Posted on: Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Get to know eight different oils
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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
