetown, PEI and Moncton, NB — so we’re proud to serve customers right across Atlantic Canada.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
“When was this olive oil harvested?” This is the single most important question you can ask about olive oil, and everyone should ask when you look at oils on the shelves of grocery stores. Freshness is everything — just like fresh-squeezed juice, olive oil degrades over time. Our oils are sourced from current harvests in both the northern and southern hemispheres, so there’s always a fresh oil available year-round. Most commercial olive oils sit in warehouses for months or even years before reaching store shelves. Ours don’t. That’s the Liquid Gold difference, and you can taste it.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is watching someone try one of our oils or balsamics for the very first time and seeing their face light up. That moment of discovery — when someone realizes that what they thought was olive oil before was just a pale imitation — never gets old. We also genuinely love being part of a community of food lovers and connecting with customers who share our passion for quality ingredients. The worst part? It’s hard to eat mediocre food when you’re away from home! Once you know what great olive oil tastes like, there’s no going back.
Where can we follow you?
You can follow us on Instagram and shop our full range online anytime. We love sharing recipes, new products, and a little olive oil inspiration — come say hello!
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
We are so lucky to be part of the incredible Hydrostone Market community in Halifax’s north end, and we genuinely love every business there. If you haven’t visited yet, you really should — you can grab an amazing coffee or meal at Lucy’s Hydrostone Cafe, find something beautiful and unique at Lady Luck Boutique, pick up the best pizza in Nova Scotia at Salvatore’s, wind down with a pint at the Brown Hound Pub, and browse a gorgeous yarn selection at LK Yarns. The Hydrostone Market is a real gem, and we’re proud to be part of it.
