June 2nd, 2011
Oil of Olé
Shamefully, we admit, we used to buy olive oil for the pretty bottle.
Now that Montreal’s Olive & Olives has set up shop along Riverside’s growing gourmet strip, we care more about what's inside. Displayed under a giant faux olive tree, the boutique’s 50 varieties of extra virgin are produced and bottled in Spain by artisanal estates.
Our palate was piqued by the picante notes of O&O’s organic private label (from $13.95), canned Manzanilla olives stuffed with blue cheese ($3.25), Andalusian tapenades and oil-infused chocolate ($3.95).
Don’t know an arbequina from an arbre blanque? Tasting workshops ($35/2 hours) will have you warming, sniffing and sipping your way to oil aficionado (and no harm in choosing one that matches the AGA).
Olive & Olives opens on June 4 in time for this weekend’s Riverdale Art Walk, 779 Queen St. E., Toronto, 416-551-8181, www.oliveolives.com
