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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, March 9, 2005

Get to know eight different oils

 •  Uncork the savor of olive oil
 •  Substitute top-notch olive oil for butter in batch of cookies

Advertiser Staff

We selected eight extra-virgin olive oils from O'ahu stores, each illustrating different regions, flavor profiles, uses, and packaging. Price is not necessarily an indicator of quality, nor is a more-expensive oil always the best choice. Use less costly, less-flavorful and more highly refined oils for frying. Reserve highly flavored, unfiltered oils for raw use.


Space
  • Brand of oil: Badia a Coltibuono
  • Details: First pressing, extra-virgin; made in Gaile, Tuscany
  • Flavors: Soft, mellow; mildly peppery; slightly floral
  • Uses:* Ingredient, dipping, finishing
  • Price: $25.99
  • Size: 9.6 oz.
  • Local source:** R. Field




Space
  • Brand of oil: Las Brisas
  • Details: Unfiltered oil of arquebina grapes; made in Spain; viscosity of drawn butter; distinctive honey-gold color
  • Flavors: Tropical flavors, artichoke; extremely smooth
  • Uses:* Ingredient, dipping, finishing
  • Price: $16.99
  • Size: 23.5 oz.
  • Local source:** R. Field



Space
  • Brand of oil: Lucini Premium Select
  • Details: Extra-virgin olive oil from Italy; light green
  • Flavors: Citrus, artichoke, pepper, grassiness
  • Uses:* Cooking, ingredient
  • Price: $13.50
  • Size: 12 oz.
  • Local source:** Safeway, R. Field





Space
  • Brand of oil: M. Turrigiano & Co.
  • Details: Cold-pressed, unfiltered, extra-virgin; from Napa Valley; packaged in ceramic bottle to screen out light; made from mission and manzanilla olives
  • Flavors: Full-bodied, peppery finish
  • Uses:* Ingredient, dipping, finishing
  • Price: $38
  • Size: 16.9 oz.
  • Local source:** Williams-Sonoma



Space
  • Brand of oil: O Olive Oil
  • Details: Cold-pressed, extra-virgin; blended from oils from Spain, Greece, Tunisia, Italy, California; dark bottle blocks light
  • Flavors: Medium-bodied, peppery finish
  • Uses:* Cooking, ingredient
  • Price: $8.99
  • Size: 6.8 oz.
  • Local source:** Safeway



Space
  • Brand of oil: Olio Santo
  • Details: First cold-pressed, extra-virgin; harvest-dated; blended in small batches from mission, manzanilla olives in Napa, Calif.
  • Flavors: Fruity and rich
  • Uses:* Ingredient, dipping, finishing
  • Price: $20
  • Size: 1 pint, 9.4 oz.
  • Local source:** Williams-Sonoma



Space
  • Brand of oil: Puget
  • Details: First cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil from France; everyday oil of many French chefs in the United States
  • Flavors: Mild, fruity; hints of berry and dried fruit
  • Uses:* Cooking, ingredient
  • Price: $13.99
  • Size: 25.4 oz.
  • Local source:** R. Field



Space
  • Brand of oil: V.G. Buck
  • Details: First cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil from California; blended from manzanilla, mission and sevillano olives; dark bottle blocks light
  • Flavors: Medium-bodied; floral overtones
  • Uses:* Cooking, ingredient
  • Price: $13.50
  • Size: 16 oz.
  • Local source:** Foodland



Sources: Kevin Toyama, R. Field; Williams-Sonoma; in-house tasting

* Ingredient = for vinaigrettes, marinades; Dipping = with breads; Finishing = drizzle on cold and cooked foods; Cooking = for sautéing

** Source is where we found oil; may be available elsewhere