Showing posts with label Oil and Vinegar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oil and Vinegar. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Spirit of Africa promotion has started in our Oil & Vinegar shops and I don’t know where to begin, because there are so many new and exciting products! Let me start by saying that all of the products have such an intense, fresh flavor that you can practically taste the richness of the soil they are grown in.
First on the list is a new product line of hot sauces and chutneys that carry the Spirit of Africa label. The peppers are locally grown, hand-picked and the sauces are hand-made with no additives, no preservatives or artificial coloring. The passion that goes into the making of the Spirit of Africa line is apparent in the flavor. We have four different heat intensities in the hot sauces, so everyone can enjoy them, not just the daring at heart!
This time of year I love to use hot sauces to add a lot of flavor with just a few drops in dips, sauces or directly on meats. The sweet jalapeno is great on the grill, just sprinkle a few drops on chicken or fish and it is a gourmet meal with no fuss. The chutneys in this line have already become a big hit. Chutneys are so versatile, it is nice to have them handy for impromptu dinners, hors d’oeuvres or just to add some zing to a traditional meal. They can be enjoyed with your favorite cheeses, melted as a glaze on meats, or as an accompaniment to curry dishes. Visit our website at http://bellevuesquare.oilandvinegarusa.com/new-products.html to view all the products and get more great recipe ideas.
The next product I must mention is a gift set of Rozendal Vinegars, including the Hibiscus Vinegar that just won The Best New Product of 2010 at the New York Fancy Food Show. The flavors of all four vinegars are incredible and instead of raving about them here just watch the video, hear the producer himself talk about his products and be inspired!
Visit your local Oil & Vinegar to taste the products and SHARE YOUR PASSION!!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Truffle Hunt Next week starts a delicious Truffle promotion in our stores which got me thinking a lot about the most asked questions in our stores, our range of truffle products and easy ideas for a gourmet truffle taste. We often hear “What is a truffle? A truffle is a subterranean fungi of the genus tuber. They grow under ground and are usually hunted by pigs or trained dogs. However, the white truffle in Oregon is often being hunted with only a trained eye. The most asked question is by far is about our truffle oils, “which is better, white or black truffle?” The better of the two is really whichever tastes the best to you. We can certainly tell you the differences; white truffle oil has a more delicate, nutty, flavor with a hint of garlic, where the black truffle oil is more pungent and earthier. Both are delicious; it really just depends on your pallet. Italian white truffle is rarer, and for that reason is more expensive, but again, both are of the highest quality.
We have a wonderful variety of truffle products in this promotion, from truffle salt, black and white truffle oils, truffle pasta and risotto, truffle crème, my favorite, truffle salsa (black olive tapenade with champignon and porcini mushrooms and black summer truffle seasoned with spices, salt and pepper) and many more, so make sure you stop in for a taste! Truffle, when added to even the most basic food can make a gourmet dish in an instant. · Add a few drops of white or black truffle oil to scrambled eggs · Use the truffle crème instead of mayonnaise on your favorite sandwich · Add shavings of truffle to ravioli with Extra Virgin olive oil and parmesan cheese · Drizzle truffle oil on macaroni and cheese · Add a jar of the truffle salsa to your favorite pasta with a bit of garlic and crushed chili pepper. · Sprinkle a bit of truffle oil on French fries · Use our truffle crème in potato salad And those are just a few to get you started! Come on in, have a taste and share your passion!
January is always a good time to think about healthy eating and at the same time, do some experimenting in the kitchen. A great way to add flavor and keep things healthy at the same time is to add herbs and spices to any of your recipe creations. Herbs and spices are filled with anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals that are essential to a healthy diet. In addition, they are low in calories and while still packed with great flavor. Using herbs and spices is a great a way to get healthy in 2010, without compromising taste.
At Oil & Vinegar, we have a wonderful selection of herbs and spices to choose from and some great recipe ideas to go with them. Here are some fun facts along with some of my favorite ways to incorporate herbs and spices in your daily life:
• Rosemary has anti-inflammatory properties; Add this when making oven roasted potatoes with our Rosa Maria dipper.
• It is said that chili peppers speed up the metabolism; Add a sprinkle of crushed chili flakes to tomato soup.
• Garlic is heart smart; Add a clove to dips, omelets or just shake it on pasta with your favorite olive oil.
• Saffron is known to have a calming effect, so make some Paella and relax!
• Our Bruschetta mix is certainly the most popular and easy to use product in the store. Make some up, spread it on crusty bread, melt some mozzarella on top and enjoy the many health benefits of the tomato at the same time.
Hope you enjoy these tips as much as I do and just remember a delicious meal is only a couple of pinches away!
As the holidays approach, one of the most exciting aspects is all the delicious food. Thanksgiving is a day filled with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and of course fun with your family. With this holiday comes a tremendous amount of leftovers, which can be just as tasty the following day. As a way to turn your holiday leftovers into a gourmet feast for your friends and family to enjoy, I have created a few recipes of customized Oil & Vinegar dishes. Below you can find some fantastic recipes to try out this holiday season and surprise your relatives with some new flavors even after Thanksgiving is over. Create Oil & Vinegar’s Savory Potato Pancakes and Turkey Mushroom Risotto and let me know what you think!
Mix together the mashed potatoes, egg, onion, and parmesan dipper in a bowl. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. Drop large spoonfuls of the mixture into the frying pan, making sure they don’t touch each other. Cook until the bottom is brown and crisp, turn over and cook the other side until brown and crisp.
1 package Boscaiolo Risotto
1 cup white wine
2 cups chicken stock
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ cup parmesan cheese
1 cup chopped turkey
Make the Risotto according to the package directions then add 1 cup chopped turkey, mix well and serve.
Package directions: Put 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a pan with 1 package Boscaiolo Risotto, stir over medium heat for 1 minute. Add 1 cup white wine; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce to a simmer. As the liquid is absorbed into the rice, add the chicken stock one ladle at a time until absorbed into the rice; about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining olive oil and parmesan cheese.
As a business owner, it is important to celebrate the holidays with your customers and staff as a way to connect with them on a personal level. Corporate Gifting is a trend that is becoming increasingly more popular and despite the economy it is more important than ever to foster relationships with your loyal customers and employees. The most important aspects with corporate gift giving are personalization, uniqueness and practicality.
At Oil & Vinegar, we offer personalized gifts with customized labels so our guests can share unique, gourmet products with their loved ones, colleagues and patrons, while still branding their company’s logo. We offer a selection of over 40 different types of on-tap olive oils and vinegars from around the world and this allows for variety and personalization depending on the gift receivers likes.
Also, we offer practical gifts that your employees and customers can enjoy on an everyday basis for cooking and entertaining. Also, Oil & Vinegar offers our customized labels with a lead time of only 3 to 4 days. Our labels can be customized with companies’ logos and photos, messages or other holiday greetings. This is a fun service we provide our customers because it is a way to personalize gifts and offer something that the receiver will really enjoy. The best part is the labels are very affordable; individual bottles start at $14, sets start at $26.
To purchase a unique and personalized gift for your customers or staff, please visit a local retail store or www.oilandvinegarusa.com.
Here at Oil & Vinegar, we have just launched a holiday-specific product line, hand-made Turkish Pottery, which is not only perfect for home decoration and special occasions but it is also a unique collectors’ item.
In addition to supporting the everyday foodies’ craving to become top-chef, Oil & Vinegar’s we pride ourselves in providing unique products to the culinary gift-giving segment. Our guests can create their own gifts or meal flavorings with the “on-tap” oils and vinegars, along with mustards, pestos, tapenades, honeys, fig spreads, fondue chocolates, dried herb mixes, as well as a fine selection of ceramic table ware, cruets, kitchen accessories, salt/pepper mills, international cookbooks and other culinary accessories fill the shelves.
This season Oil & Vinegar introduces Turkish Pottery designed by world renowned ceramic artist Nimet Varli. Each piece is handmade, hand painted and signed by the artist. Created using techniques from the 14th-16th century, the patterns found in the collection are typical, yet have definitely taken a new dimension in the hands of the contemporary artist. Nimet Varli is the first woman to ever professionally produce ceramics in Turkey and in 2002 she was named “Artist of the Year”. Each piece is customized and tells a strong and dynamic story. The pottery collection that is inspired by the grace and beauty of nature is reminiscent of snowflakes.
This customized gift is extremely exclusive and can only be found in the U.S. at selective locations, including Oil & Vinegar. Prices range from 9 to 120 dollars depending on size and style of pottery selected; styles include bowls, plates, vases, etc.
We are honored to be able to offer these one of a kind pottery collections. The beautiful artwork of each piece tells a unique story and sharing it with our guests as gifts is a great way to offer history and richness at each of our stores. This is a perfect gift to share with someone you care about and want to find something original and meaningful.
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 andintense 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.
Debbie Gokhan spent her career moving up through the ranks in the restaurant industry, working in several well know restaurants in the Detroit area. While continuing her journey in the restaurant world, Gokhan started working at Pan Am World Airways, traveling the world and experiencing the food and culture first hand. Gokhan relocated to Italy where she resided for 10 years working for privately owned restaurants and then worked at the Hard Rock Café in Rome and then in Amsterdam. Debbie and her husband Hakan discovered Oil & Vinegar and quickly became devoted customers. Two years later, Debbie & Hakan opened the first US Oil & Vinegar in Chicago and were also hired to develop a training program for the US stores. After arriving in the US, Gokhan was selected as the Director of Operations for the US and later moved into her current position as Vice President/COO. Gokhan focus is operations and she works closely with the buying team in The Netherlands and is in charge of product selection and product development for the US along with new store openings.
The Spirit of Africa promotion has started in our Oil & Vinegar shops and I don’t know where to begin, because there are so many new and exciting products! Let me start by saying that all of the products have such an intense, fresh flavor that you can practically taste the richness of the soil they are grown in.
