She recently opened a shop that caters to both of her passions.

The Little Gourmet opened at 119 1/2 Main St. in Roselle. The shop is filled with kitchen gadgets, gourmet foods and a variety of related items.

Coffees, teas, chocolates, olive oils and vinegars are popular attractions as well as baking mixes for items including pancakes and scones.

Gadgets include garlic presses, miniature frying pans to cook one egg, dipping bowls and graters.

Another popular part of the store is the children's section. This idea comes from Little's 7-year-old twins. Childsize aprons, chef hats, rolling pins, and kids cooking mixes are part of this area.

Little and her husband, John, are raising 7-year-old twin boys, Sam and John. All four often spend time in the kitchen. The couple also has a 23-year-old daughter, Collette.

Another aspect of the store is the various dips that Little prepares for tasting. For example, artichoke and brochette are recent selections she made.

Prior to starting the business, Little worked for Ticor Title Insurance in Schaumburg for 13 years. She said it was time to pursue her dream.

The business has been a family effort, she said. Her brother-in-law, Mike Little and brother John Vennero, have been creative in helping design the store from the custom woodworking to the giant wooden rolling pin.

The store is open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (630) 894-1003.

One of the new businesses in the newly updated Roselle downtown is The Little Gourmet at 119 1/2 E. Main Street.

Owner Leslie Little always had a passion for cooking and visiting gourmet stores. She held on to her passion and with the help of her family opened The Little Gourmet.

The shop recently celebrated its grand opening and I visited The Little Gourmet and Little. My kids went to school with some of the Little family.

I was surprised at the gourmet items she had in her shop. If you are doing some visiting over the holidays with the help of Little you can select an attractive gift basket and custom fill it for any occasion. For a gift for your office you can select items from gourmet coffee to whatever other breakfast items you wish.

Or walk around the shop and maybe make your basket theme Italian with gourmet pastas and sauces. Do you like sweets? Well, The Little Gourmet has a selection of chocolates, jellies and more. I tried the Wild Maine blueberry jam. I could eat it with a spoon right out of that cute little jar. Of course, I like blueberries.

There also is a very popular section featuring cooking for children. Cooking items for the kids include children's size aprons, chef hats, cooking mixes and more. These would make unique gift for kid's birthdays or Christmas gifts.

Little was born Leslie Vennero and, as she said, "I was born and raised in Roselle." She married John Little from Roselle, who came from a family of nine children. The Littles have lived in Roselle for more than 40 years and are well known in the community.

They have three children: 7-year-old twins, Sam and John, and an older daughter Collette. By the way, I am an identical twin.

For more information or store hours, call The Little Gourmet at (630) 894-1003.