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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Would love to try any of the flavored olive oils, the saffron tagliatelle pasta, and those delicious looking olives- among many others!!!
The olive & basil oil, any of their products with basil! Yum.
The parmesan and truffle cream sounds amazing. I’m also a huge fan of simple olive oil and bread.
The olive and garlic oil for something classic, and the olive and mint oil for something unexpected! I love olive oil, so it’d be hard to explore outside of their interesting flavor combos…
How to choose!! I’d definitely start with truffle oil and the olive & green lemon oil. I’m Lebanese and LOVE olives, olive oil, and everything related. This is amazing!!
I’d love to try the basil and parmesan pesto and the garlic and basil linguine!
Flavored olive oils!!
Flavored olive oils!!
Would love to try olive oil and lemon
I would love to try the fresh black truffle oil!
Basil and parm pesto and flavored olive oil!!!
I’m not sure how i’d choose. But I’m a big fan of dipping, so several of those spreads would definitely make it into my order. Basically anything with olives, artichokes, fruit, or goat cheese I love.
I would love to try the black truffle oil and your fig and melon spread.
Wow I want to try the Olive & Chili Pepper Oil, Olive & Lemon Oil, Aglandau Green Olives I want to make a pasta dish just using garlic, chili olive oil salt and pepper!
Would love to try their Black Truffle Oil, looks amazing!
I would love to try the fig and melon spread you mentioned, as well as any of their flavored olive oils – especially ones with basil!
You at me at Olive & Lemon oil with bread…
I want to try the pesto! Mmmmmmmmm it looks so fresh and tasty!
Definitely the truffle oil!! I am a sucker for anything involving truffles.
I’m dying to try the mandarin infused olive oil in a chocolate cake!!!
The basil red wine vinegar sounds amazing. The pesto looks fantastic also!
The Black Truffle oil!
Yum!!! I would love to try their wild pepper balsamic!
Would love to try their pesto!
The black olive & sun-dried tomato tapenade sounds delish!
The fig/melon fruit spread and the white truffle salt look amazing and would be great for a dinner party 🙂
I would love to try the love oil and chili pepper.
The Bourbon, Maple & Chipolte BBQ sauce. Yum!
I’d love to try one of the truffle oils!
everything! ok, but first — garlic and olive oil
Vanilla balsamic…to die for!!!
All of the pestos look delicious!
The truffle oil, for sure!!
The truffle oil!
I’d love to try either the white or black truffle oil!
Olive and basil oil!
I would love to try the cherry balsamic vinegar!
I would love to try their organic body and face sublime oil!
Basil pesto spread!!
Where do I begin!? I love to try the white truffle oil, the Balsamic Vinegar with Black Truffle Juice, the steel pourer, pretty much all of the oil and vinegar sets…gosh. So much good stuff!
basil parm pesto!
I’d like to try a truffle oil. I’ve heard a lot about them but never used it.
Their entire website is gorgeous! So many things I desire to try. I would love to start with the olive & basil oil. Truly sounds amazing. Thanks Julie!
anything with truffle is up my alley!
I NEEEEEED the pesto in my kitchen and I would love to try the zucchini and goat cheese sauce:)
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Oh I would love to try this – it sounds delicious and reminds me of Italy
Would love to try the Balsamic Vinegar with Black Truffle Juice! My fiance and I got engaged in Tuscany last year at a vineyard, and they gave us wine, cheese and the best balsamic vinegar I’ve ever had. I love to try anything that brings me back to that perfect day!
all 3 pestos look great, and the pistachio spread is intriguing!!
Olive and basil oil! That website made me so hungry!