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Sometimes flavors can be so full, so rich, so fabulously unique that your mind transports you to a place that you associate with those tastes and aromas. I had that experience, this week, and the journey was magnificent, as well as a surprise. I’ve never been to Italy, though I would love to visit there. Most of my ideas and imaginings about it have been fueled by movies, books and television, so maybe it would be nothing like I imagine, anyway. But, I have visions of rolling hills and old stone cottages, lush green olive groves to shade and cool me in the heat of the day and miles and miles of vineyards. Accurate or not, that’s my vision and it’s where I go when I am treated to an exceptionally delicious dish, or food, that I particularly associate with Italian flavors. So, imagine my surprise when I made this delectable journey, only to find that the ingredients that sent me there are created in the sunny, wine country of California! Mmm….hmmm….I went to Italy in California. Holy GPS Error, Batman!
This is a "Natural Box", containing O Roasted Garlic Olive Oil and O White Balsamic Vinegar. I received it to test the products in my kitchen and create a recipe for the contest. Aren't the bottles gorgeous?!
O Olive Oil is perfectly located, in northern California, where they hand-harvest ripe Mission olives in the foothills of the Sierra mountains. They work alongside the owners of small, family farms to select the best pesticide-free, black, reddish purple and green olives for their pressed oils; and in keeping with their commitment to quality, rush them to the press where they are crushed within 48 hours of harvesting. O also produces their delectable wine vinegars and balsamic vinegars from the fine grapes produced in the Napa Valley. I’m excited about their commitment to age-old organic processes and techniques, while using the best American-grown olives and grapes, to create and meld these sun-kissed flavors in their high-quality olive oil and vinegars!
It is my great fortune to have been selected to test, and create a recipe with, two exquisite O Olive Oil products — their California Roasted Garlic Olive Oil and their California White Balsamic Vinegar. O has partnered with eRecipeCards.com to sponsor a recipe contest, with 24 bloggers competing. I’m so excited and honored to be part of it!
If you’ve never visited eRecipe cards.com before, you need to head right over there and sign-up for your own free eRecipeBox! The site is loaded with thousands of fantastic recipes, posted by bloggers from all around the web. They have an easy to use search feature that lets you find exactly what you’re looking for. Search by Ingredient, Title or Blogger. Save the recipes you love into your own personal eRecipe Box and retrieve them quickly and easily, on future visits. Plus, later in this fun recipe competition, with O Olive Oil and Vinegars, you’ll be able to vote for my recipe, by adding it to your eRecipe Box. It’s going to be AWESOME!!! Just sayin’. 
What appealed to me, first, about O Olive Oils, is that they are never infused or blended with extracts and seasonings, after the fact. The olives are cold-pressed and crushed along with whole fruit (clementines, oranges, Meyer lemons, figs etc.), within 48 hours of picking, to maximize the flavor of the blend being created. The true flavors of the olives and the fruit are melded in the pressing; and create a unique and powerful taste experience that you won’t get in other olive oils. The oil I’m reviewing is garlic oil and not citrus, but like all O Olive Oils, the ingredient list is minimally marvelous — Mission olives, kettle-roasted garlic — that’s it! Flavor and then MORE flavor! Simple, pure and delicious !
The bottles are lovely and elegant (and glass, NOT plastic) and honestly, don't they just scream, "Drink me!" -lol- I've never wanted to do that with olive oil or vinegar, before. Take my word for it, you could with these!
Today, I want to introduce you to the two products, I personally, have been testing and will be working with for the contest.
1. O Roasted Garlic Olive Oil: What a fabulous combination! Olive oil and garlic are both so good for you and to merge them into one, is absolute genius! When I pulled the cork (yup, a cork – no screw tops) from the top of this bottle I was immediately greeted by the fragrance of the roasted garlic and the “sweet” smell of the olives.
Never before, would I have considered using the words “sweet” and “olive” in the same sentence, but it’s there, an almost fruity smell, that comes blended with the aroma of smoky, roasted garlic. Tasting it, I get the same subtle hint of roasted garlic, not overpowering, but the first sensation on my palate; and then just as you think that the garlic will be the only taste, there is the lingering taste of the Mission olive. This delicious olive oil is light, and yet, still has an almost buttery richness. Fabulous!
2. O White Balsamic Vinegar: Balsamic vinegars are different than wine vinegars. While wine vinegars are prepared from fermented wine, balsamics are made from grape pressings that have never been fermented to become wine. The aroma of O’s White Balsamic (also corked) is at once vinegar, but then quickly reminiscent of a sweet wine. It has to be the grapes, a combination of muscat and malvasia. It’s color is pale gold and the flavor, like the scent, has that same heady “bite” of vinegar, married with the sweetness of the grapes. It’s light and crisp, incredibly robust and flavorful! It is the perfect level of acidity to accompany the buttery richness of O Roasted Garlic Olive Oil, and for purposes of my initial taste-test, I just couldn’t get enough!
I started my review of the olive oil and balsamic with the simplest of taste-tests. To be sure I got nothing but the flavor, aroma and textures of the products, I used them to dip pieces of French bread. If you do this, be sure you bake or buy two loaves. You will NOT want to share with just anyone! Because, this is where that experience of reclining in the quiet of the day, near the center of a shady olive grove, after strolling through fragrant vineyards kicks in; and you only share that with someone extraordinary! Mmm...hmmmm....This is good!
I ate bread dipped in just O Roasted Garlic Olive Oil; and then I ate bread dipped in only O White Balsamic Vinegar; and THEN purely for scientific testing and research, I ate bread dipped in the two mixed together. Ambrosia! I literally wiped every last drop from the bowl and restrained myself from polishing off the whole loaf and both bottles! How can something, not chocolate, be so decadent?
I definitely love these products! In the interest of full disclosure, I have to tell you the tasting testing, mentioned in the picture above, has not been my only time delving into these delicious products. As a matter of fact, lunchtime, snack time, pretty much any time has been enough of an excuse for me to sample them, again. I need to complete my recipe contest entry and photos, very soon, or my “testing” will send me running to the market for new bottles!
By visiting the O Olive Oil Facebook page, I learned that their products will be on sale in most Whole Foods stores throughout the month of June; so, this would be a great time to grab a bottle, or two, or six. I also picked up some great tips and recipe ideas on the Facebook page. One day soon, you’ll see my recipe creation posted there. I can’t wait to share it with you!
So where’s the last place that some incredible flavor has transported YOU??!! I’d love to hear about it and to know what food inspired your perfect “dream-away”!
I received a bottle of O Roasted Garlic Olive Oil and a bottle of O White Balsamic Vinegar in order to test them in my own kitchen and collect information for this review. Additionally, I will use them to create a recipe for a contest, where I could potentially win other O Olive Oil products. No monetary compensation was received for this review and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own, and based on my personal experience with the product.
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See, now you made me drool just from reading about this product and looking at the pictures! I love olive oil and different fingers so I really want to try this now. I too hope to go to Italy some day but I also love anything that comes from California wine country!
Thanks, Lyuba! I’m glad that you enjoyed it and so appreciate you stopping by!
Whoop Whoop… what a terrific post. Thank you so much for all of the shout outs! I love the use of the travel case in your photos… and lucky you, I think their white balsamic vinegar is about as close as I can get to cooking heaven. Looking forward to your recipe
Thanks again, great job
Dave at eRecipeCards.com
Thanks, Dave! Glad you could stop by!
I am a big fan of olive oil, but I haven’t tried O yet – you make it sound sooo good, now I have to buy some!!
Jenn, it will be hard to go back! Who knew olive oil could have such intense, delicious flavor!?!
I love those bottles and I’m a big fan of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. You described it so well that I now want to go grab me a bottle of these to try out!!
I hope you do, Emmi! It will take your vinaigrettes to a whole new level. Glad you could stop for a visit!
Wow that sounds so good, never tried this brand but after reading post I will have to, we are big Olive Oil users!
Thanks, April! I wasn’t familiar with them either and now that I understand how unique their methods are, and what a delicious product it produces, I’m convinced that there won’t be many equals. I’m definitely hooked. Thanks for coming by!
Ah, two of my favorite things…
I love balsamic and olive oil in so many recipes!
Me, too, Amy. And having such high-quality products to work with will make creating this recipe an even bigger treat. I’m sure glad you came by, today!
Looks yummy!!
Hi Beeb! Thanks so much. It really was delish!
Oh my YUM! I seriously wanted to lick my screen when I saw the pic of the bread in the little bowl with olive oil. That is one of my FAVORITE sides to accompany a meal. I love that everything is infused during the process rather than after. I am going to have to check out this brand for sure!
Thanks, Brandi! Is it wrong to say I DID lick the bowl?
So glad you could visit!
The O Roasted Garlic Olive Oil sounds devine! (Two of my favorite things combined!) Can’t see what else you come up with using it.
Danielle, thanks for stopping by! This really is such a fun challenge (and tasty). I’m excited about the recipe, too!
I love dipping into olive oil and vinegar, but roasted garlic and white balsamic? Swoon!! I cannot wait to try O brand myself-I have seen it in the store (they have such pretty bottles), but have never tried it! Thanks for sharing.
Julie, I’m SO excited for you that you can pick it up, right where you live. I’m guessing I will have to wait for my next trip into the city to replenish my supply. I’m going to try several of their flavors. It’s so great to “see” you. Thanks for the visit!
I have never heard of the brand. I use olive oil almost daily. The garlic infused sounds amazing! I love cooking with garlic & garlic flavors.
It really is incredible, Theresa. I do tons of cooking and baking and I can’t think of any ingredient, in recent history, that has inspired me as much as these have.
Beautiful! Your photos are gorgeous.
Yes, there are many tastes, smells and foods that take me away to other parts of the globe. Some I have visited myself … sushi, Chinese Hot Pot, Thai Street Vendor Phad Thai… and others take me to places I only have dreamed about.
These oils sound amazing. I want to try them.
Thank you, Andrea! I take that as high praise from someone with an educated eye for photos.
I am so inspired by the ones from your class! You’ve made me hungry, now. I think I need to go make some lunch and dream over some travel brochures. lol Have a great afternoon!
What lovely pictures! I am so hungry now that I need to go get some lunch after posting my comment!
lol – Tonia, great minds think alike! I’m off to make some lunch, too, but thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind words. I’m grateful for your visit!
Olive oil and balsamic vinegar simply make the best and easiest salad dressing. These bottles are so pretty. Great post, I especially like your third photo.
Thank you, Dagmar! And I completely agree. They do make excellent salad dressing!
They both look and sound delish! I need to get to Whole Foods so i can try them. Excited to see what you come up with for the recipe!
Thanks for coming by, Margaret! It’s great timing with the sale at Whole Foods!
I’ve never tried white balsamic vinegar- must do so, pronto!
Naomi,
This was my first time trying it, too. It’s so much lighter and perfect for summer. I loved it! Glad you could stop and visit.
I completely agree that bread dipping is the ultimate test for me as well. I am on my way to find out more. Thanks for the great information as always Glenda!
You’re so welcome, Natalie. I was excited to find out about them, too. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m not the only one craving bread and balsamic right now, am I? Can’t wait to try – great post!
Thanks, Jen. I think you’ll really love it! Between my “scientific research” and my recipe post, I am polishing off this bottle pretty quickly. Think I’ll grab another before I’m out completely. Thanks for visiting!
Oh, YUM!!! I need some of that O Roasted Garlic Olive Oil right now! I’m ready to go bake some bread just to try it.
p.s. LOVE your pictures too!
I’m so glad you stopped in, Chrysa! Thank you. You’re definitely going to love O Olive Oil — and now, I want some homemade bread! See what you do?
Wow! I definitely want to give these a try! I can’t wait to see your recipe.
Wow, great job on the post. I really want to see what you make with these. Can’t wait and good luck on the contest.
Thank you, Amy!
YUMMMM. I would love to play with those myself. Best of luck with the contest!!!
Rebecca, I would love to see you do that, too! I can imagine it would be deliciously creative! Thanks for stopping by!
[...] remember that I shared my first taste of O Olive Oils and Vinegars with you, just a few short days ago; and we took a little journey through the Italy in my mind. [...]