Olive oil

[Sue]

After a lifetime of going for the cheapest (within reason) I have belatedly realised that it's quite nice to spend a bit more and have something that tastes a lot nicer (sorry about the repetition of nice :) ). Not just with olive oil, but I'm starting there :)

I know nothing about olive oil except that you use different types for salad dressing and actually cooking with.

I'm presently using M&S olive oil (purely for convenience as I get other things from M&S).

Can anybody point me in the direction of the best place locally to buy something a bit better, and also maybe to make some recommendations of what to buy?

[JohnL]

Always Extra Virgin Olive Oil rather than just olive oil for salads and sprinkling on things and lower heat cooking.

[Sue]

Thanks, I was thinking more of a specific recommended brand and where to buy it?

[RichH]

For cooking I've always used Filippo Berio. It's a mainstream brand available pretty much everywhere and perhaps you've tried it already. But, if not, it might provide a good starting point for you to compare with your current M&S variety.

Next time I'm passing I'll pop into the "Turkish" supermarket on Forest Hill Road. They might have some more esoteric brands to try and, if so, I'll update this thread.

[carlafindle]

Maybe try the Italian deli in lewishame?

[TheArtfulDogger]

[Sue]

carlafindle Wrote:

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> Maybe try the Italian deli in lewishame?

I didn't know there was one, whereabouts in Lewisham is it?

[Sue]

TheArtfulDogger , that brings back childhood memories :)

[carlafindle]

Sue Wrote:

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> carlafindle Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Maybe try the Italian deli in lewishame?

>

>

> I didn't know there was one, whereabouts in

> Lewisham is it?

Antonio Delicatessen 23 Lewis Grove SE13 6BG

[dbboy]

Spanish Olive Oil in Sainsbury's comes in a tin and is adequate,

[Sue]

carlafindle Wrote:

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> Maybe try the Italian deli in lewishame?

I didn't know there was one, whereabouts in Lewisham is it?

ETA: ooops sorry double posted

[Sue]

carlafindle Wrote:

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> Sue Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > carlafindle Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > Maybe try the Italian deli in lewishame?

> >

> >

> > I didn't know there was one, whereabouts in

> > Lewisham is it?

>

>

> Antonio Delicatessen 23 Lewis Grove SE13 6BG

Thanks, I will investigate!

[Sue]

dbboy Wrote:

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> Spanish Olive Oil in Sainsbury's comes in a tin

> and is adequate,

Thanks dbboy (and also RichH, yes I used to use that one but haven't for a while).

The M&S one is perfectly OK, I just wanted to try something a bit "better", but I don't have enough knowledge even to know what that might mean :)

[tiddles]

Lidl do nice olive oils

[binkylilyput]

Great post Sue! Yes, great quality olive oil is so delicious and streets ahead of any supermarket stuff I have found......although of course that is what I tend to use for price and convenience.

I keep wandering down Northcross Rd market on a Saturday hoping to see olive oil but so far have only seen chilli sauces. Maybe the Horniman market?

[beansprout]

Almost certain that there is a stall for olive oil in Herne Hill Market on a Sunday - they are open 10/4 but I haven't been for a couple of months.

There is also a deli there - opposite sude of road from vet. I lknow they sell olive oil.

[Sue]

Thanks Beansprout, I will check those out as well.

But will need to get something pro tem as am down to my last inch!

Can't go too far afield today.

[dbboy]

You tend to get what you pay for when it comes to oil. It depends what you want to use the oil for, general cooking, salads, as part of marinades, the flavour you want or want to add to a dish. It's very much personal choice. If you watch some of the Saturday cookery programmes you'll see they tend to consistently use the same oil which comes in an octagonal shaped bottle with a cap. Ultimately it comes down to personal taste.

[Sue]

I have a vague memory of someone having tasters of olive oil somewhere in Lordship Lane one Saturday.

Could it have been the new (ish) cheese shop?

I vaguely remember sampling some and not liking it much because it was quite bitter, but as my memory is not great I could be completely wrong :))

Actually it's just occurred to me I could try Borough Market. Walked through there recently just as it was closing, we got a free portion of very delicious herby chips thrust upon us!

They would probably have oils you could sample, wouldn't they, rather than taking a chance on a whole expensive tin or bottle?

[Sue]

dbboy Wrote:

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> You tend to get what you pay for when it comes to

> oil. It depends what you want to use the oil for,

> general cooking, salads, as part of marinades, the

> flavour you want or want to add to a dish. It's

> very much personal choice. If you watch some of

> the Saturday cookery programmes you'll see they

> tend to consistently use the same oil which comes

> in an octagonal shaped bottle with a cap.

> Ultimately it comes down to personal taste.

Yes, I guess that's the problem! I need at least two, I know.

Don't watch much TV at the moment for various tedious reasons, but have been reading cookery books in a belated attempt to improve my cooking before I snuff it :))

[TheArtfulDogger]

Borough market is a good place to go, try and maybe buy as there are a normally a couple of sellers there

Cold first press (extra virgin) is great for dressings or dips

Nor,al olive oil is perfect for cooking

It's a matter of taste with oils used for salads or dips and best advice is try before you buy rather then just listening to recommendations

[Sue]

Yes, thanks TAD.

I realised after I'd posted that just because someone else likes a particular brand doesn't mean that I will!

[edcam]

One of the best I've found lately is Olio del Castello extra virgin. Waitrose do it for ?8.75 a litre, which is pretty reasonable and only pennies more expensive than cheap (and not very good) brands like Filippo Berio.

[kiera]

At least Marks and Spencer's olive oil is not produced by the night time vacuum harvesting method which kills millions of birds. A number of newspapers reported on this last month:-

"Every year, millions of songbirds are brutally killed by suction olive harvesters as they rest at night in olive trees. In many regions, this industrialised slaughter takes place because harvesters have switched to night time harvesting simply to improve the flavour of the olives"

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/songbirds-death-toll-millions-mediterranean-olive-harvesting-winter-a8916471.html

Apparently the colder night time temperatures better preserve the flavour. In the daytime the birds can fly away, but at night they are trapped.

"Ethical Consumer are currently looking into the best brands to buy if you want to be assured that your olive oil has not contributed to the slaughter of wild birds. Whilst the full report is still in progress, they have released the following statement to help concerned buyers in the meantime:

"In response to queries, Ethical Consumer magazine has been contacting brands about what their policy is relating to birds and olive oil. The following brands have replied to say that they do not use the olive harvesting method that leads to vast bird deaths: BionaOrganic, Mr Organic, Marks and Spencer. A more detailed report from one of their researchers is soon to come."

From the Olive Oil Times

https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-oil-basics/millions-of-birds-killed-by-nighttime-harvesting-in-mediterranean/68111

Martin Harper, the RSPB?s director of conservation said, ?Numbers of farmland birds in Europe have plummeted by 55 per cent over the last three decades and this is another shocking example of how modern agricultural practices are impacting our bird populations, including some UK species passing through the region.?

Andalusian officials have recommended the practice stops but unless legislation is passed in the next few months the ?massacre? will start again in October, researchers warn.

Petition http://chng.it/zDmy4rzC64

[DulwichFox]

Sainsbury's have a range of Olive Oils with a range of prices.

I opted for the San Leandro Cold Extracted Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Andalusia Spain.

Priced at ?5.50 500ml. ?11.00 Ltr.

and very good it is too.

I watch a lot of Cooking programs on TV and Spanish Olive Oil is Highly rated by many Chefs.

DulwichFox