Apr 2023 | Culinary Lifestyle Round-Up
Oil and Vinegar, Non-Stick Skillet, and MORE...!
Each month, I gather and share helpful and interesting tidbits relating to food, wine, kitchen tools or tips, articles or books, travel, and music that help shape my culinary lifestyle. Use them as guides and inspiration. And, feel free to share some of your own.
I currently receive no compensation for any products or brands listed here. I simply enjoy sharing the information.
FOOD
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar
Those of you who know me know that I love using good-quality extra virgin olive oil and aged and infused balsamic vinegar. I took a deep dive into these products when I was the chef and culinary director for an oil and vinegar company.
Olive oil and balsamic vinegar are both central to a healthier, Mediterranean way of cooking. For such a narrow set of ingredients, they have almost limitless uses that lend a unique flavor and a high level of complexity to everything from entrees, side dishes, sauces, and vinaigrettes to beverages and desserts. I continue to love using them and consider them a secret ingredient.
At any point in time, my pantry generally has two types of extra virgin olive oil and a variety of traditional and fruit-infused balsamic vinegar. For the olive oil, I keep one that is good quality for everyday use, such as California Olive Ranch Everyday Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. The second olive oil is a high-quality bottle for use in vinaigrettes and for finishing dishes such as a drizzle over fish, vegetables, or risotto. I purchase these from specialty shops, along with my various types of balsamic vinegar.
When shopping for olive oils and balsamic vinegar, I suggest learning about where they are sourced, their level of quality, and their freshness. Sample if possible, especially the vinegar flavors - there are many fun and delicious options. Many shops refill or recycle bottles with a discount applied to your purchase, and offer frequent purchase programs.
I visit oil and vinegar shops almost everywhere I go, checking out quality, variety, and pricing. Here are three I recommend.
Navidi’s (Camas, WA)
The Olive Grove (Mendota Heights, MN)
Peak Olive Oil Company (Cary, NC)
WINE
My husband and I recently were gifted a bottle of Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. Although we are familiar with the brand name, we had not tried any of the wines. According to their website, this is the wine “that started it all”. I’d say it’s a good, solid one at that!
We were impressed with this bottle - full of fruit, and complex without being heavy. It would pair well with pasta, roasted vegetables, cheeses, beans, beef and pork, and rich soups and stews.
The tasting notes from the winemaker state:
Round and juicy, our Cabernet Sauvignon has flavors of blackberry, toasted hazelnut and cinnamon, complemented by hints of vanilla and toasted oak.
For the price point, it’s a wonderful option for an all-around, delicious red wine.
COOKWARE
A good quality non-stick skillet is an essential piece of cookware in any kitchen. This one - OXO Non-Stick Pro 12 Inch Frypan - is a more recent addition to my kitchen and one I highly recommend. It’s well-made, sturdy yet lightweight, and has a comfortable handle. It is truly non-stick, as well. The acid test in my home is if the eggs slide easily out of the pan, which happens when using this pan.
The 12-inch size is nice and is used on a regular basis in my home, but it is also available in a 10-inch size if that better fits your needs.
Cook’s Illustrated reviewed and recommended this pan, as well. To take a deep dive into their testing and analysis, you can read about it here.
TRAVEL ARTICLE
I love to travel, and when not traveling, I am dreaming of the next trip. I collect travel information like some people collect jewels, knick-knacks, or coins. I have travel files of itineraries taken (with annotated notes, of course), others that are planned, and semi-planned, a list of countries and cities to visit, recommended hotels, restaurants, markets, specialty food products, sights to see, food tours, other experiences to have, and so on. You get the drift. Thank goodness for paperless storage.
My husband and I traveled to Spain a few years ago and so enjoyed the unique look, feel, and food of the cities we visited. Our itinerary did not include time in San Sebastian but I have heard so many positive things from several sources that it’s high on my “next time” list. Here is a post written by David Lebovitz, a fellow culinary person, about his most recent visit to this wonderful city. If you are like me, you’ll want to tuck this one away for future reference - it’s filled with helpful details about food and experiences! At the very least, take a read and let yourself be dreamily whisked away even temporarily.
San Sebastian, Spain - David Lebovitz
MUSIC
And finally, something you may enjoy adding to your cooking playlist… Adore You by Harry Stiles.
Thanks for reading!
— S.
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