Savor Olive Life
Share Good Times and Great Food
How often to you really get a chance to sit down with friends and family, and just relax to enjoy a healthy meal? Well maybe it’s time to reward yourself and your health. Start falling in love with all things olive and discover the pleasures of sharing a nutritious and delicious meal with family and friends.
Secrets To Entertaining With Style
- Keep It Intimate — invite a small group of friends and family. Don’t be afraid to mix it up. That will keep conversation flowing. Six to a dozen is a good number.
- Leave work at the office — this is a time to get away from it all, so don’t talk about your work at the table. The last thing you want to be thinking about is what needs to get done at the office.
- Make more than one course — your dishes don’t have to be elaborate. Sometimes simple is better. Prepare an appetizer platter with an interesting assortment of olives, nuts and cheese. Try to prepare a main course you’ve had success with in the past.
- Create the right setting — you want your table to be elegant but it should also be functional. Don’t make it so formal that guests feel they have to worry about etiquette. Black ripes make the perfect finger food and candles are an easy and pleasant way to create an air of intimacy.
- Slow It Down — Remember you’re not at a restaurant. There’s no need to rush from one course to another. In fact it’s good to take a break like between your olive appetizer and the salad. It gives everyone time to digest their food, refresh their palate, and enjoy good conversation.
Throw An Olive Tasting Party
An olive tasting party can be a great and unique way to get together with friends. Add some wine and cheese to the mix and here’s where it starts to get interesting.
Create a few tables, each representing a different region of the world. For instance, for Spain you could serve Manzanillas olives, Rioja wine, and Calbrales, a local cheese. For Italy, a succulent platter of Sicilian olives, Chianti, and Asiago cheese. Not only is a fun time a certainty for all, your friends will be thrilled by a symphony of flavors! Most importantly, be sure to keep preparation to a minimum, this will allow you more time to mingle and savor this time with friends.