NFT: Favorite olive oil?

Zingermans of Ann Arbor has an o line catalog from which I’ve had luck
My current fave is Massaune a french oil , but all are spectacular . Cal olive ranch has a very good early release oil ( not their usual line ) bottled 30 min after picking it - case of 6 for $99.
I think you’ll like all of Zingermans picks - some excellent Italian and. Sicilian oils

in Connecticut just love it and it's taste is pure

Mainly because we know its actually olive oil and its from California (not the Destination version). A lot of these Spanish and Italian olive oils get laced with all kinds of cheaper oils before they get here and still carry a 100% virgin olive oil label. It's a scam.

In comment 14946359 widmerseyebrow said:

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Mainly because we know its actually olive oil and its from California (not the Destination version). A lot of these Spanish and Italian olive oils get laced with all kinds of cheaper oils before they get here and still carry a 100% virgin olive oil label. It's a scam.

This was a major problem years ago, but has largely been cleaned up. If the oil is certified by the North American Olive Oil Association or International Olive Council, you can have pretty high assurance that it’s legit.

and don't want to pay even $10 a liter, let alone more, when I frequently find good evoos for $8 per lite or less on sales at stores like ShopRite and Giant Farmer's Market.

My favorite right now for my higher end uses, like in taboule or home made hummus or simply to dress a lettuce based or chopped Mediterranean salad is the Mont Olivo Organic EVOO "Extra Ecologico" imported by NY Fancy Natural Foods, Inc. of Brooklyn.

They write that they might create this blend from Italian, Greek, Spanish, Portugese or Tunisian olives, and the current lot I am consuming is Lot no. L0050 from Tunisia and Italy with a Best Before date of 02/19/2022 meaning it's a 2019 vintage blend (with 2.5 years life to the BB date.)

It's a markedly fruity and spicy oil with a good sharp evoo bite on the finish, which probably indicates smaller high oil extract olives were used.

My method of seeking out deals opens me up to the adulterated oils, but I've been very fortunate at Giant Farmer's Market to land mostly pure EVOOS of excellent character, and the one I've noted above is as good as any pure EVOO I have had from specific olive cultivars in Israel, from producers I know and trust 100%.

It's either $6 or $7 per 750 ml bottle.

I think the fear and reports of "adulterated" evoo from Italian or Spanish Packers is at least somewhat exaggerated, and was a more widespread problem 10-20 years ago and more.

But I do buy only ONE bottle of any sale EVOO before committing to more, and always look for oil with a BB date at least 1.5 years from the purchase date.

Old oil, poorly stored, is as much or more a risk than intentional horseplay with blending in cheaper vegetable oils, in my experience.

Trader Joe's is a good source too who regular pack both blended and unblended (from country of origin) EVOOs. I like their 100% Spanish oil most of all, it's fruity with a pleasing almondish bite most of the time. It often tastes like it has a lot of Arbequina olives in it, a cultivar I am quite fond of especially for salad dressing.

being far less prevalent now.

But the urban myth lives on.

Legs for-eeeeveerrr !!!

so good, you have to kill yourself after you've had it :)

What we use pretty much all the time. I’ll buy more special stuff from the olive oil boutique as needed

In comment 14946421 mattlawson said:

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What we use pretty much all the time. I’ll buy more special stuff from the olive oil boutique as needed

Costco EVOO is very good indeed and cheap in IIRC, the 3 liter plastic jug. Like maybe $15 for 3 liters?

*

has a nice one

from Greece. Gets sent to us by a farm. Very intense flavor. We really only use it on salads

Like Samin Nosrat from the Netflix show "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat."
Seattle Times article - ( New Window )

I hope with this bankruptcy and sale that this is not going away -- I am just about out of my stache and need more

....as well for everyday use. I also get some from a stand at our farmer’s market from a guy who imports from his family’s press in Tunisia.

We have a boutique fill-your-own-bottle store a town over that I’m ashamed I haven’t been to yet that imports from all over (vinegars and condiments as well).

used to but it at this Italian butcher shop in Upstate NY (closed now) - less expensive than pretty much every store brand, and was best tasting

In comment 14946757 bc4life said:

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used to but it at this Italian butcher shop in Upstate NY (closed now) - less expensive than pretty much every store brand, and was best tasting

Well bc, you're a big help.




Not.

In comment 14946493 sb from NYT Forum said:

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Like Samin Nosrat from the Netflix show "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat." Seattle Times article - ( New Window )

She reminds me of...
Fiona Chutney - ( New Window )

I have a fav for poached eggs - The Smoked Olive, Petuluma CA. Yes smoked olive oil...it's fantastic

Expensive though!

See Link...

HTH
https://www.oliviersandco.com/olive-oils.html - ( New Window )

does matter. Used 'cold' for drizzling, dressings, marinades etc is a different scenario than if you're sauteing, cooking with it.

An EVOO made from Arbequina olives according to the label. Don't ask me why that's significant I don't know what other varieties are commonly used.

Comes from western Spain. I bought a couple bottles after tasting it at a pop up shop this past winter and now I can't leave it alone. A little fruit, a little spice but I can't really describe it. Anyway I've been eating it on vegetables, fruits, rice, fish. Even once or twice on toast. Now I'm almost out of it and if I want any more it looks like I'll have to buy it from Spain.

In comment 14946432 DCGMan said:

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*

Don Ciccio would never use anything else!

In comment 14947534 Greg from LI said:

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In comment 14946432 DCGMan said: Quote: * Don Ciccio would never use anything else!

Hello Captain Obvious.

You might not have received the note, but some things are better left unstated.😉

Less than $4/quart. Full traceability with Certificate of Analysis. Kosher too.
Terra Delyssa Tunisian Extra Virgin Olive Oil - ( New Window )

on 750 ML bottles retailing for over $10...

And some Tunisian EVOO I have had (in blends) has been excellent.

But 220 liters would last me well past the "best by" date, probably.

"star K" is among the least rigorous ones around.

In comment 14946349 Tom in Kzoo said:

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Zingermans of Ann Arbor has an o line catalog from which I’ve had luck

I thought this was NFT.

There's a joke somewhere in there about defenders already shipping through the Giants' o line plenty easily enough, even without the olive oil.

Their fig balsamic vinegar is out of this world!

HTH
https://www.oliviersandco.com/vinegars/balsamic/fig-balsamic-vinegar.html - ( New Window )