Olive Oil 101

From our research, olive oil tasting events are new to West Michigan. If you’re like me and are wondering what exactly goes on at an olive oil tasting then read the short summary below and learn more. Our staff and board are getting excited for this event and we find each day we are learning more and more about olive oil than we ever thought possible.

About the event:
The Essence of Olive Oil is all about gourmet olive oil and great food. Olive oil enriches the food experience. Participants will develop a personal frame of reference for tasting olive oil and will learn more about buying, storing, and cooking with gourmet olive oil.

Field Reichardt of The Organic Olive Oil Company will lead the group in a short tasting of four oils. The first will be a grocery store variety olive oil; then we will taste three gourmet olive oils from The Organic Olive Oil Company. To finish the tasting, Field will have the group return to the grocery store oil for one final comparison.

Following the tasting, Chef Maria Cristina of Ristorante Le Torri in Peidmonte, Italy will serve classic Italian dishes utilizing two of the gourmet olive oils just tasted. She will explain why she paired her dishes with these particular oils and talk about the characteristics each oil brings to the dish.  

Click Here to Listen to a Podcast with George Ranville and Field Reichardt on the WGVU Morning Show

What’s on the Menu:
Focaccia served with Salami on the side
Bruschetta with tomatoes and eggplant
Salad with chicken dressed with extra virgin olive oil
Penne all'arrabbiata - penne pasta with tomato sauce, capers, and black olives - spicy
Risotto with asparagus
Milanese Chicken, Grilled vegetables with garlic breading

~Matt Chapman
Director of Marketing & Special Events