Olive oil tasting, part II - [Past Event]

Several years ago, the Lovely Dining Companion and I hosted an “everyday” olive oil tasting. You can read about the event, winner/losers, taste reactions and sensations, etc. here. I think the posts following the event give a pretty sense of how the afternoon went that day. We found that people had wide range of reactions to the everyday oils we tasted and best of all, we learned a lot and had a great time.

I believe that the time has (finally) come to organize a second tasting. This time, though, instead of everyday oils, we will taste people’s personal favorites.

The particulars: the tasting will be Chez Gypsy Boy again (Andersonville, on the north side of town). Saturday, May 2, 2009, at 4:00 pm. It is a BYOOO and, as before, space dictates strict limits on attendance. Our best guess that is we can accommodate a dozen people. So, respond early (but not often).

My thought, at least preliminarily, is that a meal would follow—Anteprima (among other destinations) is a few blocks walk from our home. But that’s a detail that the attendees, as a group, can decide upon. For the moment, the guest list is the primary item. In order to be as transparent/fair as possible, I think the best way to proceed is to take “reservations” via this thread (as opposed to pms, etc.). Questions?

HI,

If I may, I would like to reserve for one. EVOO - Captain Porky's home brew from Greece.

Regards,

I'd love to join in, but that's Derby Day ... I'm genetically required to be eating Kentucky Country Ham that day.

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

If I may, I would like to reserve for one. EVOO - Captain Porky's home brew from Greece.

Regards,

Why, of course you may! And pleased to have you. This seems as good a place as any to start a running list as well.

Tom, I didn't consult a calendar and am, of course, dismayed to learn that. We'll miss your bright, cheery countenance and hope we can entice you to some other event 'ere long.


Attendees:
Gypsy Boy
Cathy2
thaiobsessed +1
Cynthia
abf005 +1

This was great fun the first time around. I wish we could participate again, but Mr. X is off golfing that weekend and I've already filled in the weekend with other plans.

Count me in! Thanks for hosting again.

Sounds like a blast but I already have tix for a matinee show that day. I really wish I could be there.

Have fun!

=R=

I'm in +1 if I'm not too late. EVOO tbd. Thanks for hosting.
Becca

If you still have room, I'd love to come back for part II.

Hi all,
This sounds like a wonderful event. Put me down for one; it will be a nice chance to meet new folks from the board. Thanks.

Now that it's less than three weeks away, I thought I'd check the status on this -- and bump it up, in case there are a few who didn't see it the first time around. (I do know you have limited space, but we haven't hit the maximum yet -- at least if the list above is current).

I'm debating two oils at present, one from Spain and one from Australia -- and I may just bring both.

And I hate to admit it, but I don't remember precisely where you life. (I can picture the building and the interior, just not the street name or number.) Could you PM me with the details?

See you on May 2.

I will be bringing 'Sonoma' olive oil from, well, Sonoma (but purchased at J.P. Graziano's)--not sure yet which my guest will bring.

Thanks for the bump. We do, indeed, have a few empty spaces if any interest exists out there in LTH-land.

I will have two oils to contribute as well (L'Estornell from Spain and Coluccio from "Mid-Western area of Sicily" according to the bottle). But I will be PMing those who have RSVPd via this thread with detailed directions, phone numbers, etc. If you would be so kind as to indicate what oil you're bringing, that would be helpful. So far, at least based on public responses, we're in no danger of duplication, but I'd like to keep a master list just to be safe.

Looking forward to the tasting--and the company.

Thanks for the PM with the additional info. I'm looking forward to this. LTHers always make good company -- and who knows what delights I may find among the oils offered for tasting.

Our second olive oil (in addition to the Sonoma) will be Cappazzana (Prato, Italy). We're really looking forward to this. Thanks for hosting. Both Anteprima and Great Lake sound like great dinner options (tough to choose, though I could be a tie-breaker if pressed)

Hi,

I will bring a bottle of Costco's finest EVOO. I use it because it is easily available.

Regards,

This is probably a good time to note that we've had two cancellations and, in any event, were not at capacity before. We can handle another five or six people, so come one, come all, taste some olive oils! It's fun, it's entertaining, it's educational!

Sorry to ask again if its already posted below and I just missed it. Its just that I have a morning soccer game to coach, so I'd like to know what time is the event scheduled? If its for after 1PM I think I can attend.

I've always wanted a chance to taste a number of Olive Oils "back to back" since the choice at any decent grocer with a selection of more than 20+ can get quite intimidating, for example; when I shop at Tenutas in Kenosha, they must have at least 50-70 different labels!

Burt,
Welcome! If you--or anyone else who might be interested--will go back to the very first post in the thread, you'll see what the event is about and that we're not planning to get started until 4 pm (and are talking about a couple possible dinner options after, if people as a group are interested). We've got five definite attendees so far and you--and others--are more than welcome to join us. Shoot me a PM with any questions.

Dave

Sounds great then, I'd love to jump into the fray! I'll probably be flying solo and bring a bottle of Italian EVO by Acamedia Barilla - 100% Italiano.

Dare I ask: is there a good Parmesan cheese already in the mix as well? If not, I can supply at least one brick as well, PLMK.

We had a great time at the olive oil tasting. Thanks so much for hosting, Gypsy Boy.
The appetizers were terrific--my favorites were the Ubraico del Piave cheese, sopressata and manzanilla olives.
I think tasting the olive oil out of cups was the way to go. As much as I enjoyed the oils with bread, the taste of the bread did influence the taste of the oil. The descriptor sheet was very helpful as was the printed tutorial on olive oils.
The pizza at Great Lake was delicious (although I miss the pizza topped with sopressata or some type of pork product which is no longer on the menu)
I won't give away the favorites because I know Gypsy Boy has great notes.
All in all, it was a great event with a warm hospitable host, great company and delicious oils.

For those interested in the results of the tasting, you may want to check this thread.

thaiobsessed wrote:The pizza at Great Lake was delicious (although I miss the pizza topped with sopressata or some type of pork product which is no longer on the menu)

For this act of dining, LTH was Chicagogluttoned. For those who haven't read it, the site typically features uncensored language throughout. I think they were jealous of the DSLR.

gastro gnome wrote:

thaiobsessed wrote:The pizza at Great Lake was delicious (although I miss the pizza topped with sopressata or some type of pork product which is no longer on the menu)

For this act of dining, LTH was Chicagogluttoned. For those who haven't read it, the site typically features uncensored language throughout. I think they were jealous of the DSLR.

Actually, no. That GL piece has to do with a dinner I had there with a few friends back in March -- check the date. Fwiw, that's my picture in the piece.

=R=