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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basil peeeesto! i’m obsessed and want it on EVERYTHING
I love the idea of a Snacky dinner! How fun. I would love to try the olive oil, it’s a kitchen staple!
I would love to try the Organic Hand Cream, Face Cream and Lip Balm
Yum!!!!!!!!!! I would love to try some of the olive oils and balsalmic vinegars. I love to cook and host parties so it would be so fun to shop here!
I can’t decide – everything looks wonderful, all of my favorite things. I think I would like to start with the Tanche black olives, because I have never had that kind. Then the artichoke and green olive spread, and of course the fig…
All of the Olivers & Co. products look so unique and delicious. I adore the simplicity of their packaging as well. The Wild Poppy vinegar for a unique choice. I would definitely have to select a Mini-Melo because how cute is that? The Lemon Oil and Fig Mini-Melo with the recommended food pairing of the fig balsamic in a Champagne Cocktail- wow! The Organic La Cravenco Olive Oil sounds divine. I would have this on toasted pain au levain and the last of the Summer’s heirloom tomatoes. And the tomato powder because I am a tomato-aholic so that would be a must!
Would love to try the basil pesto! Mmm, my smouth is watering just looking at those pictures!
Oh man. The truffle oil!
I would love to try the pesto so I can make those little pizzas!
I would love to try the Castello Di Poppiano Olive Oil!
I would love to try their olive oil! Looks so good; I would love to use it to cook!
Everything looks so good! Would love to try the olive oils and some of those spreads – goat cheese!
The olive oils and pesto for sure!
I would Love The Pampered Pantry set it would make my kitchen complete. Thank You for the chance.
Oooh the olive and garlic oil looks right up my alley!
The white truffle oil looks amazing!
I would have to try the Pesto, I love to make Chicken Pesto Pizza
I would love to try any of the olive oils on veggies or just for bread dipping!
I am intrigued by the olive and green lemon oil. too many to choose from.
Everything sounds so good! I’d like to try the Chateau Virant olive oil or the green olive tapenade.
I would love to try any of their olive oils and especially the face cream! Everything looks so good!
I can drink a good olive oil! So, my investment would lie in trying every variety! My stomach is now growling…
Wow, this GREEN OLIVE & ALMOND TAPENADE looks amazing.
I would get the table cruet because I get 3 olive oils! The oil and vinegar set combinations sound amazing too!! I couldn’t choose!
I’ve been looking for a better oil oil than the one we have been using for a few years, so I would likely go with the standard olive oil since we use it everyday!
the basil pesto
I would love to try the white truffle oil, that sounds and looks amazing!!
I would LOVE to try some of their balsamic vinegar and olive oil combinations with some fresh bread! The premium balsamic vinegar of Modena paired with the organic tenuta di ghizzano olive oil looks amazing!
The sundried tomato and basil pesto looks great!
I would really would like to try the pesto and some of the balsalmi.
I would love to try the everyday olive oil since I cook often.
The olive oil for sure! Dipping hot fresh bread into it is the best!
I would love to try their olive oil to see if I can taste the difference! I’d also love to try some of their spreads and pesto! Yum!
I love different olive oils and vinegars, my cabinet holds quiet the collection. I would love to try the GREEN LEMON OIL & MANGO MINI-MELO! It would be great on a salad with grilled chicken.
I LOVE pesto so of course I would love to try both of their pesto’s! And the basil oil! YUM!
I would love to try the pesto spread and any of the pastas! Everything looks so delicious–I would have a hard time choosing!
That pesto looks amazing and the rest of their spreads look great too including some tomato basil ones!
I have apps for dinner more than I would like to admit so this would definitely kick it up a notch! The spreads and olive oil look amazing!
The white truflel oil looks tasty!
I want to try everything with the word TRUFFLE in it!
I would love to try the Olive & Basil Oil!
the olive oil and Basil oil also, both sound like really good quality!
I would LOVE to try the pomegranate vinegar! I feel like this would make an AMAZING sweet compliment to any fruit salad:)
I would definitely try the fig balsamic and truffle oil! YUm!
The Taste of Italy Gift Basket would be a perfect birthday gift for my mom!!!!
I need to try that Zucchini & Goat Cheese Delice!
The fig balsamic vinegar and the olive & garlic oil look yummy!
I love olives so would like to try their tapenades!
I LOVE experimenting with different balsamic vinegars. The balsamic with vanilla caught my eye!
Every truffle and balsamic vinegar product! I’m obsessed. And these all look delicious!