Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Fresh - Sourced - Tasted
Extra virgin olive oil is our passion at The Pasta Shop. We take steps that not many retailers do to ensure that we're bringing you the best-quality, freshest and most delicious extra virgin olive oil available. These are just some of the reasons we've been given the Retail Recognition Award by the California Olive Oil Council.
Every year, as the new oils begin to become available, (usually mid-January), we begin the long and arduous process of tasting our way through the hundreds of extra virgin olive oils available in the US. Olive oils from California and Italy, Spain and Greece, Morocco and Tunisia. We're lucky enough to have IOC (International Olive Oil Council) certified tasters on staff and their expertise is invaluable in our assessments. The current harvest of every oil is tasted and compared - just because we've carried an oil before does not mean we will do so again. Extra virgin olive oil is very much like wine - different every year based on a huge number of factors.
Using Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is so versatile in the home kitchen, from dressing salads to finishing desserts, we're always finding new ways to enjoy this staple. High quality extra virgin olive oil is best enjoyed raw or gently heated, because high-heat breaks down the composition of extra virgin olive oil and renders it not only flavorless, but less healthful. We do use extra virgin olive oil for sauteing in our kitchens and recommend you do so as well, but the key is to cook quickly and not let the pan get too hot. The Pasta Shop carries a great variety of extra virgin olive oils, all meeting our standards for taste, source and quality, at different price levels for all of your needs.
With these tips in mind, please see below for a few ideas on how to best use extra virgin olive oil.
Storing Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil is a perishable product and should be stored in a dark place, tightly covered. The refrigerator is not a good place, contrary to many what books say. Neither is next to the stove or oven - the heat will degrade the quality of the oil.
Unopened, the bottled oil should last up to 18 months. Once it's been opened, we recommend finishing the bottle within a few months.
Suggested Uses
- Dress grain salads, (farro, bulgur, quinoa), with a mix of extra virgin olive oil and sherry or red wine vinegar.
- Finish grilled beef with a drizzle of a bold, spicy extra virgin olive oil.
- Serve vanilla ice cream with a fruity, green extra virgin olive oil and flaky sea salt.
- Pour into a pot of warm beans like cannelini, flagelots or even pinto.
- Season sliced, raw fish with a delicate, floral extra virgin olive oil.
- Add a good pour to a pot of finished polenta, rather than butter. Try the same with risotto.
- Make a simple cake batter with extra virgin olive oil. Serve the cake with strawberries drizzled with balsamic and black pepper.
