Olive Oil Tasting in Coronado

We all have heard of wine tasting. 
But, how about olive oil tasting?

On beautiful Coronado island, on Orange Avenue and before you 

get to the Hotel Del Coronado, is Coronado Taste of Oils

photo source

Walk-ins can sample flavored olive oils

as well as flavored and aged balsamic vinegars. 

By dipping small pieces of bread, or by tasting from a small plastic cup: 

you can sample Butter EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil); 

Chipotle EVOO;  Meyer Lemon Olive Oil, 

Herbs de Provence Olive Oil, Basil EVOO, 

Cilantro Roasted Onion EVOO, Harissa Olive Oil, and more!

And how about... Espresso Balsamic; Lavender Balsamic; Vanilla Balsamic;

Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic; Dark Chocolate Balsamic; 

Tangerine Balsamic; Honey Balsamic; and oodles more!

Also available for purchase are adorable tablecloths,

wine-flavored (!!) dried pasta, and the artwork on the walls!

For pre-arranged parties of 10 or more, they offer an 

after-hours’ private evening of “tastings” along with a 

presentation on the positive impact olive oil has in our 

bodies... oh!  AND a four-course meal!

I was so lucky to participate in one of those evenings.

The tablecloth looked like it came straight from Italy.  As centerpieces 

running down the table, they placed clementines in pink English transferware
bowls ("Old Britain Castles", I believe) and added sprigs of rosemary.  

Marble tiles were used to  hold the cups, pieces 

of bread and for veggie chips sprinkled with aged balsamic vinegar (!!)

Our menu for the evening included:

Chipotle Hummus served with slices of Tuscan Olive Bread

Cranberry-Pear Vinaigrette Salad

Beef Bourguignon served over Vino Rosso Fettuccine

Olive Oil Carrot Cake with an Olive Oil-Cream Cheese Frosting

Affogato Floats:  Scoop of Walnut Oil Ice Cream drizzled 
with Espresso Balsamic

We watched a cooking demonstration on how to make the 
Chipotle Hummus...

as we enjoyed this delicious Chipotle Hummus 

appetizer with tasty Tuscan Olive Bread!  

(I've included both recipes below) 

RECIPE:

Chipotle Hummus

Courtesy of:  Coronado Taste of Oils

Ingredients:

3 15-ounce cans garbanzo beans, drained

1/2 cup "Coronado Taste of Oils" Chipotle Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/4 cup "Coronado Taste of Oils" Roasted Sesame Oil (ultra premium)

2 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon cumin


Method:

Put all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until smooth. Serve with pita bread and fresh veggies.


RECIPE:
Tuscan Olive Bread
Courtesy of: Coronado Taste of Oils


Ingredients:
20 green olives thinly sliced (pitted)
20 black olives thinly sliced (pitted)
1 cup whole wheat bread flour
4 eggs (or equivalent egg substitute)
1/2 cup Coronado Taste of Oils: Blood Orange EVOO
1/2 cup white wine
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup Gruyere cheese grated


Method:
In mixing bowl, add flour, 4 eggs and half the olive oil (1/4 cup).  Fold batter with spatula.  Dissolve teaspoon baking powder into remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup wine.  Slowly whisk into batter until smooth.  Fold in cheese and olives.  Bake at 350 degrees in loaf pan for 10 minutes.   Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake an additional 35 minutes until loaf is firm to touch.  Let cool.  Serve your bread with fresh hummus.

Our next course was a Cranberry-Pear Vinaigrette Salad 

Crisp pears placed over arugula and sprinkled with walnuts

and gorgonzola crumbles!  Here is this recipe:

RECIPE:

Cranberry Pear Vinaigrette Salad

Courtesy of: Coronado Taste of Oils

Ingredients:

1 bag fancy greens

2 fresh pears sliced

1 cup gorgonzola cheese crumbled

1 cup toasted walnuts

Dried cranberries

1/4 cup Coronado Taste of Oils: Cranberry Pear White Balsamic

1/4 cup Coronado Taste of Oils: Blood Orange EVOO

1 teaspoon orange honey

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Method:

Arrange greens on dish with sliced pears on top.  Sprinkle with walnuts, cranberries, and gorgonzola cheese.  For dressing: Whisk together balsamic, EVOO, honey and mustard.  Drizzle over salad to taste.

 And then, because I was so excited in visiting with my 

friends and being SO completely into my food that I 

completely forgot to take pictures of the remaining courses!


So sorry!  You'll have to use your imagination, but as you 
can imagine, it was a delightful and tasty evening!

I came home with a bottle of Cranberry Pear White Balsamic 

and look forward to using it in a salad for an upcoming post.

Tell me, have any of you been olive oil tasting?

Thank you for visiting my blog! 

Fondly,

~ Karen