Olive oil

[pops 7007]

If there's already a thread, I couldn't find it. If there is, delete and ban.

It is probably my most used condiment when cooking. I don't trust any of the European brands because it's all bullshit. So I switched to California brand a couple years ago because they have to actually use olive oil if they call it olive oil here in this country. Problem is because of growth or the fires or whatever, their shit now has stuff sourced in Portugal or Spain or wherever and they call it "destination" series now. 

I just want olive oil. Good, fruity, tasty, fucking olive oil. What does the surly cognescentti recommend?

[futureman 22562]

[Incredulity 11684]

19 minutes ago, pops said:

If there's already a thread, I couldn't find it. If there is, delete and ban.

It is probably my most used condiment when cooking. I don't trust any of the European brands because it's all bullshit. So I switched to California brand a couple years ago because they have to actually use olive oil if they call it olive oil here in this country. Problem is because of growth or the fires or whatever, their shit now has stuff sourced in Portugal or Spain or wherever and they call it "destination" series now. 

I just want olive oil. Good, fruity, tasty, fucking olive oil. What does the surly cognescentti recommend?

Costco extra virgin giganto jug 

[AustinMT 952]

Napa Valley Olive Oil Co.  Little barn place a few blocks off 29 in St. Helena. We always stock up when we are out there,  but you can buy online.  On the online store, it’s the “Family Blend EVOO.”  

They have been in business for almost 90 years: 

https://www.nvoliveoilmfg.com/

 

[gmr548 16617]

I also am a heavy OO user and did some research into this myself recently. Trader Joe's evidently has a couple of EVOO good options, which pleased me because I often end up getting mine there. I really like Texas Olive Ranch, and it's nice that it's local(ish), but it is priced above a TJ's obviously. I've never had Costco brand but I have read that is really good, and real.

[Neonmoon 38130]

What are some good brands to buy for real olive oil?

[Surly Bevo 25255]

[Braff Zacklin 13670]

Strongly recommend this brand. Just ... you know, pay in cash.

[tx 3 putt 77650]

heb organics is good for me. lot of people like the kirkland brand. 

 

https://www.heb.com/product-detail/central-market-extra-virgin-olive-oil/736504

https://www.heb.com/product-detail/h-e-b-organics-extra-virgin-olive-oil/1739781

https://www.heb.com/product-detail/central-market-organics-extra-virgin-olive-oil/713643#product-description

 

[Topper13 3413]

The Costco/Kirkland evoo is legit. And cheap, for what it is. It gets great reviews, as well.

 

[UnivTex34 1763]

My wife works for a large grocer based in Texas, developing own brand products. Several years ago she led the project for re-doing the grocer’s own brand of OO. She is no longer developing those types of products, but she still outwardly curses every time we walk by the OO at Costco, and sees the price. Price for quality there is pretty much nothing else in its category. We go through 4 jugs a year.

[pops 7007]

I'll get a jug of the Costco stuff. Thanks for the recs.  Didn't even think of them 

We Olive out of San Louis Obispo is the best tasting stuff I've ever had. And I keep a bottle at all times but that isn't really good for bulk cooking (not a surly 1%)

[AustinMT 952]

4 minutes ago, pops said:

I'll get a jug of the Costco stuff. Thanks for the recs.  Didn't even think of them 

We Olive out of San Louis Obispo is the best tasting stuff I've ever had. And I keep a bottle at all times but that isn't really good for bulk cooking (not a surly 1%)

Costco is good, but you should really try the Napa Olive Oil I mentioned above.  Local California grown and manufactured.

[Anastasis 23471]

We use the Costco jugs for most things and olive oil from Hudson vineyards in Napa for the others. 

[52-80 19274]

Can you actually tell the difference, when used for cooking?  I've bought cheap, expensive, Greek, Spanish, Italian, first press, cold press, and it's all the same to me.

 

For dipping or dressing, perhaps a different matter...

[kevwun 15938]

Frantoia is good.  A lot of chefs use it.  It is from Sicily iirc.  It’s is a little pricey though.

[After irth 1245]

Did a taste test of the readily available brands years ago, and was amazed at the differences. 

Purely novice and subjective opinion here, but Filippo Berio is the only Olive Oil used in my kitchen. 

[gsoda3 3284]

unless you guys are super tasters there's no way you can taste the difference between oo heated up to the point of frying/sauteeing or any other cooking above 350.  olive oil used as a finisher, yes you can definitely tell a difference.  but if you're sweating onions/carrots/celery?  no way.  we use the costco stuff for anything that gets hot and there's a little olive oil store in the arboretum where you can go and taste test different kinds of oil-  we get oil from there we use cold (dressings, vinaigrettes, etc).  otherwise HEB's spanish olive oil selection is pretty decent too. 

[achooloco 1086]

On 11/21/2019 at 10:10 PM, UnivTex34 said:

Price for quality there is pretty much nothing else in its category.

i think i know what your post is implying but i honestly have never heard of this phrase (unless either (a) there is a typo there or (b) i'm a little too drunk from losing on gambling and the horns shitting the bed...again)

[UnivTex34 1763]

29 minutes ago, achooloco said:

i think i know what your post is implying but i honestly have never heard of this phrase (unless either (a) there is a typo there or (b) i'm a little too drunk from losing on gambling and the horns shitting the bed...again)

Wife has worked a decade in grocery buying, its used a ton by her industry. But I’ll drink to it....

[Celery Man 21021]

I didn’t know about the fake olive oil thing. I had Spanish roommates in college who always used la Espanola, and so I usually have oil out of the big can of that in pour bottle on the counter and something moderately fancier (and Spanish) in the pantry.

[After irth 1245]

8 hours ago, gsoda3 said:

unless you guys are super tasters there's no way you can taste the difference between oo heated up to the point of frying/sauteeing or any other cooking above 350.  olive oil used as a finisher, yes you can definitely tell a difference.  but if you're sweating onions/carrots/celery?  no way.  we use the costco stuff for anything that gets hot and there's a little olive oil store in the arboretum where you can go and taste test different kinds of oil-  we get oil from there we use cold (dressings, vinaigrettes, etc).  otherwise HEB's spanish olive oil selection is pretty decent too. 

Seems like a lot of words to say: “I’m a mediocre cook.”

[gsoda3 3284]

10 hours ago, After irth said:

Seems like a lot of words to say: “I’m a mediocre cook.”

my kids just say "eww".

[52-80 19274]

15 hours ago, Celery Man said:

I didn’t know about the fake olive oil thing. I had Spanish roommates in college who always used la Espanola, and so I usually have oil out of the big can of that in pour bottle on the counter and something moderately fancier (and Spanish) in the pantry.

Mafia used to be big into the olive oil trade.  They used to get their hands on a gigantic % of the export.  Not sure how much of that is still true today

 

[Dewey 3299]

That's why I buy the California brand, in that state, they grade their OO, so you should know that it's actually approved EV. Not sure how they go about knowing 100% certainty with this "destination " OO. 

[Mack Tripper 696]

This is the better stuff to get from Costco. It's DOP Tuscan. They release it every year from Fall to Spring. It's better than the big jugs. 

[Bateshorn 9942]

On 11/21/2019 at 11:02 PM, pops said:

I'll get a jug of the Costco stuff. Thanks for the recs.  Didn't even think of them 

We Olive out of San Louis Obispo is the best tasting stuff I've ever had. And I keep a bottle at all times but that isn't really good for bulk cooking (not a surly 1%)

Mack Tripper beat me to it:  in addition to the jug Kirkland stuff, they usually have an even more high end variety in a smaller container if you don't go through enormous amounts of the stuff. I picked up a 750ml of Cobram California EVOO there a month ago.

[Bateshorn 9942]

20 hours ago, 52-80 said:

Mafia used to be big into the olive oil trade.  They used to get their hands on a gigantic % of the export.  Not sure how much of that is still true today

 

It's a huge problem in Italy still.  A lot of italian EVOO, even the high end stuff is just canola oil with food coloring.

[C-Man 27293]

There was a long EVOO discussion in another group a few months back (see links) and that led me to Iliada, a PDO-certified Greek brand I can get at Central Market. We use that for "cold" uses, dipping bread, making salad dressings, etc. I usually pick up the standard CM to use in my cooking. Trader Joe's brand rates well IIRC too. Hear California Olive Ranch is good.

https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/drinks/a24284/nicholas-coleman-olive-oil-quotes/?fbclid=IwAR1cYIRMWAzJ345YqdljJR6VxTxM291fhqwgF63qCRLna3EjOdfzHNymtbw

https://www.realfoodforlife.com/the-complete-list-of-authentic-extra-virgein-olive-oils-and-how-to-buy/?fbclid=IwAR0YCiJ-6H-OOwWIbuOjLkcbodtBkZyaeWmVc2UOAps1yNSRqQx1Q96LiPI

[jimmyjazz 46351]

I was using HEB/Central Market organics for cooking when the labeling SEEMED clear as to origin, but things are getting murkier.  In a similar vein I've been buying California Olive Ranch for salad dressings, etc. but now you have to really pay attention to the label.

Might be back to CostCo for me, I just don't trust most of these bottlers.

[CHIEF 5095]

I use Ottavio EVOO from HEB as my everyday oil. I read one of the articles above a couple of years back and it showed to be legit. I have several special EVOOs for caprese salads, and to pour onto pasta dishes. San Saba Olive Company has some good ones, I also have some from a trip to Philly from the Tubby Olive, which are pretty good.

https://www.sansabaoliveoilcompany.com

CHIEF

[NoName 16423]

15 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

I was using HEB/Central Market organics for cooking when the labeling SEEMED clear as to origin, but things are getting murkier.  In a similar vein I've been buying California Olive Ranch for salad dressings, etc. but now you have to really pay attention to the label.

Might be back to CostCo for me, I just don't trust most of these bottlers.

this is what I have noticed a ton of professional cooking folks (BA, NYT, etc) using in videos. May all be paid promotion, but doubt it based on the fact they never mention it specifically or by name...

I like this Frankies 457 Spuntino from Amazon but it isn't cheap (DOP certified, it is what the Franks use in their restaurants) but it isn't a daily use OO

https://www.amazon.com/Frankies-Spuntino-Extra-Virgin-Olive/dp/B0058VCU5O

 

[next2naus 439]

they grow and process really good Olive Oil in Temecula CA. I won't tell you what I buy there but its from a Wine maker and it's the tits

[Anastasis 23471]

Why won’t you tell us what you buy?

[Mack Tripper 696]

17 hours ago, Anastasis said:

Why won’t you tell us what you buy?

No shit, olive oil is some serious cloak and dagger business 

[Deej 77003]

19 hours ago, Anastasis said:

Why won’t you tell us what you buy?

 

[tx 3 putt 77650]

On 11/25/2019 at 6:07 PM, CHIEF said:

I use Ottavio EVOO from HEB 

Great rec, thanks 

[WhatTheBuck 28822]

On December 1, 2019 at 8:18 PM, next2naus said:

they grow and process really good Olive Oil in Temecula CA. I won't tell you what I buy there but its from a Wine maker and it's the tits

I have an even better source for olive oil and I'm not going to tell you what it is. So there. Feel the burn. 

[South Austin 52659]

I’m not even going to tell you what olive oil I use when I masturbate.

[CHIEF 5095]

On 12/1/2019 at 7:18 PM, next2naus said:

they grow and process really good Olive Oil in Temecula CA. I won't tell you what I buy there but its from a Wine maker and it's the tits

Good to know, Mrs. CHIEF's California office is in Perris, and she stays in Temecula. I'll have her ship some home.

CHIEF

[next2naus 439]

not my double secret stuff but good stuff as well

 

https://www.temeculaoliveoil.com/

[Vertuzzi 1401]

Bumping this thread. 
 

Wanted to post about a fantastic Greek EVOO I’ve been consuming for the past two years. Messiniako Early Harvest EVOO. Some of the best olive oil I’ve had in my life. Great with salads, but my personal favorite is simply enjoying it with a piece of sourdough. Made from 100% koroneiki olives in Androusa, Greece. 

[tigol 2411]

6 hours ago, Vertuzzi said:

Bumping this thread. 
 

Wanted to post about a fantastic Greek EVOO I’ve been consuming for the past two years. Messiniako Early Harvest EVOO. Some of the best olive oil I’ve had in my life. Great with salads, but my personal favorite is simply enjoying it with a piece of sourdough. Made from 100% koroneiki olives in Androusa, Greece. 

Care to link us, VIto?

[ztejas 43604]

7 hours ago, Vertuzzi said:

Bumping this thread. 
 

Wanted to post about a fantastic Greek EVOO I’ve been consuming for the past two years. Messiniako Early Harvest EVOO. Some of the best olive oil I’ve had in my life. Great with salads, but my personal favorite is simply enjoying it with a piece of sourdough. Made from 100% koroneiki olives in Androusa, Greece. 

[freyguy 4306]

just paid $35 for a gallon of Hill Country Fair brand.  What the hell?

[texasdago 7589]

2 hours ago, freyguy said:

just paid $35 for a gallon of Hill Country Fair brand.  What the hell?

How quickly do you go through olive oil?  Also, provenance of said olives sound sketchy

[HenryJames 66228]

More like fryguy amirite.

[freyguy 4306]

Hey, all I can say is that it's good for the skin

[Captain Ron 12935]

A buddy of mine has a hook up with a family that imports EVOO from Italy. They bring in FAM brand. I generally get a few gallons at a time. Usually 6 cans of the organic (green) and 1-2 cans of the intense (blue). It's really good stuff.

 

[sidis 9832]

On 11/23/2019 at 10:05 PM, gsoda3 said:

unless you guys are super tasters there's no way you can taste the difference between oo heated up to the point of frying/sauteeing or any other cooking above 350.  olive oil used as a finisher, yes you can definitely tell a difference.  but if you're sweating onions/carrots/celery?  no way.  we use the costco stuff for anything that gets hot and there's a little olive oil store in the arboretum where you can go and taste test different kinds of oil-  we get oil from there we use cold (dressings, vinaigrettes, etc).  otherwise HEB's spanish olive oil selection is pretty decent too. 

why the hell are you using olive oil to fry or sautee above 350? good lord people.

anyway, if you want the best olive oil, here you go:

https://mannioil.com/