By Sylvie Ryan, Boise Co-op Culinary Educator

Olive oils are essential to the food lover’s kitchen! I always enjoy experimenting with them, and often have more then one bottle in my cupboard. They’re versatile and they simply bring out the best flavors in so many dishes. Here are my favorites from around the world, all of which you can find at the Boise Coop!

Mas du Gourgonnier: The Must-Have!
(From France)

Picture this: A palette of the most stunningly different greens, with views of endless rows of olives trees. Happy, strong, healthy!

You are in the most beautiful Provence region of France! It is Baux-de-Provence and we are at the Mas du Gourgonnier, to be exact. Luc and Eve Cartier take pride in nurturing the products they grow with love, patience and dedication. The mas du Gourgonnier’s wines and oils all come from organic agriculture. This pure liquid sensation is a non-filtered olive oil made with four traditional variety of olives: Salonenque, Grossane, Verdale and Beruguette. The Boise Co-op has marvelled at the Cartier’s quality of outstanding products for many years, and Drew at the Boise Co-op Wine Shop summed up our feelings toward this oil beautifully— after tasting it, he exclaimed “Yes, I had it with toasted bread and I thought, ‘Forget the bread, this is so good!” You, too, should experience this amazing and delicious condiment.

See the recipe below for a fabulous way to utilize this precious oil!

Basso Fedele& Figli: The Fresh and Grassy!
(From Italy)

Basso Fedele e Figli srl is a company that has been producing cooking oils since 1904. The production plant is located in Campania, which is the third olive oil production region of Italy. BASSO Extra Virgin Olive Oil is obtained without chemical treatment and obtained from the first cold press of healthy, ripe olives. This delicious oil is great when used raw or in cooked meals  It offers a very pleasing fresh olive flavor.  I find the chartreuse green color looks gorgeous when drizzled on a white plate.

Gaeta: The Sweet Bargain!
(From Italy)

The Italian castle dates back as far as the Byzantine Empire. Through its walls lies the region of Gaeta-Itri, Italy where Gaeta olives (rare and delicious) are grown on the hillside above the azure sea.

This is where John Fusco traced his roots to a family legacy of Olive trees that had lost their importance. The extra virgin olive oil from these groves was so extraordinary, with an acidity level far below the 1% international standard, that it was being purchased by cheap oil companies as an additive to improve the quality of their own oil.

When John learned that his family’s farms had been virtually abandoned, he focused his heart and mind to restoring them to their original condition and purpose. He spent a year in the olive fields handpicking the sun-drenched olives and mastering the growing secrets for a unique, delicious olive oil.

Nearly all mass-market olive oils are produced from a mixed selection of olive types grown in a variety of regions and climates. With varying olive types from harvest to harvest and inconsistent crop yields from year to year, it is impossible to compete with the quality of Gaeta olive oil, because Gaeta’s single-grove harvesting produces a quality and flavor consistency that can be relied upon forever. All Gaeta products are made from completely natural, organic, and/or kosher ingredients. I find this remarkably inexpensive oil to be perfect for every day use, as it perfectly enhances a multitude of raw and cooked dishes.

Yellingbo Gold: The Award-Winning Mild and Fruity!
(From Australia)

This olive oil is a mild, fruity blend of Manzanillo, Leccino, Frantoio and Barnea olives. It’s versatile and marries well with most any dish—as salads, vegetables, seafood and fish. Its delicate flavor will complement your favorite food without overwhelming the taste. Saveur Magazine had this to say about this lovely oil:

“Wonderful aromas of fresh fruit, lead to a creamy palate of sweet almonds and a mild lingering peppery finish…”

Australian Yellingbo donates 5% of their profits to the Jasmine Foundation to help support Children Orphinages. Find out more at: www.jasminefoundation.org.

Try out Sylvie’s
Elegant Figs with Prosciutto