Looking
for that last minute Christmas gift for the foodie in your life?
Or just searching for a way to bring a bit of jazz to your holiday dinner?
Either way, you’ll find a host of delights at Oro di Oliva, an oil
& vinegar shop with locations in Wauwatosa and Whitefish Bay. The shop, which features an exceptional
variety of olive oil varietals, flavored oils, and an amazing selection of balsamic
and white vinegars, is my latest “go to” source for clever gifts and kitchen
staples. Not only is the store’s
selection large (and unique), but the shop is a virtual “tasting room” for
eager patrons.
Want to see how grassy that Picual olive oil is? Pour a dab into a
cup and swirl it around on your tongue.
Curious about the best pairings for that bottle of black cherry
balsamic vinegar? Try out a few
combinations and pick your favorites.
I could spend the good part of a day in the shop, tasting
different olive oil & vinegar combinations.
In fact, I did spend the good part of an hour there this past
weekend. I bought a few gifts – some dark
chocolate balsamic vinegar with a sweet blood orange olive oil for a girl
friend of mine, and a bottle of white peach balsamic with some Persian lime oil
and a salad dressing cruet for someone else on my list. Of course, I also managed to buy a few things
for myself. I fell in love with the
juniper berry balsamic – which wowed me with its sweet, slightly piney aroma, exceptional when paired with a bit of lemon olive oil. I also couldn’t resist buying a bottle of
harissa olive oil, a clean tasting oil which effectively captures all the deep
warm essences of chiles and spices that embody North African cuisine.
My current favorite find at Oro di Oliva is their espresso
balsamic vinegar. The vinegar, which is
a deep burgundy color with a slightly syrupy feel, carries a light, sweet
espresso flavor with an amazing fruitiness that balances out the bitter notes
of the coffee.
Have I sold you on it yet? If not, just take a look at all the applications for this amazingly unique vinegar.
- Pair it with lemon olive oil for a phenomenal salad dressing (great on roasted beets)
- Use it in a marinade, particularly for red meats
(Espresso
Balsamic Flank Steak, anyone?) - Stir a bit of espresso balsamic into your favorite barbeque sauce to deepen and enliven the flavor
- Serve over vanilla ice cream or homemade
vanilla bean custard (trust me on this one, it’s brilliant) - Drizzle over fresh strawberries or flourless
chocolate cake - Or, do as I’m planning to do, and make some deep
dark decadent espresso balsamic chocolate fudge
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Delightfully
Local Espresso Balsamic Fudge
10 oz heavy cream
4 oz Oro di Oliva espresso balsamic vinegar
16 oz Omanhene 80% baking chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
3 T unsalted butter cut in to small pieces
1/4 tsp Fleur de Sel
1/2 tsp vanilla
Grease a 9×13 baking pan with butter and
and line with parchment paper. In a metal bowl or double boiler, add all ingredients
except the salt. Set over a pot of gently simmering water, stirring constantly
until the chocolate has completely melted. The mixture will be very thick. Pour
in to the prepared pan. Allow to cool to room temperature and cut in to
squares. Sprinkle a few grains of sea salt on each square.
Makes about 3 pounds of fudge.
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For more information about Oro di Oliva and their selection of
olive oils and vinegars, visit them on the web at www.orodioliva.com
Whitefish Bay
Open:
Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat-Sun 10-5
338 E Silver Spring
Whitefish Bay, WI 53217
Store: 414-967-7357
wfbay@orodioliva.com
Wauwatosa
Open:
Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5 Sun 11-5
7606 Harwood Ave
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Store: 414-256-8066
tosa@orodioliva.com
