ottawa foodies

Just wondering which brands of olive oil, supermarket or otherwise, people are using and like?

Right now I am using Terra Foods olive oil. This olive oil has a distinct peppery flavour and it's definitely my favourite. I usually buy it at Market Organics although you can also get it at all Natural Food Pantries, Rainbow Foods, and the farmers market in Old Ottawa South.

I also like Irini olive oil (Greek) and Olio Carli (Italian) for salad dressings. I use a virgin olive oil for stirfries but the name escapes me right now...

I use Olio Carli as an everyday oil... I use Bertoli for cooking, and I have a rotation of higher end Tuscan olive oils for dipping.

I cook with Colavita and dip with a gift from a friend from Italy La Sorgente.

This is a pretty timely thread for me.

If anybody is interested, I have about half a ton of Greek organic EVOO.

Background: I recently bought a property near Koroni, Messinia, southern Greece (the origin of the Koroneïki olive which gives the region's oil its renown).

The farmer I hired to tidy up the olive grove that occupies half my property, was able to produce about 400kg this year. When I bought the property in 2008, my intent was to build a holiday home, I had no plan to become an olive oil producer haha. Anyway, needless to say, I have a lot of oil I need to unload.

For the big consumers, I can provide the oil in a 17L tin which is how it ships from Greece. I can also sell in smaller quantities, new glass bottles or I can refill your own. Please message me here or call me at home, Nick 819-684-6958. I can even arrange a tasting at my house.

my favourite, when I can get it, is Mustafa's from Morocco, so fragrant and floral. In a pinch I will go with a higher end Spanish. Never tried Greek EVOO, perhaps

For everyday cooking I use bertolli or PC, but for dipping or using to finish soups/salads I have been trying different kinds of estate bottled olive oils from Nicastro, or sometimes Home Sense. Current favorite as tested on the CI site is Columela.

My favorite place to buy olive oil (and vinegars) is Zingermans in Ann Arbor, MI. (www.zingermans.com) Why? Because they have open containers of everything (regardless of ticket price) and you can taste before buying. Also the staff is knowledgeable and you never get a shoulder shrug and an "I dunno". (If for some odd reason someone is unfamiliar or stumped they usually find you someone who does know.)

We do not go often but when I do its an expensive trip AND I take notes on what I felt about things for later orders. Also judging by the products I ma familiar with, the website's flavour and texture description is fairly accurate and helpful.

For years now I have adored this French, Maussane Olive Oil: www.zingermans.com I like using it almost as a cool pourable butter substitute. It takes it up a notch for light and summary dishes.

If memory serves me correctly (not near my notes right now), this Australian, Moutere Grove Olive Oil was a more assertive favourite:
www.zingermans.com

As a basic I usually go for Nicastro's can and pour into smaller bottles to keep handy and make it easier to lift/pour: www.labottega.ca (We've had the odd can from other markets and it was hit and miss. Sadly didn't note what they were but remember being thrilled once and the other times meh.) Yes, I like the selection of oils and vinegars at Bottega and Nicastros BUT you can't taste, there is rarely someone there and willing to help with an opinion (and is knowledgeable enough to help with an informed opinion they read the bottles too and you can do that just as well by yourself).

Those are the oils that are our kitchen faves and are usually there (along with a vegetable oil, a peanut oil and an avocado oil). There are also ones that were gifts and a few random pick ups.

My sister and I have imported olive oil from my parent's home town in Calabria, Italy and I use this for most of my cooking.

I like O olive oils.
They are pressed in California from California oilives apparently and they are supposed to be the only company that presses citrus fruits with the olives.

Farm Boy carries that brand,but last year O Olive oils had a deal on a coupon site for 1/2 price vouchers for their site.
I kind of wish I had bought more vouchers.
The O vinegars are good too.

I also really like hazelnut oil and get the Tourangelle one and use that when I make grilled mushrooms,makes them taste so rich!

Depends what for. We use Nicastro's EVOO as our day to day and have a bunch of other types (Planeto and Campo di Torri are two on hand at the moment).

I buy the big 3 liter cans of whatever is Extra Virgin and a good price from the local megamart. I've tried some of the estate bottled, single-source or location specific bottles and found them all very interesting: some nuttier than others, some greener, no specific brand.