Sisters bring olive oil ethic, culture to Hermosa Beach
Milena and Desi Bogdanova show off their wares. Photo by Rafael Ruiz. The Bulgarian childhood of sisters Milena and Desi Bogdanova played out like scenes from the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Everyone knew each other’s every move, the door to the house was open to all, and there was always something cooking in the oven. Milena recalls neighbors in the tight-knit community keeping an eye on her and Desi and the other children. Inside the family home, friends would come and go as they pleased, and there was always a home cooked meal on the kitchen table. “Everything was fresh and natural in our life,” Desi said. Growing up on a Mediterranean diet, olive oil was introduced to them as the foundation of life, and a staple in their home. From the preparation of food to homemade soaps and hair masks, olive oil was the main ingredient. After moving to California in 1999, they wanted to give others the opportunity to experience a taste of their lifestyle. “It reinforces the whole idea of how we grew up, what we want to do and what types of relationships we want to have with people,” Milena said. Oliovera, the sister’s fresh olive oil boutique, opened its doors on upper Pier Avenue…
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