In a recent interview by Flavor your Life, (a campaign supported by the European Union) I was asked: What do you look for when buying EVOO? I answered that there are three important factors to look for when purchasing olive oil are: harvest date, packaging and traceability: 1. Choose oil in a dark bottle, metal container […]
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Pairing Food with Olive Oil plus a handy chart!
You can create harmonious flavors by pairing food with olive oil. It is similar to pairing wine and food. Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) are varied in taste. The multiplicity of tastes and aromas make olive oil attractive to consumers who are looking for taste sensations to match each meal. There are basically two distinct […]
Love your Heart – Change your Oil!
Olive oil is one of the top foods recommended to promote cardiovascular health. Thousands of scientific studies (and the American Heart Association) declare the Mediterranean Diet one of the world’s healthiest ways to eat. A major component of the Mediterranean Diet is olive oil, which has long been considered one of the most important of […]
New Year's Resolution #5: Learn more about Olive Oil!
Expand your knowledge by exploring the world of olive oil! Here are some tips: 1. Host your own olive oil tasting party with tips from my book, The Passionate Olive. 2. Contact The Passionate Olive for a special event or olive oil dinner at info@thepassionateolive.com. We can create an informative and fun party where guests […]
New Year’s Resolution #4: Enrich your Social Life with Olive Oil
An age-old question: What does drizzling olive oil over all types of culinary pursuits have to do with improving your relationships? Research (from the journal of PLoS Medicine, among others) shows that strong social relationships are associated with better health and longevity. There’s no better way to enrich your social life than by breaking bread […]
New Year’s Resolution #3: Go Green with Olive Oil
Resolution #3: Go Green with Olive Oil. What better way to “go green” than with olive oil for common household uses? And, what better way to use old olive oil or olive oil that was fraudulently labeled EVOO? Because olive oil is created from natural ingredients, it won’t release harsh chemicals into the air […]
Fourth of July, Thomas Jefferson, and Olive Oil
On a recent trip to Mt.Rushmore, I saw the stunning carvings of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, T. Roosevelt and Lincoln. With three friends, we took a selfie with Mt.Rushmore in the background. I was second from the left and slanted my face upward. I was Thomas Jefferson. As we are about to celebrate our most important national holiday, I […]
The Passionate Olive available in Chinese…中文版《The Passionate Olive》终于问世
I am thrilled to let you know that my book, The Passionate Olive -101 Things to do with Olive Oil has been published in Chinese. The book has a new cover and a new title. The title in Chinese is Olive Oil – Liquid Gold 101 Uses of Olive Oil. Because of the known health […]
Cooking with Gigi
At the age of 98, my mother, Gigi Firenze is still living alone and cooking everyday. Even though I titled this article “Cooking with Gigi” – I am usually just the clean up person. She loves cooking. It is her life and she’s quite critical of almost everyone else’s cooking. Written recipes are rare in […]
Olive Oil, your Heart and Valentine’s Day
Get heart healthy and passionate! What do Valentine’s Day (the most romantic holiday of the year) and February, American Heart Healthy Month have in common? If you guessed “olive oil” you’re right. If there is one simple way to love your heart, change your oil! And if there’s one simple way to love your sweetheart, […]