Everyone loves my Mom’s recipe for apple cake. It calls for Wesson oil, but tonight, I decided to replace 1/2 the oil with blood orange infused olive oil my cousin, Michael Keller makes from his company Calolea Olive Oil. YUM!
The 16th annual Rivers of Chocolate Fundraiser, will be held on April 29, 2012, 1pm to 5 pm in Saratoga’s Mountain Winery. Rivers of Chocolate has established itself as one of the best chocolate and wine tasting events in Northern California. Proceeds from the event benefit EHC LifeBuilders. EHC LifeBuilders is one of Santa Clara County’s main providers of support services, housing, and shelter to homeless individuals, families, veterans, & youth. This year Calolea Olive Oil will join over 70 chocolatiers, restaurateurs, breweries, spirit makers, & wineries, who will all donate their amazing confections & time. The guests, many of whom come year after year, delight in savory delights: rich chocolate creations, pastries, hors d’oeuvres, ice cream, gelato, wine, beer, and spirits – all while supporting a good cause. Take in the breathtaking views of the Mountain Winery, listen to live music, and participate in a fun live and silent auction. Join us for an incredible day! Please visit www.riversofchocolate.org.
Our YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJgvRSlUug0
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, we had some customers in this weekend who were so happy to see your oil in our shop because they really loved it. They were up from California visiting their daughter who was at the University of Portland (nearby and we get a lot of students bringing parents by the shop when they are showing off their town on a visit) and it was something they were so happy and very surprised to see up here in Portland. It’s always great when people get excited about a product they love and are happy to find it in the shop.
5. Calolea Olive Oils and Vinegars: With best-in-show and best-in-class awards over the years for several of their California extra virgin olive oils, Calolea is a top-flight producer to follow. In fact, their Mission Blend was a 2011 Gold Medal Winner in the California Olive Oil Council competition. In addition to regular oils, they offer a crisp and lively Meyer Lemon Olive Oil, an Orange Olive Oil that is a blend of mandarin, blood and navel oranges, and a Garlic Olive Oil with a heady amount of the stinking rose. In fact, I used their garlic oil in a stir-fry of mixed veggies (asparagus, mushrooms, red onion, cabbage), and it elevated this simple dish to a higher plane. For the same dinner, I drizzled some of their Orange Olive Oil over my salad of mixed greens, tossed in a tablespoon of their 12-year-old White Balsamic Vinegar imported from Italy, and I effortlessly took my mundane lettuce to leafy green nirvana. I can’t wait to try all their amazing flavors in some of my favorite recipes. Speaking of which, I wonder how their oil would do over vanilla ice cream? (They are offering a 10% discount if you use the code MK10off on the website.)
Thank you Monica. I can’t wait to share your products–David and I enjoyed them so much. We were in the Castro district of San Francisco at Easter and fell upon the market there. I must admit that day was a wee torcherous in that we tasted the combo of lemon oil and white balsamic– I could drink it by the glass! Right across from your booth was a vendor selling the most beautiful mixed greens with edible flowers. As we were staying in a hotel and did not have a kitchen, we could not do any food prep. Being cooks, that was torture. : ) We were surrounded by fabulous ingredients and heavenly bread.
Happy holidays to you all,
Colette
Mimi the Sardine Store
Comments: I just picked up a bottle of your blood orange olive oil today at the Farmer’s Market in Newark. It was so delicious, so I decided I had to cook with it immediately. I used it to make pizza dough, so it was in the dough and I also brushed it on top of the dough before piling on toppings. It was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! Oh my gosh, AMAZING! I can’t wait to experiment more with this delicious olive oil! I hope that you are regulars at the Farmer’s Market because I’ll be sure to buy another bottle… and another… and another! I’m so glad that I found your booth today!
Calolea wins at Paso Robles 8th Annual Olive Oil Festival, “Silver Medal” for their
Mission 2011 amongst 50 California olive grower’s. Special mention to Pierce Family Farm
for their award winning heirloom tomatoes at “High Hand’s Tomato Gathering”. Mary
from Pierce Family Farms is also a Senior Sales person for Calolea Olive Oil, Go Mary!!
“South, also won Best in Show as the Best Tasting; a beautiful ‘Rainbow’ grown by Pierce Family Farms won for Best All Other Colors; and a beautiful cluster of a perennial favorite”.
