Developer, Author at D'Olivo Tasting Bar

November 5, 2021

What Makes a Manzanilla Olive a Manzanilla Olive

The world of olives is an extensive one, and there are several varieties that populate the grocery aisles. However, one of the most common, and in our opinion tastiest olives, is the manzanilla or manzanillo olive.

What is a Manzanilla Olive

Originating from Sevilla, Spain, manzanilla olives are plump and meaty olive with a firm texture and diverse flavor profile. These beautiful olives are typically a light green and have a pit that can be easily removed.

Growing and Harvesting

The Manzanilla olive is grown primarily in warmer climates. The olives are harvested during the fall season, while still green and then cured.

The curing process for these olives is used to remove the bitterness in the flesh and skin of the olive that comes from the compounds oleuropein and ligstroside. Curing is done by placing the olives quickly into a fresh water and lye bath to rinse them and then they are soaked in a sea salt brine for up to 3 months.

Once removed from the brine the olives are pitted, stuffed, and placed into glass jars where they’re topped with olive oil or brine and packaged for sale. That’s how they’ll stay until they are ready to be opened and enjoyed.

Forms of Manzanilla Olives

Manzanilla trees are known for their high, annual yield of fruit and this has resulted in the manzanilla olive being the most widely available and used green olive on the market today.

Whole Fruit Form – the manzanilla olive is commonly used in a whole fruit form. These olives have a pit that is easily removed and often, producers will harvest the olive, remove the pit and then stuff it with a variety of items from pimento (the most popular) to garlic and almonds.

Cold Pressed – the manzanilla olive is also a commonly used type of olive in olive oil production. In order to get extra virgin olive oils, the olives are harvested and then cold pressed to extract the oil from the fruit.

The use of the cold pressing method allows the nutritional benefits of the olive to remain in the oil. The use of heat or chemicals in the processing of olive oils can reduce the health benefits most commonly associated with these olives.

How to Use Manzanilla Olives

These olives are extremely diverse in how they can be used. In their whole fruit form, these olives, especially the stuffed varieties, make the perfect addition to any hors d’oeuvres table. They’re also extremely popular in the classic gin martini. However, the stuffed manzanilla olives can also make a great addition to the dinner table. From a tapenade spread for bruschetta to a special addition to your pasta sauce they’re sure to add a great hit of flavor.

In their pressed form, as olive oil, these olives can be enjoyed in any dish. From using it as a butter substitute in baking (3 parts olive oil to 4 parts butter) – to the topping for your next great salad or grilled steak, olive oil is a great way to improve health while adding delicious flavors to your cooking.

Conclusion

Produced worldwide now, manzanilla olives are the most popular in the world and are commonly used in everything from cocktails to olive oil. The odds are good that you’ve tasted these olives in one form or another.

If you’re looking for a great way to get more healthy fats into your diet, these olives are a great place to start. Stop in to our store at 10 E Main Street or visit us online to shop our selection of olive oils and pickled olives.

October 14, 2021

Why Is Olive Oil So Popular?

Here at D’Olivo, our days in the shop revolve around olive oils. Whether it be educating customers on the health benefits, pairing them with our balsamic vinegars for excited tasters, or thinking up fun and creative ways to add them into our favorite dishes, we’re always thinking about this delightful product.

We recognize though that not everyone spends their days this way and in fact, understand that those who are new to the world of olive oil might be wondering what is the big deal.

If you find yourself in this boat let us tell you about our best friend (okay not really), but let us tell you why this oil has grown in popularity over the years.

It’s Healthy!

As we touched on briefly above, olive oil is one of the healthiest fats available on the market today. As the Mediterranean diet has grown in popularity as it has become clear that eating in this way is good for you, so too has the popularity of one of the Mediterranean staples – olive oil.

First, it has a high concentration of antioxidants which are known to help lower cholesterol which benefits overall heart health. Second, olive oil has been shown to aid in weight loss efforts, with participants in a 3-year study showing decreased weight gain. Finally, olive oil is high in oleic acid, a healthy monosaturated fat which has been shown to help reduce inflammation.

It’s Great for Your Skin and Hair

Olive oil, while used a lot in food, has other uses as well. This diverse oil can be used topically on the skin and hair and is a growing ingredient in cosmetic products available on the market. As an all-natural ingredient, it’s popularity in the beauty industry continues to rise as consumers look for ways to reduce exposure to chemicals See our full list of fun and creative ways to use olive oil here.

There Are Multiple Ways to Use It When Cooking

Of course, the primary use for olive oil is in cooking, and there is no shortage of ways to explore this oil. Due to its high smoke point, high quality olive oil is a great option no matter what type of dish you’re preparing. You can use it for frying, grilling, dressing or finishing any dish.

Try marinating vegetables and meats in olive oil and seasonings before cooking. If that’s not your favorite method, then try brushing the oils on during preparation. If all else fails simply finish your salads or main courses with oils before serving.

If you’re looking for great ideas on how to use olive oil, visit our recipe section.

They’re Delicious!

We might be a little biased here but olive oil, simply put is delicious. Especially our ultra-premium selection from Veronica Foods. We are proud to offer a wide selection of olive oils including over 25 flavored (both fused and infused) oils. Each oil pairs wonderfully with our selection of balsamic vinegars.

For a full experience, stop in to visit us at 10 E Main Street and you’ll truly get an opportunity to taste the difference.

We’re open Monday-Thursday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

August 25, 2021

5 Tips to Ensure you Enjoy Your Olive Oil

The world of olive oil can seem overwhelming given the wide selection available. At first glance you might even think that all olive oils are created equal, but unfortunately that isn’t the case.

Olive oil can be one of the most delicious and healthy oils to incorporate into your diet. Many even consider olive oil the star of the Mediterranean diet which has grown in popularity due to its overall healthy selection of foods.

To help make your journey to and experience with olive oil easy and enjoyable, we’ve got five handy tips to help.

1.Read the Label

There are lots of important details to learn about your olive oil simply be reading the label. The first thing to check is making sure that what you’re purchasing says extra virgin. Extra virgin olive oils are made from the first cold pressing of the olives. This method ensures that the health benefits of the oil remain intact.

In addition, you’ll be able to find the harvest date of the oil. Even if you’re purchasing an oil that has a label in another language you should be able to decipher this information. You want to be sure and choose the olive oil with the most recent harvest date.

2. Look at How the Oil is Stored

Two of the leading factors in olive oil spoilage are exposure to heat and exposure to light. Both of these can cause the oil to go rancid so when you’re purchasing an olive oil make sure that it’s in dark glass and that it hasn’t been sitting in direct sunlight or in an overly hot storage area.

3. Use Your Oil

Olive oil does not get better with age. When you purchase a bottle, if stored properly, it can last for 18-24 months unopened. However, make sure that once you’ve opened the bottle of olive oil you use it up quickly. Olive oil when opened should only be kept for 30-60 days.

If you’re looking for tips on how best to use your olive oil, check out our recipe section here it’s packed with great ideas for every season.

4. Taste the Oil Before Purchasing

Ideally, before you even purchase a bottle of olive oil you get an opportunity to taste. The classic way to taste the oil is by using the following steps.

First, pour about a tablespoon of the oil into a cup and place one hand around the bottom to warm the oil. Place your other hand over the top and gently swirl the oil around to release the flavors and aromas. Second, smell the oil and make note of the aromas. Third, drink the oil and be sure to spread it around in your mouth. Finally, swallow the oil and make note of the wide variety of flavors you can taste.

You want your oils to have a fruity or peppery taste. The spicier the oil tastes the higher the polyphenols.

5. Buy from a Reputable Vendor

While it’s true that you can likely find a good olive oil in the grocery store, the best way to ensure quality is by purchasing from a trusted retailer. Retailers like D’Olivo who specialize in olive oil know the proper storage techniques, and move through inventory at a rapid rate ensuring that oils never sit on the shelves for too long.

Additionally, we source our oils from Veronica Foods which has the strictest quality standards for each oil produced and sold, resulting in our Ultra-Premium designation.

Whether your new the world of olive oil or you’ve been a long-time fan these tips should help you find the best quality olive oil for your cooking needs. If you’re in the market for high-quality, delicious oils then stop in to see us at 10 E Main Street in Downtown Walla Walla or shop online.

July 12, 2021

A Guide to Understanding Olive Oil

It’s no secret that at D’Olivo we’re crazy about olive oil. This beautiful cooking oil is perfect for use in any kitchen on nearly any type of dish. It’s got a wonderful flavor and to top it all off it offers amazing health benefits.

While we could talk for hours about all the great things you can do to make olive oil your new go-to oil we decided to hit the basics and touch on the top things to know to help our readers gain a better understanding of olive oil.

What is Olive Oil

Olive oil is an oil that comes from olive. There are a number of ways this oil can be harvested and each method gives an indication of the specific type of olive oil that will be produced.

Types of Olive Oil

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – this is by far the purest, and highest quality of olive oil available on the market. Extra virgin olive oils are oils that are produced from the first cold pressing of the olives. This method ensures that the health benefits from the olives remains and that the oil itself isn’t damaged by exposure to high temperatures. This method of extraction also helps keep the acidity level of the oil very low.

Virgin Olive Oil – this type of oil is also extracted using a cold-press method. However, it’s not always from the first cold pressing. While it too is not damaged by exposure to heat during extraction, the acidity levels are higher making it a lower quality oil than those that fall into the extra virgin category.

Refined Olive Oils – these types of oils are not as pure as either extra virgin or virgin, despite what the label might indicated. In fact, many of these refined olive oils are bland in flavor and as a result are usually blended with other types of oils.

Health Benefits

Olive oil has continued to rise in popularity internationally over the last several years. This is due in large part to its rich flavors, versatility in cooking and baking, as well as the nutritional and health benefits that it offers. Some of these health benefits include:

1. Rich in Healthy Fats
2. It Can Help Lower Blood Pressure
3. Packed with Beneficial Antioxidants
4. Helps Maintain Bone Health
5. Helps Prevent Obesity

How to Use Olive Oil

Olive Oil is extremely versatile and can be used as a replacement for many different kinds of cooking fats from butter to vegetable oil. While there are many who claim that olive oil isn’t a good alternative due to its low smoke point, this is simply a myth about olive oil. In fact, high quality extra virgin olive oils are very safe to cook with, even at high temperatures.

Grilling – if you’re a grill-master then olive oil can be a great companion for your cooking adventures. Use it as a marinade for meat, brush it onto the vegetables you’re cooking, or simply top of your dishes at the end with a delicious olive oil.

Baking – it’s true that olive oil can make a great substitute for butter or vegetable oil when creating any baked good. We’ve got an excellent guide on how best to use olive oil in baking here – https://dolivotastingbar.com/baking-with-olive-oil/

Salad Dressing – our olive oils make the best salad dressings, especially when paired with our balsamic vinegars. There are dozens of combinations you can make that will provide fantastic flavor combinations.

Finishing Oils – finish off any dish, hot or cold, with an olive oil drizzle. Choose from a fused or infused flavored oil or try one of our traditional ultra-premium extra virgin oils for this.

Choosing an Olive Oil

Due to its popularity, olive oil has become susceptible to fraud. This is why it’s important that when you go to choose an olive oil you make sure that you’re getting a high quality one.

Read the Label

Because olive oil is an edible product you want to be sure that you’re getting the freshest olive oil out there. Check the label for harvest date or an expiration date. If you find this information, make sure you don’t buy an oil that’s more than a year old. Also, look for that extra virgin designation.

Taste

The surest way to tell if you’ve got a good olive oil is to taste it. The oil should taste clean, fresh and green like olives. If there are peppery notes that linger in your throat that is a good sign – it’s the polyphenols in the oil that give those notes to the oil.

Buy from a Trusted Retailer

Designated olive oil retailers like D’Olivo are the best place to buy quality olive oils. First, we source from the highly reputable supplier, Veronica Foods, who maintains the strictest quality standards which is what gives our oils the Ultra-Premium designation. Second, our employees are well-trained in the proper storage and packaging of our oils ensuring that customers don’t go home with an expired or tainted product. Finally, you can visit stores like ours to actually sample the olive oils you’re purchasing. You can pair oils with our delicious balsamic vinegars and make sure you’re taking home the products that will provide the most benefit to you in the kitchen.

June 8, 2021

Grilling with Olive Oil

While the official start of summer isn’t until June 20, for many of us Memorial Day weekend is a common indicator that summer is in full swing. The weather is warm and the sunshine is bright which means our minds have shifted to outdoor cooking.

One of our favorite things to enjoy this time of year is grilling and so we thought we’d highlight how to use our wide selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars on the grill by answering questions, offering tips and tricks, and highlighting our favorite recipes.

Is It Safe to Grill with Olive Oil?

It is absolutely safe to grill with ultra-premium olive oils from D’Olivo. Just as it is with any other oils you might be considering. Olive oils have an extremely high smoke point which means that they can be heated to extremely high temperatures before beginning to smoke. As we’ve highlighted before, olive oil is actually a perfect oil for cooking at high temperatures because it maintains all of its health benefits, even when heated.

Tips and Tricks for Grilling

Marinate Before Grilling – one of the best ways to actually use olive oil on the grill is to marinate your vegetables and meats in olive oil before tossing them on the grill. There are hundreds of delicious combinations that you can make from our selection of UP olive oils and balsamic vinegars and any of them will be the perfect addition to your summer recipe lineup.

Use a Spray Bottle – another great way to make use of our oils and vinegars is by adding them to a spray bottle before you start grilling. Rather than drizzle oil directly onto the flames or coals of the grill, try misting them several times while cooking them on the grill. One benefit is that this method with help you get an awesome glaze on your meats.

Coat Them and Wrap in Foil – if you’re not a fan of marinating or misting your grilled items, then we’d suggest placing everything onto a piece of aluminum foil, drizzling the olive oil over the top and wrapping the aluminum foil up and tossing the entire thing onto the grill. This technique won’t work well for meats, but it’s a great solution for vegetables.

Finishing Sauce – If none of these options works for your style of cooking then you can also finish your grilled meats and vegetables off by drizzling your favorite combination of oil and vinegar over the top after they come off the grill and before you place them on the table for guests to enjoy.

Great Grill Recipes

Now you’re ready for the BBQ, but you’re lacking inspiration on what to cook? Don’t worry because we’ve got you covered.

Skewers/Kabobs – Meat and vegetables skewers or kabobs are a perfect dish for the grill and extremely popular during the hot summer months. You can easily marinate the vegetables and meat ahead of time to ensure the flavors really soak in. Pair any of your favorite D’Olivo combinations or try these Chicken Kabobs or Walnut Pesto Shrimp Skewers.

Meat – This is probably the most commonly grilled item in most backyards and can be a simple option to make last minute using whatever you’ve got in the fridge. However, just because it’s easy doesn’t mean the flavors won’t still wow your friends and family. If you’re more of a planner try out this Grilled Halibut or this Pomegranate Balsamic Ribeye.

Pizza – grilling pizza isn’t anything new, but if you’ve never tried it then we highly recommend breaking away from the oven inside and opting to give this Grilled Pizza a try.

Fajitas – another typically indoor based meal is fajitas, but honestly, adding that fresh grill flavor to the meat and vegetables is going to take the dish to the next level. Try this recipe for Steak Fajitas if you don’t believe us.

Vegetables – Take your favorite combinations of vegetables and toss them onto the grill. Either drizzle them in olive oil and balsamic vinegar and place onto aluminum foil or marinate them ahead of time and toss directly onto the grill. Either way they’re going to be delicious.

Conclusion

Get out and enjoy this time of year by experimenting with lots of different flavors and recipes on the grill. If you need help picking out the perfect combinations of olive oils and vinegars stop into our downtown store and let our expert staff members walk you through a full tasting.

We’re open Monday – Thursday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday-Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

May 25, 2021

Olive Oil Recipes for Warm Weather

Spring has officially sprung and as the days get longer and the warm, sunny days become more regular, we can’t help but dream of all the beautiful summer days that lie ahead. While we believe that olive oil makes the perfect addition to any dish all year long, there’s something special about cooking with it during the warm months ahead.

To help you get inspired for the summer meals you’ve got ahead we decided to highlight some of our favorite ways to use our oils and vinegars during the warm months of the year.

French Fries

A classic side dish that everyone loves are usually best paired with hamburgers, but we think they can be a great addition to any outdoor meal. Typical deep fried in a vegetable or canola oil, you can also fry these in a high quality olive oil instead. After they’re fried we recommend using some of our truffle salt to create your own truffle fries. Trust us – they’ll be a hit!

Hummus

This classic Mediterranean dish makes a wonderful appetizer. Pair it with fresh vegetables or slightly toasted pita bread. While most hummus recipes call for regular olive oil, we’d recommend adding a little flair by using one of our flavored varieties. If you’re in search of a great hummus recipe give this one featuring our Herbes de Provence olive oil a try.

Ramen Noodle Salad

Summer and salads go hand in hand. While you can take any salad and drizzle it with olive oil and balsamic to create an explosion of flavor in your mouth, we highly recommend mixing up your go-to salads with this ramen noodle version. It’s light enough for warm afternoons and evenings. Find the recipe here.

Radish Salad

We’ll continue the salad theme and encourage you to try a salad that really highlights one of our favorite vegetables – the radish. Take 2 cups of radishes (sliced), red onion (sliced), one cucumber and combine in a bowl with ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar, ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon white sugar and enjoy.

Kebabs

There are dozens of ways you can make the perfect kebab – from vegetable only options to those that feature steak and chicken you can’t go wrong. Marinate the meat and vegetables using any pairing of our olive oil and vinegars, toss them on the grill and serve them up.

Spaghetti

Spaghetti is always a crowd pleaser and if you’re looking for an option that might not feel as heavy as a traditional sauce, we recommend topping yours with some olive oil. Add in some sliced cherry tomatoes, basil, and walnuts for crunch to make it a gourmet dish.

Granola

Yogurt paired with fresh fruit and granola is a delicious way to start out any summer day. If you want a truly healthy option try making your own granola by using some of our favorite olive oils. First up you can try this Golden Amaretto Granola or go the fruitier route with this Mandarin Fused Olive Oil Granola.

Fondue

Dessert is always a great option and choosing a chocolate fondue allows you to showcase any of your favorite summer fruits. At your next summer gathering try using this blood orange dark chocolate fondue recipe for your family and friends.

Conclusion

No matter what your plans are this spring and summer we hope you’ll be inspired to get in the kitchen and start cooking. At D’Olivo we have over 30 olive oils to choose from and each of them pairs beautifully with our selection of high-quality balsamic vinegars.

Stop in to see us at 10 E Main Street in Walla Walla to experience a complete olive oil tasting. We’re open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 6 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 6:30 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM.

April 16, 2021April 16, 2021

Fun and Creative Uses for Olive Oil

Olive oil is well known for its many and varied health benefits, however olive oil is extremely versatile and has many other uses around your house. Here’s a quick list of some additional ways to utilize your olive oil.

Makeup Remover –

yes, it’s true that olive oil is safe for use on the skin and hair. If you’re looking for ways to incorporate natural products into your daily routine, using olive oil as a makeup remover is a great place to start.

Treat Cradle Cap –

Olive oil is a wonderful scalp treatment for people of any age, and since it’s all natural it is also safe to use on even the smallest of children. If your baby is suffering from cradle cap, simply rub a little olive oil onto the scalp, let it sit for a few minutes, and then gently rub off the flakes.

Gum Remover –

did you recently step in gum, ruining your favorite pair of shoes? Do you have a child who has managed to get a piece of gum stuck in their hair? Don’t fear – you can use your handy olive oil from the cabinet. Simply soak a cloth in olive oil, wrap it around the hair or place it on the shoe and let it sit. The oil will begin to break down the gum and it should slide right off during removal.

Nourish Skin –

Olive oil is a great treatment for overly dry skin. While you can use plain olive oil for this purpose, we’d recommend shopping our selection of Olive Oil Skincare Products. Made with 100% saponified Extra Virgin Olive Oil. From hand creams to shampoo and conditioner we’ve got you covered. (https://dolivotastingbar.com/shop/)

Cuticle Treatment –

Are you suffering from cracked cuticles and looking for a quick treatment. Look no further than your cupboard. Rub some olive oil onto your cuticles and let it absorb. You can also add olive oil to warm water and allow your hands and feet to soak in the water.

Eliminate Hair Frizz –

winter can be a tough time for hair. It’s not uncommon during this time of year for hair to become dry and frizzy. If you are dealing with this we’d suggest using just a few drops of olive oil. Either use your finger and simply apply to the ends of your hair, or rub some onto a comb and run that through your hair to help reduce frizz.

Upgrade Bath Time –

as we mentioned above, olive oil is a great treatment for the skin. If you want to make bath time extra fancy, try adding olive oil to the mix. Your skin will thank you afterwards.

Cooking and Baking –

While all of the above are great ways to utilize olive oil in your daily life, our preferred use is still in the kitchen. Get inspired to cook with our selection of Ultra Premium olive oils and vinegars by looking through our online recipes we’ve got everything from soups and salads to sweet treats and entrees.

March 16, 2021April 16, 2021

Understanding Olive Oil Appellation

Extra virgin olive oil, a staple in kitchen’s all over the world, has seen a rapid rise in popularity over the last several decades. This is due in large part to the documented health benefits and overall delicious flavor of this particular cooking fat. However, the growth in popularity has also given rise to the production of lower quality and fraudulent olive oils.

With so many varieties of olive oil available on the market it is common for people to start sifting through information to find the best quality product in their price range. While there are several factors that contribute to finding a high quality olive oil such as freshness, production method, taste, and storage as we highlight in our blog How To Choose A High Quality Olive Oil we wanted to use this blog to touch on one of the most commonly used factors of differentiation – appellation.

What is Appellation?

Appellation is defined as the legally defined and protected geographical location where various food crops are grown. While commonly heard around the Walla Walla region in relation to wine, it is also a term used to designate the geographical regions where olive oils are produced.

Where Are Olives Grown?

Similar to wine grapes, olive oils are grown all over the world. Regions in Argentina, Australia, California, Greece, Spain, Tunisia, New Zealand, Chile, Morocco, Portugal and more are producing unique and high-quality olive oils annually. Just as with wines, the region where olives are grown will create unique flavor profiles that can be tasted in the oils themselves.

Does Appellation Matter?

While appellation has long been considered a differentiating factor in quality and value as it relates to olive oil, with Italy being both the largest importer and exporter of olive oil, many today consider appellation to be less important than other factors in determining the quality of the oil. The time that elapses between the harvesting of the olives and when they are processed into olive oil, as well as the temperature the oil is processed at, as well as numerous other factors are more likely to impact taste and quality.

Where Do Our Olive Oils Come From?

At D’Olivo we are proud to source our olive oils directly from Veronica Foods. Veronica Foods owns and operates their own olive grove and oil mill in Tunisia, where they produce over one million gallons of the finest olive oil on the market each year.

Olives and oils are sourced from all over the world, alternating between the northern and southern hemispheres helping to ensure the freshness of the product. In addition, all olive oils from Veronica Foods carry their ultra-premium designation which shows that each oil has met the 33 internal parameters set by Veronica Foods to ensure quality.

If you haven’t been in to D’Olivo to experience our olive oil and balsamic vinegar bar we encourage you to stop in during normal business hours to taste the difference and gather useful information about how to best use our products. We’re open Monday-Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM.

February 23, 2021

Myths About Olive Oil

As olive oil has become more popular over the years, there’s been an increase in the spreading of false information as well. At D’Olivo we believe in providing our customers with all of the relevant information that they need to make a great decision about purchases. To help with this, we’re highlighting and dispelling some of the top myths about olive oil.

Myth #1 – You Can’t Cook with Olive Oil at a High Heat

There are many who claim that olive oil isn’t a great choice for those who want to cook something at a high heat, and this simply isn’t true. In fact, one of the benefits of extra virgin olive oil is that it has a relatively high smoke point. Smoke point is the temperature at which an oil or fat begins to emit smoke, and the point at which degradation or the loss of nutrients can occur. Learn more about smoke point here.

If you visit us at D’Olivo we cover the smoke point of our oils as part of each tasting experience to help you make the best selection for your cooking needs.

Myth #2 – Where the Olive Oil Comes from is Most Important

While it’s important to pay attention to the label of your olive oil for a number of reasons, the production area of your olive oil isn’t a clear indication that it’s a more superior oil. In fact, the true test of the olive oils quality comes down to the production level. How a producer sources, handles, and packages the oil will play a very large role in ensuring quality.

We are proud to source all of our oils at D’Olivo from Veronica Foods who takes the utmost care in all areas of production. Olives used in production are sourced from a variety of locations to ensure the freshest fruit is used, depending on the time of year. In addition, each oil must meet 33 internal parameters to earn the Ultra Premium (UP) designation that all of our oils carry.

Myth #3 – The Quality of Olive Oil Can Be Seen in the Color

Another falsehood that many believe is that you’ll be able to tell the quality of the oil based on its color. The color of an oil is determined by many factors during production and a high quality oil can appear dark green, lighter yellow, and many that are freshly produced may even appear cloudy.

We recommend that you look for other factors to determine the quality of your oil including freshness, taste, how it’s packaged and stored, and we always recommend purchasing from a trusted retailer.

Myth #4 – Olive Oil is like Wine – Better With Age

While wine is one of those products that improves with age, olive oil is not. It’s actually extremely important to the quality of the oil that it be fresh. When purchasing an oil you want to pay attention to the harvest date on the label. Similarly, once you’ve opened your bottle of oil make sure that you use it up in a reasonable amount of time to ensure it doesn’t go rancid.

Myth #5 – All Olive Oil is Created Equal

While it would be great if this were true, it just simply isn’t the case. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the top of the line when it comes to oils. Made from the first pressing of olives, and done at temperatures below 85 degrees (cold-pressing) these oils maintain all of the health benefits of the olives themselves.

Other olive oils on the market that do not carry the extra virgin designation are more likely to be altered or mixed with a lower quality oil like canola or vegetable.

January 8, 2021

Health Tips to Start 2021 Off on the Right Foot

If you’re like most of the world, then the holiday season is one full of laughter, joy, and lots of delicious foods. While the celebrations typically continue from Thanksgiving through the New Year all the eating and drinking often leads people to desire a healthier start to the next year.

If you’re one of those people looking for ways to get a jump start with a healthier regimen then the products we offer at D’Olivo are perfect for you. To help you kick start the year we’ve compiled a few ways to utilize these products to your advantage.

Salad Dressing

Salads are a great lunch option for busy days and they also make a delicious side for practically any dinner you’re preparing. Whether they are serving as the main course or a side dish you can get a healthier dressing by relying on olive oils and vinegars instead of the traditional, creamier dressing options. These oil and vinegar dressings don’t have to be boring either. You can create any number of combinations with our selection of over 100 oils and vinegars. For example, you could enjoy our Raspberry balsamic vinegar as a dressing by itself or mix it with the Herbes de Provence or Lemon olive oil.

Change Up Snack Time

Snack time isn’t something that’s always easy to cut out, and you shouldn’t need to, just make slight adjustments to what you’re snacking on and how it’s prepared. Try making vegetable muffins, like these Elderberry Zucchini and Carrot ones, to replace those morning cravings for sugar. If you’re more of a salt lover, then try popcorn popped with our butter olive oil and salted with any of our specialty salts available in store – we would recommend trying the black truffle salt to start.

Replace Your Cooking Oils and Butter with Olive Oil

We’ve covered this in depth a couple of times, but olive oil provides numerous health benefits when compared to other cooking oils and butter. Using olive oil can be equally tasty too. If you’re looking for ways to increase your health for the new year then we strongly suggest switching out what you’re cooking with. For specific details check out our blog on cooking oils and substituting olive oil in your baking.

Remove the Calories from Your Drinks

Looking to cut calories in other areas without sacrificing taste? Balsamic vinegars are the perfect way to do just that. Create a mocktail out of seltzer water and any one of our flavorful vinegars to create a low calorie and refreshing beverage. The vinegar can provide a natural sweetness that doesn’t come with unhealthy sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Naturally Care for Your Skin and Hair

While it’s true that consuming olive oil is great for your overall health, there are also a number of benefits to using it in beauty care (https://dolivotastingbar.com/olive-oil-for-skin/). In fact, olive oil is becoming increasingly popular in the beauty industry for just this reason. As you look to detox in 2021, consider adding some natural products into your routine. From body washes and lotions to shampoos, our products from the Olive Oil Skincare Company are the perfect way to accomplish this.

Summary

Overall, 2020 was a year that many people want to put behind them, and we can understand that sentiment. As 2021 starts off and you’re looking for ways to get back on track, consider implementing these tips to help make small, incremental changes for the long-term.

We’d love to help you get started with your goals for the new year, so stop in to see us during regular store hours Monday-Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM. One of our well-trained staff members would be happy to walk you through a full tasting experience and can provide excellent recommendations on pairing our oils and vinegars. Plus you can explore all of our other great products from skincare to Le Creuset cookware and Wusthof knives.