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 pestos or olive oils!
OMG I would buy everything!! haha! The garlic oil sounds amazing, and the red chili penne pasta looks very interesting, I would LOVE to try all those pastas!!
I would love to try either the Balsamic Condiment with Vanilla or the basil parm pesto!
Such a fun giveaway!! I’d love to try the flavored oils. I’ve never tried cooking with something like that.
I’d like to try the balsamic with vanilla!
I want to try it ALL!!
The basil pesto looks amazing. I would love to win the giveaway because my Italian family would enjoy all your recipes.
mmm i love the olive oils!!!!!
I’d like to try the Oleura Olive Oil-my aunt is a terrific cook and always recommends Spanish olive oil!
The olive and basil oil sounds delicious!
The green olive and almond tapenade looks divine!
I love olive oil… lemon and olive oil sounds so delicious!!! 🙂 but honestly it all looks awesome.
Everything looks AMAZING. I would love to try any and all of their condiments but mostly the Mango Fruity Condiment…yummy!
I would love to try their ARTICHOKE & APRICOT WITH HONEY sauce
Black olive and sundried tomato tapenade – sounds so good!
I would LOVE to try the basil & Parmesan pesto!
I would love to try any and all of the pestos!
Wow, it all looks so delicious! I would love to try the Fig & Melon Goat Cheese dip — looks so unique, and I am a fan of the sweet/savory combo!
that pesto 🙂
Everything looks great! I’d love to try some of the marinades.
I’d want to try one of those fancy Italian olive oils and some tapenade. I love olive oil with a passion and would love to win this!!
I love olives! I think I would have a hard time deciding, but all of the tapenades looked amazing, and they even have a great selection of crostinis to spread them on! Yum.
I would love to try the pesto! I miss my moms pesto she used to make and can’t find one like it!
ANY of the olive oils!
The set of four fruit spreads look very yummy – but so does everything! 🙂
Oh my gosh, is EVERYTHING an option? But the Castello Di Poppiano Olive Oil sounds super amazing!
I would definitely spoil myself with items in their accessories. My kitchen needs to be updated, and I love the all natural look. Another thing would be organic liquid hand soap. My son needs to use organic, natural made products or he has an allergic reaction.
TRUFFLE OIL. but there are so many great priced items!!
Yummm this giveaway is mouth watering. I love the combinations, especially the feta one.
Any of the olive oils!
i would love to try the Oil and Vinegar Nacelle set. we love flavored oils and vinegars and this set would be awesome to leave on the dining table 🙂
I’d love to try the truffle oils, always wanted to use them while cooking.
flavored olive oils (like the lemon or basil ones) are my jam. such a simple way to spice up veggies!
That pesto looks amazing!
It would be a hard choice between the fig and melon goat cheese and pesto! Both look amazing! It all looks delicious though!
I would love to try the cherry balsamic vinegar and black truffle oil…truffle oil is my favorite!
the olive oil! I put that stuff on everything!
The ginger and garlic marinade looks amazing!!!
The lemon olive oil sounds amazing but for something different, I would want to try a truffle oil.
Pesto and Olive Oil are my favorite! Yum!!!
Oh my gosh – so many wonderful items! I’d love to try the MINT OIL & APPLE MELI-MELO
Truffle oil and truffle pasta!!
The Peri Peri sauce looks yum!
I’d love to try any or all the olive tapenades, the beet confit, and the olive oil bar soap!
I want to try the Pesto! The mini pizzas you made look incredible.
Oh my gosh this giveaway is right up my alley! Just over a year ago I discovered flavored vinegar and olive oils. Besides trying all the different flavors I would say.. From your review is love to try the pesto and mini-crostini or the pesto with there garlic basil linguini. But upon further investigation I would love to try the peach and apricot spread on grilled salmon! For dessert the l’extreme chocolate hazelnut spread sounds amazing. I love the look of the hand soap and hand creme they would make cute quality gifts!
So many great items to choose from! I’m a big pesto fan but have never tried any flavors other than original and tomato basil. I’d love to try the basil & parmesan or the bell pepper & ricotta cheese, or both!
I would want to try the fig and melon spread!
Wow, everything looks super tasty!! I’d love to try the zucchini & goat cheese delice!