Friday, October 23, 2009

Oil & Vinegar Launches Customized Vinegar Box, “Lo Scrigno,” Just In Time for the Holiday Season

Growing Chain Continues to Provide Unique, Gourmet Products to Culinary Industry


SEATTLE —In addition to supporting the everyday foodies’ craving to become top-chef, Oil & Vinegar, an interactive gourmet culinary specialty shop packed with international flair, flavor and passion, has captured the culinary gift-giving segment. This holiday season, Oil & Vinegar, has launched its most unique product, “Lo Scrigno,” a customized Vinegar Box with some of the highest quality vinegars in the world, Giusti Vinegars. This customized gift is extremely exclusive and can only be found in the U.S. at selective locations, including Oil & Vinegar.


“We look forward to the Holiday season every year at Oil & Vinegar,” says Debbie Gokhan, COO and Chicago franchisee of Oil & Vinegar, “It is a time of gift-giving and we love being able to add some gourmet flavor through our customized gifts to families across the country.”


Giusti is the oldest and most awarded producer of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. Founded 1605, first in writing Balsamic Vinegar recipe 1865, Giusti was awarded 14 gold medals during 1800’s prestigious exhibitions, granted Royal Seal of Approval in 1929 as supplier of King of Italy. Giusti boasts the largest and most recognized collection of ancient casks, dating back 1600-1800, drawing aromas and flavours created centuries before.


This collection of Balsamic Vinegars of Modena, originally created on the December 4, 2006 for a special request of the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti for a Red Cross Charity Auction, contains many different types of vinegars, each of which are made up of cooked must and wine vinegar.


The five types include “Silver Medal - Profumato,” which has a firm flavour, good balsamic acidity and intense bouquet of aroma. This vinegar is ideal for salads or raw vegetables and can be lightly heated to be added to sauces and condiments. The second type is “Gold Medals - The Classic”, which has a rich bouquet and perfect balance between sweet and sour that makes it and is the most versatile product. Its perfume makes it a high class choice for salads, meat and fish.


The third type is “Gold Medals - Riccardo Giusti” which is extraordinarily dense with a pleasantly sweet aftertaste. Rich and thick to the palate, it is ideal for barbecues, cheeses, fruit, and also devoured alone. The fourth is “Gold Medals - Fourth Centenary” which was extracted in limited quantity from casks from 1800’s, this quality, celebrating the four centuries of Giusti activity, is rich, full bodied and deeply aromatic Balsamic, to be used in drops for the highest culinary art.


And last is the “Gold Medals - Banda Rossa” which is the pride of the Collection, a very limited quantity of an irresistible Balsamic aged for many years in the most precious Giusti casks, dating from 1600s-1700s. This vinegar has a high density, intense perfume, and fruity notes. Gold Medals can be used for the most noble and special occasions. These five bottles are finished by hand with a selection of balsamic vinegars ripened in ancient casks of the “Gran Deposito Ace to Balsamico Giuseppe Giusti” collection and are matured respectively in oak, chestnut, cherry, mulberry and ash casks”


“We are honored to be able to offer this traditional, rare and high quality Vinegar Box for the Holiday Season,” said Gokhan, “We are looking forward to sharing it with our guests for gifts and to be able to have so much history and richness at each of our stores.”


In addition to the Vinegar Box, this holiday season guests can create their own gifts or meal flavorings with the “on-tap” oils and vinegars, along with mustards, sauces, pestos, tapenades, olives, marinated vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, honeys, fig spreads, fondue chocolates, dried herb mixes, sea salts, spices and a variety of flavored pastas.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

With Autumn Sprouts Some New Delicious Food

Autumn is setting in and some amazing food is blossoming with the new season. It’s time for delicious soups, squash, and pumpkin. So many delicious vegetables prompt an endless list of recipes in my mind. One of the great flavors I enjoy using this time of year is Pumpkin Seed Oil.


Pumpkin seed oil is a staple in Austrian cooking, but it is just now making favor with chefs and foodies worldwide. At Oil & Vinegar we carry pumpkin seed oil from Styria, Austria which is considered the highest quality and is DOP protected.


Pumpkin seed oil has this wonderful, nutty flavor that blends so well with squash, pumpkin, potatoes, and other autumn vegetables, and an intense green color that comes from the husks of the seeds. Pumpkin seed, like many other oils, is cold pressed, and because of its delicate nature, it is used cold or as a finishing oil, so it won’t lose flavor or nutritional value. Pumpkin seed oil has valuable health benefits and is full of vitamins and minerals, but it is the culinary adventure you will experience that is truly a delight.


Pumpkin seed oil makes a simple dressing for a salad when mixes with muscat wine vinegar and a bit of fresh ground pepper. It is also amazing as a finishing oil in squash or pumpkin soup. You can even toss steamed vegetables in a bit of the oil. Though I haven’t tried it myself, I have even seen recipes for vanilla ice cream with pumpkin seed oil!