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An Olive Oil Themed Dinner Party

This post is sponsored by Oliviers & Co.

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Matt and I had been planning to host an outdoor summer dinner party for a while. We had been waiting for the right weekend weather and a good theme to spark an invitation. Oliviers & Co. offered to send me some products to use in a post, and I realized this was the perfect opportunity to design a party around the richness of olive oil. Olive oil is such a versatile ingredient, I knew I could incorporate it into a number of courses – dessert included! Oliviers & Co. produces naturally flavored specialty oils, vinegars, condiments, culinary creations, and olive oil based beauty products, and they work with artisanal producers to make some really special oils. I chose several creative flavors for the party. Scroll down for a giveaway for a chance to win some products of your own!

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So the invites were sent, the courses planned, the table set, and the flowers picked. My favorite part of entertaining is setting the table!

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We opened some wine, served beer from our kegs and started on an appetizer course.

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I set out some snacks, local cheese, the Oliviers & Co. Black Olive & Walnut Tapenade, and the Oliviers & Co. Olive & Chili Pepper Oil.

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Matt made two baguettes that we sliced and toasted for dipping into the spiced oil.

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My lovely hand model will demonstrate the amazing combination we created on the spot:

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First we dipped the toast in the chili oil, which had a great kick to it. Then we smothered on some of the tapenade, which was both rich with olives and nutty from walnuts, and lastly we added a smear of Caromont Farm cheese. These flavors worked so well together!

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Our first seated course was a classic caprese salad

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We used tomatoes and basil from our garden and layered them with fresh mozzarella.

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They were sprinkled with salt and drizzled with the Oliviers & Co. Olive and Basil Oil for double decker basil flavor. This oil was amazing – it tasted as flavorful and fresh as the fresh basil itself!

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For our main course we served my favorite Chicken and Bean Bake. With someone who couldn’t have gluten on the guest list, this was a great choice to serve to a group. Plus it’s easy to assemble in advance and bake as the guests arrive.

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The recipe calls for a few generous glugs of olive oil. We chose a higher end Tuscan olive oil for its outstanding flavor: Oliviers & Co. Tenuta di Ghizzano Olive Oil. {Oliviers & Co. site has a wealth of information about how to taste olive oil here from each oil’s unique taste profile, best use suggestions, food pairings and more!} We all decided to taste it by itself as well, and it was rich, buttery and grassy on the finish. I drizzled a little more over my cooked chicken, and boy was it delicious. I loved the gold bottle as well – a hint to the richness that was inside.

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To go with the chicken and beans, we made a simple salad topped with my spiced pecans.

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The dressing we made featured Oliviers & Co. Olive & Lemon Oil along with their Wild Poppy Vinegar, which might be my new favorite vinegar ever! It’s almost like a rosé wine and very fruity – not too tart. The poppy and lemon together, along with Dijon mustard, garlic, herbs de Provence made a perfect dressing for this simple salad.

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And finally dessert. I knew an olive oil cake was in the cards, so I browsed the web and settled on Jenna’s recipe.

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In the recipe I used the Oliviers & Co. Mandarin Olive oil, which has notes of sweet orange. I was nervous to experiment, but it turned out perfect. The floral, orangey flavor of the olive oil was pleasant and subtle.

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We served the cake with vanilla ice cream long after the sun had set.

Overall the Oliviers & Co. products went above and beyond my expectations. The company is involved in every step of the olive oil production process – from overseeing family farms throughout Europe, to the mills and bottling facilities, and ultimately to its boutiques. For more info, check out Oliviers & Co.’s blog In Good Taste!

This experience has made me want to keep a variety of specialty oils in my pantry for special occasions. I’ll definitely be ordering a few more of the flavored oils when these are gone. Of them all, the Olive & Lemon Oil and Poppy Vinegar were my favorites!

Giveaway {Now Closed}

I asked if I could give some products away to you guys as well, and here are the details:

One winner will receive a $300 shopping spree to Oliviers & Co. Enter the giveaway by joining the Oliviers & Co. email list here, browsing the site for the products that excite you the most, and then leaving a comment with the name of the product you’d most like to try. Giveaway runs August 7 – 10. USA entries only, please.

Everyone who enters will receive 10% off coupon on your first order via the Oliviers & Co. email list!

Winner!

Comment #61, Lindsay is Broke!

This post was sponsored by Oliviers &Co.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. That dinner party looks so much fun. What a fabulous idea. I would love to try the wild poppy vinegar. It sounds like it would make a great salad dressing!

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  6. I absolutely love this company. They have a store near where I live and everything I have gotten there is so delicious. I also buy gifts there since their stuff is incredible and people always love it. (I actually was introduced to them when my sister-in-law bought us some of their herb mixes once!). My favorite combo is their mango vinegar with their lemon olive oil for dipping bread into. Ahh love them. I just reread this comment and it sounds like I work for them haha which I swear I do not. Hope I win!!!

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  8. Such a cute theme for a dinner party! I loooove flavored olive oils! Would love to try some from this company!

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  15. FINCAS LAS PLANAS OLIVE OIL – this olive oil sounds delicious! I would love to have some of the stainless pourers to add to my current bottles. I would also love to try the pesto sauces! So hard to choose!

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  17. The Chili Pepper Olive Oil sounds wonderful, would be great in asian dishes. We have a local olive oil/vinegar shop here on Cape Cod – Gustare Oils and Vinegars – that also makes wonderful flavors. Now I want to go sampling again!

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  19. I would LOVE to try the basil oil, lemon oil, and the fruity vinegars! Good oils and vinegars are two of my favorite things!

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  20. It tough to choose. I would like to try the olive and chili pepper oil. It sounds perfect for many creative hors d’oeuvres.

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  23. I’d love to try one of the rich ones, I guess I’d choose rameaux-d-or/organic-tenuta-di-ghizzano-olive-oil for the organic factor. I’m always looking for a great finishing oil.

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  30. For something fancy, I would love to try the L’EXTRAVERTE. For everyday, I would love to try the olive and garlic oil.

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  32. The lemon oil sounds amazing and you could use it for chicken, fish, salads, vegetables, pasta, bread dipping, just about anything!

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  35. I love a good themed dinner party! There are SO many things from Oliviers & Co I’d like to try….especially the black olive & Orleans mustard tapenade and the l’extreme chocolate hazelnut spread – YUM!!!! I would have way too much fun spending $300 🙂

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  36. The olive oil and mandarin sounds delicious. I’d love to make an olive oil cake. I’ve never tried one.

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  40. I love specialty olive oil. I need that everyday olive oil trio that includes the balsamic vinegar, but would like to try a good finishing olive oil like their small back Chateau Virant. I signed up for the email list!

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  52. What a fun and unique theme for a dinner party! I love olive oil and use it to cook almost everything in our house. I would love to try one of the more flavorful oils like the tenuta di ghizzano olive oil as a finisher over a salad or pasta.

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  56. There are so many amazing products, but the one I’d most like to try is the Olive and Basil oil. I love fresh basil so much, and it only grows here in Boston for a few months out of the year. This oil seems like it could be a great addition to my pantry to add fresh basil flavor all year long!

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  65. So many oils to chose from. Such a difficult decision! They all look tasty. 🙂 CHILI OIL & POMEGRANATE MELI-MELO

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  69. I eat a big salad everyday for lunch and I would love to have a variety of oils to choose from for the dressing. First choice? Basil flavored. Second choice? All of them. Thanks for hosting this give-away, Kath. I rarely comment but I read your blog everyday. Love seeing photos of your son!

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  79. Poppy vinegar sounds so interesting! It looks like you guys came up with a delicious menu using these oils and vinegars – would love to try them 🙂

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  81. All of their oils sound incredible – but the mustard with maple & lemon is calling my name! Your dinner party looks fantastic 🙂

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  84. They have such lovely packaging! I’d love to try the fig and melon fruit spread, and the olive chili pepper oil.

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  85. I’m excited to ask — did you make a gluten-free version of that cake? (Since you had gluten-free guests?) My husband is trying out a GF diet and I’ve been looking for good cake recipes.

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  92. Fincas las Planas Olive Oil (in a pretty bottle to boot!), Basil Red Wine Vinegar, White Truffle Salt, Olive Wood accessories…so many things to love on this site, hard to choose one!

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  100. I would love to try the IL TEMPIO DELL’ORO OLIVE OIL (fresh grass and artichoke sound like lovely flavors!). I also can’t help but mention the WILD POPPY VINEGAR, the color is gorgeous and I can see so many salads sprinkled with this!

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  101. Wow, does this party look amazing. I must have misplaced my invite! 🙂 I signed up for the newsletter and would LOVE to try the Castello di Poppiano Olive Oil…and everything else!

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  110. That all looks so good! I’d love to try that wild poppy vinegar, or their raspberry wine vinegar. Sounds like it made an excellent salad dressing and I’m getting so tired of plain old balsamic.

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  118. I am DYING to make that olive oil chocolate cake you made with the mandarin olive oil! Whole meal looks fantastic. I’m also lusting over the White Wine Vinegar with Honey and Ginger on their site. Fingers crossed!!!

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  119. Everything looks so great! The vanilla balsamic would probably be one of my first purchases to make an awesome salad dressing.

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    • I’m on the low FODMAPs diet due to health problems, and garlic isn’t allowed on the diet – except in the form of garlic oil. I would definitely stock up on this and make some really fabulous meals. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  123. Hiya Kath!!! I think I would like to try the White Wine Vinegar with Honey & Ginger or the 3 Vinegar set. Thanks for hosting the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!!

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  129. I absolutely have to get my hands on the Mint Oil & Cherry Balsamic Meli-Melo – it sounds like an unbelievable flavor combination!

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  130. How about the pasta? Which one you ask? ALL OF THEM!!! I always see Debi Mazar top finished pasta in a bowl with some olive oil. Just plain good old top of the line olive oil.

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  134. I would love to try the Peri-Peri sauce- I put hot sauce on everything, so this would be a wonderful sauce to try!

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  137. I would love to try the garlic olive oil. I love flavored olive oils. I never buy myself good olive oil. The second I get any, I usually end up giving it away as a gift. I need to get some for ME!

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  140. I don’t think I’ve ever had a “flavored” olive oil before! A spicy olive oil like the chili you mentioned, or “sweet” with mandarin, or I saw the lemon on the website – I would love to try any of them!

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  141. Some of these products remind me of being in my mothers kitchen as a little girl. Things like the puttanesca tomato sauce and the pistachio and almond torrone really bring back the memories. I am intrigued by many of the products and would love to try the organic lip balm and the mandarin olive oil. That olive oil sounds like it would be delicious on a salad!

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  142. All the things! Definitely the wild poppy vinegar. Definitely the Tenuta di Ghizzano oil. Basil olive oil would also be inspirational!

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  145. I’d <3 to try the Olive and Mandarin Oil…! My mind just screams "Olive and Mandarin Oil Gelato"! Mmmm….

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  146. The olive and lemon oil from their website looks great- and so does the recipe for it. Love some grilled fish with olive oil and lemon!

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  149. The basil oil for sure!! Sounds like the perfect way to hold on to the summer flavors as we head into fall and winter!!!!!

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  152. I love gourmet olive oils. It adds such flavor to any dish. My heart is with balsamic vinegar so the Combava Balsamic would top my list. The Olive & Lemon Oil set looks great too.

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  154. Wow! You really get to see how many readers are actively reading when you have a contest going on! lol

    With that being said, after looking at the website I have to say the Truffle Oil (white or black, I’m not sure!) sounds fantastic, but so does the Olive Oil with Basil. Tough decision! I think I’d want them both. 😉

    P.S. Just received my quarterly box! I LOVE it! And I finally know what Cville Crunch tastes like! And I promptly placed my new “Eat Real Food” poster behind my basil plant. Perfecto!

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  159. Mmmmmmmm…This whole meal looks amazing! I’d be interested in trying the olive and green lemon.

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  161. I love tasting flavored olive oils – they’re so delicious. I’d most like to try the mandarin olive oil. I think it would taste great in salads.

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  164. I love anything they have to offer…I’ve gone into the store and “tasted” many of their fare, everything is so good, flavorful and fun…their honey is wonderful!!

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  166. I just got back from a trip to Spain this week, and the olive oil was indescribable. I would like to try the Grand Cru olive oil from Spain that I saw on the website! I’ll be searching for that flavor stateside, for sure.

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  168. That cake sounds delish!

    I would love to try their white pepper balsamic and the Eos olive oil – “sweet almond and fresh grass” notes sound great!

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  170. I would LOVE to try the Mango Fruity Condiment! I’ve been looking for a good fruity vinegar to add to my salads for such a long time now and this one looks and sounds amazing!

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  172. I definitely want to try the White Wine Vinegar with Honey and Ginger! I bet it would be delicious on salads and in marinades. Maybe mixed into a dressing for a soba noodle salad? Yum!

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  173. Olive oil with basil I am going to have to try. The chili pepper olive oil sounds really good too.

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  177. The olive and green lemon oil is what I’d me most excited to try. It’s interesting they use the green lemon before it’s ripe–bet it’s a perfect mix! But this is an awesome giveaway and thanks for the opportunity!

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  179. After reading this post, I made the chicken and bean bake for dinner tonight. We loved it!! All three of my daughters (ages 8, 9, and 10) said it is in their top 5 favorite meals now. Thanks for such a delicious, easy, healthy meal!

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  190. The balsamic vinegar with black truffle juice sounds so very gormet. I would love to use it as a dressing for mixed greens or drizzled over tomatoes with mozzarella like your caprese salad.

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  192. It all does sound so good – enjoyed browsing their site – I would love to try the mandarin oil in the cake recipe – I LOVE to bake !

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  196. I’m lovin’ the tomato & basil oil right now. Can’t get enough of it. Would love to try more of their products.

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  198. Basil!!! There’s nothing better than using basil olive oil to make a meal taste so fresh! (Unless you like heat, then chile would be yummy!).

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  199. Kath, I just received my Quarterly box and I am so happy! The cville granola is amazing! I have the perfect place in my kitchen for the victory poster. And tonight we tried Peg’s salt on homemade sweet potato fries, yum. The napkins are great (although I wish I’d gotten a color other than black). You certainly have set the bar so high for your next box, and I cannot wait! Thank you for your effort to provide such great products, please try to keep the same great usefulness and quality. It was so a fun to open!

    Reply

  207. I love your blog. I have been following daily for about 2 years but have never commented. When you send out ” adult only” invitations, does it offend certain friends? We do not have children but we have recently been to so many events where it is assumed it is okay to bring your children and we are worried if we plan a dinner out that is adults only that we upset friends. We have several friends that never hire sitters and they always assume that it is okay to bring their children. I love kids but every now and than I love catching up without the distraction of children. Thoughts?

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    • I think it’s good to have a mix of types of parties. My friends agree! Our low country boil is for everyone but we also like to be able to have conversations : ) . And one friend brought her small baby to this party because she couldn’t get a sitter and that was fine. It’s the toddlers that are disruptive, mine included!

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  210. My vote goes to
    TENUTA DI GHIZZANO OLIVE OIL only 100 bottles available in the US! What a beautiful,country party–just like in beloved Italia.

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  224. I would love to try the Olive & Garlic Oil and the Olive & Lemon Oil as well. They also have a Ginger Garlic marinade sauce and a Wild Poppy Vinegar that would be on my list as well!

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  225. I would love to try the basil and olive oil. I love the fresh taste of basil and I can see using it in a marinade for chicken.

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  226. I don’t know why but I’m intrigued by the olive and mint oil. There are so many that sound good though!

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  228. What a beautiful dinner party! I would love any of the items on the site, but the White Truffle oil, and aged apple Balsamic look particularly good. : )

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  232. This is hard to pick the one Id like to try most, but I have to say the Wild Poppy Vinegar looks pretty darn good.

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  233. Oh Kath! This dinner party is FANtastic! I want to host one! I love this background for the lemon & olive oil, “The traditional way to clean an olive press is to squeeze whole lemons in between the olive harvests…” and I’d love to try it and pretty much ALL of their products. Thank you for introducing this company to me!

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  236. Everything looks so good MINT OIL & CHERRY BALSAMIC MELI-MELO looks interesting and I’m a sucker for a good tapenade!

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  237. Chili Oil & Pomegranate Meli-Melo! My husband’s birthday is coming up and I would LOVE to spoil him with some good oils, vinegars and other foodie items…he’s the chef in our family 🙂

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  238. What a fun idea! I would have to try the Basil Oil & Oregano Meli-Melo set so I could taste BOTH their vinegar and olive oil. 😉

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  239. since we are just starting to get awesome tomatoes, I would have to go with the Olive & Basil Oil…sounds so yummy!!

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  240. The Wild Pepper Balsamic would make a great addition to salads and veggies. I’d also like to try the White and/or Black Truffle Oils. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  245. Wow, great website! I would love to try one of the truffle oils; I had a cauliflower soup in Nice with fresh truffles and want to attempt to recreate it!

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  248. I would try the lemon olive oil and I’m sure my husband would go crazy over the chili Olive oil. I’d also like to get a higher end oil because I’ve never tried one!

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  250. signed up

    Seriously I would try them all! what great flavors to choose from! Picking one product the MANDARIN OIL & POMEGRANATE MELI MELO seemed interesting!!

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  257. Wow. I could barely choose! Going to go with WHITE WINE VINEGAR WITH HONEY & GINGER…..and CLEMENTINE & CINNAMON FRUIT SPREAD

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  275. They all sound and look incredible – hard to choose. Olive and Lemon Oil and the Tenuta di Ghizzano Oil sound like a great start. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  276. The Tenuta di Ghezzano oil sounds delicious! And I love the gold bottle 🙂 I’m a sucker for cute packaging and this looks so pretty sitting on your table!

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  281. I would love the basil oil and oregano meli-melo but everything on the webpage looks amazing!! Your pairings are incredible as well.

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  284. There are so many types to choose from! I just spent a good 30 minutes looking through the different products. This is an amazing giveaway!!! I would love to try the Il Fornacino olive oil, aged apple balsamic condiment, the pesto alla genovese and many more 🙂

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  286. Wow, an olive oil themed dinner party sounds so fun! All there products look incredible. I’d love to try there pesto, especially the one with bell pepper and ricotta cheese!

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  290. Signed up for the newsletter! The Basil Olive Oil sounds divine and I am drooling over the Cherry & Chipotle Barbecue Sauce too!

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  292. Good gracious- They all look wonderful:-) I would absolutely love the chili or garlic infused oils but the mandarin oil looks wonderful! Their packaging is so attractive, it makes me want to buy all of them;)

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  293. I’d love to try the basil and lemon oils. There was a great post on “dinner a love story” about olive oil being the new wine for hostess gifts. I love that idea!!!

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  300. What beautiful packaging! I would love to try the mandarin oil and the basil sounds perfect for Caprese Salad.

    Reply

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