by Jane Rodmell for All The Best Fine Foods, a ‘Certified Good Food Fighter‘

Last week All the Best staged an olive oil fiesta to introduce Nudo olive oils to Toronto. Jason Gibb, Nudo’s founder, was on hand to talk to our guests and Nicole Rumball, our executive chef, provided lots of tasty samples that included Nudo’s extra virgin cold pressed olive oil and their awesome flavoured oils. Nudo is an artisanal olive oil company that produces high quality, extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil from a community of olive groves in the La Marche area of Italy. The olives are pressed within hours of being picked to provide oil of excellent flavour and low acidity that retains a high proportion of beneficial antioxidants. Nudo flavoured olive oils add delicious new dimensions to favourite dishes: Olio d’Oliva with Chilies, Olio d’Oliva with Sicilian lemons, Olio d’Oliva stone ground with Italian garlic, and Olio d’Oliva with basil.

Spicy Olive Tapenade
We use Nudo’s fragrant extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil from Abruzzo that has been infused with spicy sun-dried Sicilian chilies to add the perfect extra kick to a delicious olive paste. This zesty paste has dozens of uses to spice up summer…spread on crostini as a snack, enjoy with mozzarella or Asiago and tomatoes on a bruschetta or pizza or toss with pasta.

1 clove garlic
1 anchovy fillet, rinsed and dried
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped flat leaf parsley
1 tbsp (15 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp (15 ml) red wine vinegar
½ green bell pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded
1 tsp (5 ml) chopped fresh oregano
1 cup (250 ml) Italian olives, ripe black or mixed black and green
¼ cup (60 ml) Nudo Olive Oil with Sicilian Chilies

In a food processor, combine garlic, anchovy, parsley, lemon juice, vinegar, green pepper and oregano and process until smooth. Add bell pepper and olives and process briefly until olives are chopped but still retain some texture. Drizzle in oil through feeder tube and pulse to combine until just smooth. Transfer tapenade to a container and cover surface with a little more Nudo oil and seal tightly. Keep in the refrigerator for up to one week. Makes approx 1 cup (250 ml).

Nudo offers a unique opportunity to adopt an olive tree. You receive a shipment of oil harvested from your own tree in the spring and a selection of flavoured oils in the fall. You’re even invited to visit the farm and get acquainted with your tree if you’re so inclined. Find out more at www.nudo-italia.com/adopt. You’ll have the best excuse for a trip to Italy! Buon appetito!

All the best,

Jane