When it comes to fancy schmancy dinners or get-togethers with friends that somehow always seem to center around food, all too often the appetizer and dessert courses are my favorites. Light bites before dinner take the edge off my hunger and frequently steal the show for me! I’m not sure how many times I’ve ended up full on appetizers before it was time for the main course!
A few weeks ago, Oliviers & Co. reached out to me about hosting a giveaway and offered to send me some of their naturally flavored specialty oils, vinegars, condiments and Mediterranean-themed goodies. I knew immediately that I wanted to try their high-quality olive oil (both flavored – like the lemon and olive oil or chili pepper olive oil – and original) and marinated olives, but I couldn’t resist sampling some of their spreads as well.
The process behind the creation of Oliviers & Co. olive oils is quite extensive. Olives must be hand-harvested when still green and olives of different origins are never pressed together, which would result in sub-standard oil. I was a little skeptical but I can honestly say I tasted a difference! Their olive oils were smoother, less acidic and tastier than the olive oil I typically buy at the grocery store.
In the end, I used the goodies I received to create a hodgepodge of appetizers that became dinner for me and Ryan on Tuesday night!
Hey, you won’t ever hear me complain about big ol’ snack plates or hors d’oeuvres for dinner! Oh, and one dessert popped up, too, because you know I can’t neglect my sweet tooth.
Here’s a roundup of what we enjoyed:
- Basil Pesto and Italian Cheese Crostini
Oh my gosh this appetizer was so darn delicious. Ryan had the idea to make little toast “pizzas” with the pesto. They were super easy to make and came together in a flash. After toasting sour dough baguette slices under the broiler, we topped them with a spread of basil and parmesan pesto and a sprinkling of shredded Italian cheeses before placing them back in the oven until the cheese started to melt. Simple, right!?
- Taggisaca Olives Feta and Tomato Salad
This salad is a dish I enjoyed at a college girlfriends’ apartment one time that totally stuck with me. She assured me it was crazy-simple to prepare and since I had some incredibly fragrant marinated Taggisaca black olives begging to be enjoyed, I combined them with fresh tomatoes and feta cheese for a simple salad that Ryan and I ate both on its own. (Watch out for the pits!) The lemon peel and chili used in the olive marinade made the flavors in this salad pop!
- Fig and Melon Goat Cheese Dip with Grissini Breadsticks
Sweet and savory! The best of both worlds. To make this dip, I combined the Oliviers & Co. fig and melon spread with creamy goat cheese and used Grissini (savory Italian breadsticks from Liguria, Italy that are made from both wheat and corn flour and olive oil) for dipping. (The Grissini I used appear to be sold out, but I think the sweet olive oil crackers would be great with this, too!) Yum!
- Olive Oil with Fresh Bread
A classic and with good reason! We dipped fresh bread into the olive & basil oil and the everyday olive oil and were instantly reminded why this simple appetizer is always a favorite. The basil olive oil was my favorite but I also enjoyed the light and slight lemony flavor of the everyday olive oil as well!
- Vanilla Ice Cream with Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar
The combination of rich, creamy ice cream with a tangy balsamic strawberries made this the perfect way to wrap up the day! Ryan was skeptical about the balsamic flavor with ice cream at first, but commented on the way it complimented the fresh berries and ice cream. (I followed a recipe from Ina Garten for this dish!)
Are you drooling yet!? I hope so because here is your chance to make some delicious appetizers and have some fun in the kitchen with Oliviers & Co.
Giveaway
One PBF reader will win $300 of Oliviers & Co. product (of your choice!). To enter this giveaway, simply click here, join the mailing list, browse the site and leave a comment below telling me what product(s) you’d most like to try! (Anyone who enters the giveaway will also receive 10 percent off their purchase!) I will randomly select a winner on Thursday, September 18. Please note that this giveaway is open to US readers only and you must have a US shipping address and valid email address to win.
Good luck!
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I am a big believer in the importance of good olive oil! I would love to try the olive and garlic oil. Two of my fave things! There are so many other products i am interested in as well, like the red pepper & chili jam, and wild poppy vinegar. Fingers crossed!!
Basil and Parmesan Pesto for sure!!!
ahhh everything! the spreads like the red pepper and chili jam or the tomato & lemon with almonds all sound out of this world!
I would love to try most of the olive oils, but I especially would love the olive and green lemon oil.
I LOVE pesto & I would love to try the truffle oil too!!
I would love to try the basil and parmesan pesto!!!! I love pesto! And the olive and lemon oil sounds delicious!
Ooo so many great choices! I’d definitely get the Lemon Oil & Fig-Mini-Melo and the Table Cruet would be great for parties/dinners!
Definitely the pesto!!
the balsalmic vinegar with truffle juice!
The lemon oil for sure!!!
I was so excited when I read about the Oliviers & Co. giveaway! I lived abroad in Andalusia, Spain where I taught English for a year. It was there that my love for olive oil significantly grew! The first product that caught my eye was the CASTILLO DE CANENA OLIVE OIL because it is made in Andalusia. I also loved the olive oil wooden dish and the skincare products. I want to try one of everything. Thanks for sharing this awesome company!
I love all the olive oil choices!
Love the different pestos offered
Basil and Parmesan Pesto looks a-MAZING!
Mmmmmm olive oil! I’d love to try the Mantinea & Avia olive oil and the everyday olive oil.
I am waiting for my first delivery in October! I can’t wait to try their oils!!
Would love to try the PESTO LA ROSSA – SUNDRIED TOMATO & BASIL 🙂
I would seriously like to buy everything on that site!
And everything you made sounds and looks delicious!
Thank you for the giveaway! Everything looks fabulous, but I would love to try the Trio of Balsamics!!
I was definitely drooling over your post… I’d love to make the Basil and Parmesan Pesto crostinis!!!
Mix the garlic olive oil and fig balsamic vinegar with fresh bread for dipping! Yum!
Any of the dips and toppings! They look delicious!
The BASIL OIL & OREGANO MELI-MELO
WOW..your apps look absolutely incredible! I want to make them all! And I would LOVE to try the fig and melon spread..the green olive and almond tapenade …and of course I would die for a truffle cream or oil!
I want to try everything!!! I can’t decide. LOL I think I would pick the finishing olive oil. I love olive oil and lemon over steamed vegetables. It’s the best! I would love to try all of the pestos also.
I would love to try the Artichoke with Apricot + Honey spread – it sounds like a unique and delicious combination of flavors that would be fun/different to use in an appetizer or entree!
I would love to try the pesto and the different olive oils!
I would love to try any and all of their pestos!
The clementine and cinnamon spread is very intriguing. Not something I would go out and buy but would definitely love to try
I would love to try the olive oil but there are lots of yummy looking stuff.
I would love to try the fig and melon spread and the truffle oil!
Oh-my-gosh, all of your dishes look amazing! I would order the O&CO. Table Cruet. I’d love to have a quality oil & vinegar set on hand for entertaining.
I would love to try SO many things but the Pesto Alla Genovese definitely caught my eye 🙂
The olive & basil oil, the white balsamic with oregano and all the pestos!
I would love to try their Truffle Oils! Thanks for a fun giveaway!!
I have my eye on one of the gift sets that a dear friend of mine would love!
I’d love to try the finishing olive oil!
I am a huge pesto fan and would love to give their version a try!
Any pesto is always calling my name! Sounds fantastic!
I’m half Italian and pretty much every meal that my mom prepares begins with sautéing garlic in olive oil. (It makes the house smell amazing and you haven’t even started cooking yet lol) I would love to try the basil oil. Thanks for a great giveaway Julie!
I love quality olive oil so that would be my choice! Thank you for hosting the giveaway!
My fave is the marinara, love it for dipping
I’d pick the finishing olive oil! I use olive oil daily and would like to try this. Thanks for the opportunity.
Seasidesmitten@aol.com
Peri peri sauce looks awesome. I love a little bit of spice in my sauce!
I would love either their white or black truffle oil to make truffle fries or use it in mac n’ cheese! yum!
I’d love to try one of their Truffle oils!
I joined the mailing list!
I would love to try the bourbon, maple and chipotle BBQ sauce!
I’d like to try the black currant and mint jam.
The sundried tomato & basil pesto looks great!
I would love to try the BBQ sauces or any type of sauce. I’m a huge fan of topping my meals with some type of sauce.