Olive Oil

Things are bad enough here with wine stashed just about everywhere it can be stored, but now extra virgin olive oils seem to be accumulating as well. Pictured above are five that are used constantly. From the left, Zoe is a soft fruity Spanish oil that is relatively inexpensive and is a good every day oil

Next to Zoe is a 2008 harvest Sogno Toscano (Tuscan Dream). This oil is fruity up front but has a bite and bitterness in the finish. It's good in salad dressings and on pasta.

In the middle is the last little bit of a 2007 pressing of Marques de Valdueza. This Spanish oil is from four different types of olives, Arbequina, Hojiblanca, Morisca and Picual. It's superb over pasta and as a simple dip for crusty bread. There's a 2008 pressing of this oil in the cupboard also.

Next in line is a single varietal oil from the California Olive Ranch. It's 100% Arbequina oil. Light, fruity, iridescent green and tasty. There are a couple of bottles of the 2009 November pressing on order and they should be here in early December.

On the right is a Vera Jane 2008 pressing oil from Tuscany. This is a store brand for Dorothy Lane Markets. Green and fruity with the typical Tuscan kick of pepper and bitterness at the end.

Each is a little different and each is quite good. Of course there are other oils in the house as well, a small bottle of white truffle oil in the refrigerator, grape seed oil for sauteeing, expeller pressed canola oil, safflower oil, corn oil, walnut oil and peanut oil. Don't get me started on the vinegars!

Addictions can be wonderful things, expensive sometimes, but always wonderful.