Does anyone have favorite brand of Olive oil...or other?

Try this oil...... Order a sample pack and enjoy. I used to buy from them at several different restaurants. The fall harvest oils are the best.

Thanks for the idea ChefBuba. Will check it out.  I have used another boutique oil and vinegar from Round Pond, also in California.  Love it, especially their vinegar selections.  If you're just able to shop the grocery stores, try Les Costes olive oil from Spain.  Nice!  Also, Ortalli Balsamic vinegar (Italian) is just wonderful.  Low acid, not vinegary tasting at all.

I usually use the Spanish extra virgin from Trader Joe's as the everyday. I'm inconstant (that's inconstant, not incontinent) when it comes to the good stuff. We've got a few favorite retailers, and like to run with their recommendations.

Also, there's an olive oil boutique in downtown Ventura that bottles their own. We sometimes drive up the coast and then through the farm country for lunch and a little shopping. Mostly the drive though.

Olive oil is like wine. Just because you liked something from one harvest, doesn't mean you'll like oil from the same trees on the next.

BDL

Because they differ so much by the year, it's hard to pick an overall favorite I do however prefer the brands imported from spain, I find them a bit lighter .I do not buy blends, I blend my own.

Hello! I'm sorry having to say that many high standard olive oils are not fit for general use on anything. You would use your best olive oil merely on cold preparations or as a last minute few drops on pasta etc. Many high quality olive oils have a very pronounced flavor and quite a peppery aftertaste.

There's also olive oil you can cook with, it's a little lower quality and has a much softer taste. It's something you can buy in any supermarket, think Bertoli and such.

 

Don't know about your surrounding, but a few small and specialized wineshops over here also offer a limited choise of olive oils, especially when they import wines from Spain and Italy themselves. You can taste the oils before buying them. That's how I found my favorite olive oil, the Italian Pruvas from the "heel" of Italy. They have a website too for their wine and olive oils; www.pruvas.it

I need to add that I've used many Spanish olive oils in the past, they have a lot of good stuff. My advice; buy the ones in metal containers, filled in Spain. They have them in 1 liter content and higher.

 

There's also a few shops over here that sell only oils, vinegars etc., presenting the oils in their shop in large glass containers from which they fill your bottle. I wouldn't do that, certainly never the flavored oils like their truffle oils; it's mostly utter junk. Also, you have zero guarantee where their oils comes from. Most supermarkets sell better quality at a much lower price!

 

 

Really?  I find most spanish oils and especially the one from TJ's to be extremely acidic.  What kind of greek would I be if I didn't stick my toe in and recommend you try some of the greek olive oils?  You'll find them in mediterranean specialty markets. 

Colavita is good for everyday cooking.

 

There are two I drizzle on food : Krista from Crete , which is just about one of the best olive oils out there. (Thankfully my sister and friends bring it back when visiting from Cyprus). I have Lambda in the vault.

 

Luigi from Tuscany is a favorite and Carli.

 

My sister-in-law likes to bring back Lagrima and Milenario (from Spain) and they are wonderful.