"Extra Virginity" - the book by Tom Mueller

[pastameshugana]

Who has picked this up yet? I've just started it, and it's a great read so far. Talking about olive oil culture, with a historical perspective, while highlighting the struggles facing the industry today.

It makes me want to do an olive oil tasting!

If you haven't gotten it yet (it's brand new) go out and get it!

[Country]

I heard the author interviewed last night on Fresh Air, with Terry Gross. Right now, Tuesday, the interview is on the main page at the link.

It was very interesting.

[rotuts]

im looking forward to this book. my local library has copies and Im on the list.

the best olive oil Ive ever had and Ive spent a lot of time in Europe growing up came from an "old orchard" that was part of one of the Northern California spanish missions. It was harvested by Nuns and available only at the mission in 1 gallon containers.

[Shamanjoe]

the best olive oil Ive ever had and Ive spent a lot of time in Europe growing up came from an "old orchard" that was part of one of the Northern California spanish missions. It was harvested by Nuns and available only at the mission in 1 gallon containers.

Do you remember which Mission it was? I live in Los Angeles, and I'm always looking for an excuse to take a drive north..

[rotuts]

one never need an excuse to Go North. I grew up in NCal and moved to N.E for college and stayed.

I tried to look it up and recalled that it closed down about 10 - 15 years ago. the Nuns ran out of new blood and sold off the 'estate' it may have been in San Rafael.

the trees were huge and very old. my mother used to make brined olives from local trees whiled growing up and I never liked them. they had pits and werent particularly large.

these were not however the 'canned' california black olives that are beyond insipid.

that oil I used to get 1 - 2 gal at a time if they had it, and transferred it to very clean plastic soda bottles and making sure there was no air froze these. it was very green but 'sweet' almost like butter.

im betting this book talks a lot about repakaging and fru-fru labels.

need an excuse to go north?

http://www.yelp.com/biz/tadich-grill-san-francisco

best oysters rockefeller and sand dabs Ive ever had. I think they have olive oil there to keep this on topic.

[rotuts]

as ive said, i havent read this book yet

but it has to mention the fru-fru bottles, marketing, and snappy labels

after looking at this book, and if you live near a Trader Joes' as they have a mighty fine selection of all kinds of oils,

invite your friends. assign a dif. bottle to each. get some very good but neutral crusy bread and do a tripple bind study of all the oils.

everyubody has to stand up and read from their notes before anybody knows the bottle in question.

best time had by all.

( did this a long long time ago with 12 bottles of champaign. best evening ever!)

how long ago? i could afford them!

we had some olives, maybe so OT.

Edited December 13, 2011 by rotuts (log)

[Shamanjoe]

need an excuse to go north?

http://www.yelp.com/biz/tadich-grill-san-francisco

best oysters rockefeller and sand dabs Ive ever had. I think they have olive oil there to keep this on topic.

Food + San Francisco? You're preaching to the choir rotuts!

[rotuts]

go where Ive suggested

post pics!

they have olive oil OT!

[Mjx]

This may be a wonderful book, but the title makes me want to scream, and the pull quotes I've seen aren't doing a thing to modify the impression made by the title. There must be a less annoying work on olive oil out there..?

[Raoul Duke]

For a more historical take on the olive in America try "The Olive in California, History of an Immigrant Tree", by Judith M. Taylor, M.D. Available from Ten Speed Press or the UC Davis book store. And for those of you interested in tasting local olive oils on the central coast of California, drop me a PM and I'll direct you to some growers/producers, including myself. Or just come and visit the farm and learn about what is involved in producing olive oil and taste, taste, taste. Buona Salute!