Favorite Olive Oils?
Do you have olive oil brands that you particularly like? It seems like every time I go to the store, the olive oil section expands, and I keep trying different ones. And lately I've been trying oddball brands which is interesting, but if find one I like, I can never find it again, it seems. Most are good, every now and then I find one that's better. but it would be nice to have a great one for salads and finishing, and then another for cooking.
If you've got any that you particularly disliked, that would be interesting, too.
Oh -- and if you were faced with completely unknown brands, would you opt for a particular county? Spain, Greece, Italy -- or even a California brand? Aussie?
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20 Comments:
I've purchased many, many olive oils. And besides the ones i've brought back from actual olive farms over seas, none, for the price, beat the Wal-Mart brand. A bunch of my friends and I did a blind taste test and found the wal-mart brand of extra virgin to be the best for the money. It has lots of olive goodness flavor running through it.. Its a blend, from many countries.
seikel at 9:40AM on 08/06/08
I am in love with this brand of Spanish olive oil... from Bodegas Torres. I bought it last year when I went to Barcelona, directly at the sister winery.
I am also enjoying very much the Oliviers & Co. varieties I bought in their Boston store. I bought a French and an Italian version. They also have a website.
Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking
MadelynRodriguez at 10:00AM on 08/06/08
I always try different olive oils for dipping bread, etc. My parents got me started doing that years ago when they gave me an exquisite olive oil from California. It had a cork in it and I thought I had been given just the greatest gift ever! Since then, I sample and buy olive oils when I am traveling. It is great fun to give olive oil to my friends so they know I was thinking about them while I was out and about.
For everyday olive oil requirements, I buy the Kirkland brand at Costco. It is the first press of the olives and works beautifully.
As far as disliking olive oils, I have never been a big fan of Pompeo. I also do not like any of the light olive oils.
izatryt at 10:04AM on 08/06/08
Bel Frantoio
pecorino at 10:19AM on 08/06/08
Carbonell is my daily extra virgin olive oil. It's Spanish, very green, fruity...good bang for your buck. I've also tried several of the olive oils at O&Co. and have enjoyed them as nice finishing oils (particularly the French ones), but they're a lot more expensive.
Dominic
the zen kitchen
dvchurch at 10:25AM on 08/06/08
I usually buy Colavita. A friend of mine had a big tin of it when he stayed at my house a while ago, so I used his when I ran out of whatever I had. I tossed some in my cast iron skillet, and when I realized I could smell the fruitiness (despite my bad sense of smell) and then realized how much better it smelled than what I had been using, I was hooked. That said, I haven't experimented that much with others, usually because the stuff can be so damned expensive and we go through it enough that I can't be spending tons of money on it.
joyyy at 10:39AM on 08/06/08
I first had Carbonell when I was in Spain and although the Spanish version is 'olivier' than the US version of extra virgin - it is still my go-to.
katarina_santiago at 10:39AM on 08/06/08
Trader Joes has some some great everyday oils for the money.
bessfour at 11:06AM on 08/06/08
I second Bessfour. TJ's is my everyday olive oil choice. When I want to do a dipping sauce, or something fancier, I may buy a small bottle of a more expensive brand. But for everyday use, you can't beat the Trader Joe's brands.
StripeyChef at 12:18PM on 08/06/08
The only olive oil that stands out in my mine is the "true" first press from an olive grower that I had when I lived in Italy...a few drops of true first pressed olive oil drizzled and your pretty much in heaven....I am always trying new "extra virgin" olive oils here and can't say I have EVER found that taste here manly because the mass produced kind is never really a true first pressed, at least that is my understanding, although some of the greek olive oils are good too if you like dark green and heavy. I found the store Titan which is located in Astoria Queens carries a few decent ones but they change brands often so sometimes you go back and shelf looks different:) often. The island of Crete in Greece makes some good ones too, which Titan carries. Actualy my understanding of olive oil is that a lot of the oils made in Italy are actually olives shipped in from Greece...ironic, so don't discount olive oils made in Greece. French "extra virgin" is much lighter than say Italian and Greek extra virgin because French, except mainly the south of France use more butter to cook..and are not used to the heavy heavy oils at least I grew to love.
Maria Marra at 12:22PM on 08/06/08
I would like to start off saying I am jealous of you folks that live near a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods-since I do not...Ok, I've gotten that off my chest.
For every day purposes, I use Filippo Berio. I also have various other oils (sesame, hot chili sesame, corn, sunflower, etc...) which don't get used as often.
However, I went to the grocery store about 3 weeks ago and found something-and had to buy it. It was White Truffle Olive Oil by Bella Famiglia. I brushed it on all sides of scallops and grilled them. Oh my god-sooo good. I'm definitely going to use this sparingly-but good stuff.
Butrflygirly at 12:34PM on 08/06/08
i use whatever catches my fancy at fairway -- love their olive oil tasting bench! lately it's organic luques.
cybercita at 12:50PM on 08/06/08
Oh wow, white truffle olive oil on grilled scallops. Way to go , Butrflygirly! Sounds fantastic
littlesalsi at 1:06PM on 08/06/08
@Butrflygirly ~ I hear you on the Trader Joe's thing. I hear tell they may be opening one up near me, but when I checked their website there was nothing close in their "opening soon" section. ;-( I am definitely going to give those scallops a try! Um, white truffle oil.
izatryt at 1:39PM on 08/06/08
Make sure your truffle oil isnt too old.. it spoils quickly (well, in 6 months about) after opening, it really goes down in truffle goodness after that. Also, try and find dark bottles.
The best i've ever had for straight eating was in Argentina.. A first press, unfiltered. Its mostly Italians down there anyway, and weather like Napa, in Mendoza.
seikel at 1:46PM on 08/06/08
My everyday brand is trader joes since its so cheap. But for salads and finishing dishes my aboslute favorite is Bariani. Its made in Sacramento, CA (my hometown!) but they sell it all over and you can order online. I also like Stonehouse which is also made in CA but I first discovered it in NYC. I love the flavor and mouth feel of CA olive oils, but like Seikel, the best I ever tased was in Argentina!
banana at 2:14PM on 08/06/08
@littlesalsi: Thanks! They were like heaven in your mouth. They just melted on your tongue. Gone in two seconds. I'm glad I had one when I could..:)
@iz: SO glad I am not the only one. You should try them-very tasty. Here's what I did...Make sure you pat them dry. Brush olive oil all over (repeat if you like), flavor both sides with sea salt and pepper (make sure to not use too much pepper-a dusting is good, otherwise the pepper taste will overpower), grill over low, med low on each side for 3 or 4 mins. You have goodness!!
Butrflygirly at 6:21PM on 08/06/08
@girly ~This weekend is girl's weekend, other than my f-ing commitment for a jewelry party on Friday. I am making the scallops for my dinner contribution Saturday night. We are going to see Mama Mia, then it is time for good eats and lots of vino.
izatryt at 9:57PM on 08/06/08
@iz: Sounds like a great time! Enjoy!!
Butrflygirly at 12:46PM on 08/07/08
Trader Joe's Private Reserve
NuJoi at 8:50AM on 08/08/08