By Katie Winkler
Review Staff Writer
After 36 years in the food industry, Lake Orion’s Matt Zarghami strayed away from restaurants to focus on catering and making their family dipping oil into a business, Z’s Dipping & Sauces, Inc.
When Zarghami opened his own restaurant, Corleone’s Ristorante, in 2001, he served italian bread with his dipping oil as a complementary appetizer.
Seven years later, Zarghami closed his business and began focusing on catering and marketing his special dipping oil.
After founding Z’s a year and a half ago, their oil is being sold in 20 different stores, including Lake Orion’s Great Harvest Bread Co., Highland Colansanti’s, Royal Oak Holiday Market, Livonia Joe’s Produce, Birmingham and Rochester Hils Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market and Catering.
In the near future, he hopes his product will be sold in cities across the country.
‘Our recipe is different from anything else on the shelf because it is high quality,? Zarghami said.
Z’s one-of-a-kind dipping oil contains all natural ingredients, including olive oil and spices. Since their product is gluten-free and contains no MSG, it is a healthy product that replaces oil or butter in recipes and everyday cooking.
‘Our oil is useable in so many different ways,? Zarghami said, including on salads as dressing, on bread , and when cooking eggs, fish, pasta, chicken and vegtables.
Before Z’s dipping oil was able to be sold in stores, Zarghami had to put his oil through a six-to-eight week lab test procedure, where the state of Michigan tested his ingredients.
Zarghami, his wife Michelle and friend Paul Pickale (Director of Operations) contine to work together to make this product accessible and delicious.
‘I want people to try the product once. Trust me, you will be addicted,? Zarghami said. ‘This is the fastest way to cook with lots of flavor. Each individual thing changes the way it makes with the spices flavor to food.?
Zarghami has a passion that drove him to open Z’s, knowing that starting a business from scratch is difficult to do.
‘Anything you do in life is going to be hard to accomplish. Believe and go forward with it. We believe in our product, back it up and guarantee anyone will love it,? Zarghami said.