Olive oil snobbery

[Duke_of_Rat]

@Speak_to_me_Maddie

America’s Test Kitchen - *Cook’s Illustrated *did a blind taste test of EVOOs that are common in supermarkets. The article is here. You may have to subscribe to see the taste test results.

Their top three: Columela $18, Lucini Italia Premium Select $19, Colavita $18.

The bottom three were: Carapelli, Davinci, Star.

Heh, Colavita is the best my local supermarket carries.

I’ve been on a bruschetta craze lately, and I love the smell of French bread toasting with olive oil.

Tonight’s batch:

French bread toasted with a smear of Colavita, garlic rubbed around the crust.

4 Romas blanched/peeled/gutted/diced
5 kalamata olives, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
several basil leaves, diced
1/2 roasted sweet red pepper, diced
Some feta, crumbled
Dash fresh black pepper

Mix all that with a little olive oil and a touch of balsamic vinegar, let steep for a bit.

Apply to toasted garlic bread, lightly salt.

I absolutely loath fresh tomatoes, but this is something I can eat like it’s going out of style. The olives and peppers are a recent addition, but man this was a good batch. Sinfully good.

[Chronos]

Just stay away from the “light” olive oils, which are processed to leave them with as little flavor as possible. If you don’t want flavor, then save yourself some money and just get Canola or the like.