Flavored Olive Oil

While going through culinary school I learned a lot about infused oils. An infused oil is basically an oil that has been altered to take on the flavor of another ingredient, usually a spice or herb. There are two ways to infuse an oil. There is the cold infused method and there is the warm infused method. To simplify it, both methods essentially involve steeping the spice in the selected type of oil.

What I know about flavored oils, or at least what I thought I knew, all changed last summer on a trip to Sonoma, California. My wife Cristina and I were there on our vacation with the intention of going wine tasting. That was until we walked into Jacuzzi Family Vineyard. It was the first time I had ever been exposed to an olive oil tasting room. While The Olive Press is a separate company it is located inside the winery and they are set up similar to a wine tasting room.

We walked around and tasted oils that were very similar to those I experienced in culinary school. Then I tried citrus olive oils. I tried Blood Orange olive oil, Lime olive oil, Clementine olive oil, and Limonato (Meyer Lemon) olive oil. The only olive oil I did not try was the Jalapeno olive oil, simply because I have never been a huge fan of Jalapenos.

Immediately after tasting these oils, my mind began to race and recipes just started forming like rapid fire using these oils I had just experienced. I had to buy some. So I then made my big "MISTAKE," I asked the associate about the citrus infused olive oil. I then received a very informative lesson on how they make they make their citrus oils. They actually press not infuse the citrus rind with the olives. This gives the olive oils a rich and robust citrus flavor followed by a familiar earthy olive oil flavor.             

The Olive Press also carries a variety of flavored balsamic vinegars, which can be paired quite well with any of their oils. A personal favorite of mine, for dipping bread in, is the blood orange olive oil and black currant balsamic.  It also makes a great combination for cooking. Look for recipes using these oils in next months newsletter.

If you are interested in flavored olive oils and are from the Greater Los Angeles area and don't want to drive to Sonoma for an olive oil tasting, there is a company in Agoura Hills, California named The Olive Vineyard that makes and sells flavored olive oils.  I even have some of their products in my kitchen as well.  I recommend that everyone do an olive oil tasting, whether it is at The Olive Press in Sonoma or The Olive Oil Vineyard in Agoura Hills. An olive oil tasting is something that every foodie should experience.

For More information, visit the sites below.
The Olive Press
www.theolivepress.com
The Olive Vineyard
www.theolivevineyard.com