When it comes to fancy schmancy dinners or get-togethers with friends that somehow always seem to center around food, all too often the appetizer and dessert courses are my favorites. Light bites before dinner take the edge off my hunger and frequently steal the show for me! I’m not sure how many times I’ve ended up full on appetizers before it was time for the main course!
A few weeks ago, Oliviers & Co. reached out to me about hosting a giveaway and offered to send me some of their naturally flavored specialty oils, vinegars, condiments and Mediterranean-themed goodies. I knew immediately that I wanted to try their high-quality olive oil (both flavored – like the lemon and olive oil or chili pepper olive oil – and original) and marinated olives, but I couldn’t resist sampling some of their spreads as well.
The process behind the creation of Oliviers & Co. olive oils is quite extensive. Olives must be hand-harvested when still green and olives of different origins are never pressed together, which would result in sub-standard oil. I was a little skeptical but I can honestly say I tasted a difference! Their olive oils were smoother, less acidic and tastier than the olive oil I typically buy at the grocery store.
In the end, I used the goodies I received to create a hodgepodge of appetizers that became dinner for me and Ryan on Tuesday night!
Hey, you won’t ever hear me complain about big ol’ snack plates or hors d’oeuvres for dinner! Oh, and one dessert popped up, too, because you know I can’t neglect my sweet tooth.
Here’s a roundup of what we enjoyed:
- Basil Pesto and Italian Cheese Crostini
Oh my gosh this appetizer was so darn delicious. Ryan had the idea to make little toast “pizzas” with the pesto. They were super easy to make and came together in a flash. After toasting sour dough baguette slices under the broiler, we topped them with a spread of basil and parmesan pesto and a sprinkling of shredded Italian cheeses before placing them back in the oven until the cheese started to melt. Simple, right!?
- Taggisaca Olives Feta and Tomato Salad
This salad is a dish I enjoyed at a college girlfriends’ apartment one time that totally stuck with me. She assured me it was crazy-simple to prepare and since I had some incredibly fragrant marinated Taggisaca black olives begging to be enjoyed, I combined them with fresh tomatoes and feta cheese for a simple salad that Ryan and I ate both on its own. (Watch out for the pits!) The lemon peel and chili used in the olive marinade made the flavors in this salad pop!
- Fig and Melon Goat Cheese Dip with Grissini Breadsticks
Sweet and savory! The best of both worlds. To make this dip, I combined the Oliviers & Co. fig and melon spread with creamy goat cheese and used Grissini (savory Italian breadsticks from Liguria, Italy that are made from both wheat and corn flour and olive oil) for dipping. (The Grissini I used appear to be sold out, but I think the sweet olive oil crackers would be great with this, too!) Yum!
- Olive Oil with Fresh Bread
A classic and with good reason! We dipped fresh bread into the olive & basil oil and the everyday olive oil and were instantly reminded why this simple appetizer is always a favorite. The basil olive oil was my favorite but I also enjoyed the light and slight lemony flavor of the everyday olive oil as well!
- Vanilla Ice Cream with Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar
The combination of rich, creamy ice cream with a tangy balsamic strawberries made this the perfect way to wrap up the day! Ryan was skeptical about the balsamic flavor with ice cream at first, but commented on the way it complimented the fresh berries and ice cream. (I followed a recipe from Ina Garten for this dish!)
Are you drooling yet!? I hope so because here is your chance to make some delicious appetizers and have some fun in the kitchen with Oliviers & Co.
Giveaway
One PBF reader will win $300 of Oliviers & Co. product (of your choice!). To enter this giveaway, simply click here, join the mailing list, browse the site and leave a comment below telling me what product(s) you’d most like to try! (Anyone who enters the giveaway will also receive 10 percent off their purchase!) I will randomly select a winner on Thursday, September 18. Please note that this giveaway is open to US readers only and you must have a US shipping address and valid email address to win.
Good luck!
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I’m a huge sucker for a great marinade, and there were so many awesome choices on the Oliviers and Co. website. I’d love to try the Piri Piri sauce and the Marbella Sauce. But narrowing it down to one choice is just too hard! Thanks for the chance to win! I just moved into a brand new place, and $300 would go a long way to helping me throw a great housewarming bash!
Congrats on your new place, Jenna!! Very exciting!
That pesto looks amazing! I’ve also been curious about flavored balsamics – I’ve done a taste testing but never owned. And, the face oil looks interesting. I’m hesitant to put anything oily on my face, but my great aunt had amazing skin and her routine was olive oil before bed. Thanks!
The mango fruity spread sounds amazing – so unique!
“Hello there Cherry and Chipotle BBQ Sauce. I want to eat you on everything.”
Wow, what a great giveaway opportunity. That dialogue above was my profession of what I would choose. All the recipes you made look delicious, but I must agree: nothing is better than dipping bread in olive oil. So great.
Mmmm, good olive oil is so rich and delicious! I think the Organic Tenuta di Ghizzano Olive Oil sounds yummy.
cherry and chipotle bbq sauce
I’m very intrigued by the ice cream, strawberries and balsamic!
I’m super curious about the artichoke & apricot with honey spread! I’d also take anything involving truffle oil. It makes everything so delicious, but it costs way too much to be a pantry staple.
definitely the blackcurrant and mint jam for the win…. although I definitely will try the pesto too.
I really love using fun flavors to dress up veggies and pizza. I’d love to try to olive oil and lemon on roasted broccoli or asparagus and the truffle oil on mushroom pizza to really add flavor. And congrats on your new house, Julie!!!!
The olive and chili pepper oil would be SO good with crusty bread! And of course the Taste of Italy has everything for an amazing night!
YUM! I’d love to try the PESTO LA ROSSA – SUNDRIED TOMATO & BASIL:)
Would love to try the olive & basil oil
I hope I’m not the only one more tempted by the Skincare line than the food items… I’d love to try the face & body oil, esp with winter (ACK!) approaching.
I love vinegars – the apple balsamic sounds interesting!
I am totally going to try that icecream recipe.
So many choices and they all look delicious! The basil and Parmesan pesto sounds delicious!!!
I LOVE truffle so would love to try the truffle oils and truffle salts 🙂
I’m a big fan of balsamic so I’d love to try any of their flavors!
I want the basil red wine vinegar and the wild poppy vinegar
i LOVE their Basil Infused Olive Oil, but that fig spread looks pretty delish too!!
The Artichoke and Green Olive Delice sounds YUMMY!!! I am a sucker for any new spreads to try! The flavored oils sound very interesting too!
Mmm pistachio spread!
The zucchini and goat cheese delice would be delicious on a sandwich or as a little crostini with some cheese! Yum!
Garlic and Olive oil and the balsamic both would be great!!
Garlic and Olive oil and the balsamic both would be great!!
Love the duo concept, especially the Basil Oil & Oregano Meli-Melo!
Absolutely love the assortment of goodies from Oliviers & Co! Those truffle oils will step up any dish! 🙂 High quality oils really do make a difference in overall taste of a dish.
I live by a store and I’m obsessed with their free samples! These recipes sound delicious!
The mango fruity spread sounds yummy! I love anything with balsamic and olives:) The pistachio spread had me intrigued also!
I use olive oil like it’s going out of style, so I would love to try the Everyday Olive Oil. And, the Pesto Sauce looks amazing!
I’d like to try some truffle oil – I’ve always had it at restaurants and it seemed like too much of a splurge to try it at home!
My husband and I use oil and vinegar like it’s our jobs! We’re constantly trying out new marinades and vinegar not only is a tenderizer, but also impacts the overall flavor. We live in the rural Midwest, so finding new flavors and different styles can be expensive if at all possible. It would be great to have something new to make our upcoming first wedding anniversary a little more festive.
I would love to try the Kalamata olives and the pesto !! It all looks amazing!
Olive and Garlic Oil
Obsessed with a good spreads! They can go on sammies, crackers, veggies, anything! 🙂 That red pepper and chili jam looks AMAZING! Same with that onion and maple confit…
Now I’m hungry for lunch!
Wow the fig balsamic sounds great. I would love to try it and many of the other products on the site! And of course truffle oil, yummmm.
What a great “new to m”e site. The variety of spreads sound delicious. The Artichoke & Green Olive Delice spread sounds especially good.
piri piri sauce for sure, love this!
I’ve been craving pesto everything lately–and I love all the different flavors available!
I’d love to try the truffle oil!
I would love to try the truffle oils – just moved into our first house so the $300 would come in handy to get our pantry stocked for entertaining!
Being italian, I put olive oil in everything! I would have to get a few different kinds to cook with! I love and olive oil and balsamic on field green for salad too!
I would love to try their red pepper & chili jam- looks and sounds delish!
I would be the most excited about their hazelnut chocolate spread. Cholocate addict here!
Oh my! They all look amazing! I wish I was there when you were sampling everything 🙂 That pesto looks divine!
i’d love to try the piri piri but could always use more truffle oil! love that stuff on everything!
I would like to try the lemon olive oil! So many items I’d love to try!
I have to pick just one?! Both the red pepper and chili jam and the beet and red onion confit speak to me. Everything sounds delicious!
Would love to get my hands on that white and black truffle oil – along with everything else they offer, so hard to decide – it all sounds amazing!
I would like to try the basic MANTINEA & AVIA OLIVE OIL. I bet it’s alot better than my cheap-o olive oil I currently buy!
The Green Lemon Oil and Mango Mini Melo sounds amazing! I am a huge citrus fan, and my husband loves mangos, so this combo will definitely be a winner in our house!