Day 10. Our Blind Olive Oil Tasting
HOME– What a fun night! Our friends Kasey and Aaron walked over, bearing arms full of olive oil from Napa Valley and their recent trip to the Andalusia region of Spain. We brought out the Cordoba bottle- our gift from Spain, along with another gift bottle my friends Beca and Toan brought back from Istanbul, and a cooking quality olive oil ringer from our local Earth Fare.
We poured finger bowls full of oil, mixed them up until there was no way to remember what bowl went with what oil. We kept the cheat cards, turned down, rotating along with the oils. One by one, we dipped in small chunks of hot baked bread.
It’s amazing how complex good olive oils are and how different each one tastes. We were also relieved to taste the grocery store version last and, without knowing, know immediately that this was the ringer! Comparatively, it tastes like vegetable oil, oily in the way that it coats your throat and causes your stomach to panic.
The other oils are so smooth and flavorful, you could be drinking a flight of wine.
Our synopsis: A good bottle of olive oil costs between 20.00 and 40.00 dollars and is well worth the cost, considering the pleasure can last for a month of meals, compared to a single night with a good bottle of wine. Not that we spared the wine, of course, but tonight we decanted an inexpensive organic Spanish red wine, from Trader Joe’s that tasted like a far more expensive wine than its price tag. Thank you, Trader Joes. And cheers, my little Olive Oils!
November 11th, 2009 at 6:23 am
[...] Paper Apron | Day 10. Our Blind Olive Oil Tasting http://www.paperapron.com/?p=3316 – view page – cached HOME– What a fun night! Our friends Kasey and Aaron walked over, bearing arms full of olive oil from Napa Valley and their recent trip to the Andalusia region of Spain. We brought out the Cordoba… Read moreHOME– What a fun night! Our friends Kasey and Aaron walked over, bearing arms full of olive oil from Napa Valley and their recent trip to the Andalusia region of Spain. We brought out the Cordoba bottle- our gift from Spain, along with another gift bottle my friends Beca and Toan brought back from Istanbul, and a cooking quality olive oil ringer from our local Earth Fare. Read less [...]
November 12th, 2009 at 1:53 am
What a great activity with friends. Not really an adventurous as mountain climbing but I think it’s a fun way to spend with people you love. Simple, unpretentious and could be delicious.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:36 am
We just returned from the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival in San Francisco, and we attended an olive oil tasting there. It was very informative. I think I am going to have one at home, thanks for the idea.
LL
December 1st, 2009 at 5:30 am
[...] My favorite taste of the month, was, hands down, the Carrot and Leek Tart. My favorite new sport? Blind Olive Oil Tastings. My favorite discovery? I had enough time. I suppose we all have enough time to do whatever it is [...]