Foodie News

Foodie alert: New Olive & Vine at CityCentre is an oil lover's delight

Photo by Jack Thompson
Photo by Jack Thompson
Photo by Jack Thompson
Photo by Jack Thompson
Photo by Jack Thompson
Photo by Jack Thompson

When I first heard there was a specialty olive oil store opening in CityCentre, I was a bit confused. I pictured the olive oil and vinegar aisle at Central Market or Whole Foods, with shelves full of assorted bottles with confusing differentiations and ever-higher price tags.

But Olive & Vine is all about showing off what an impact this afterthought ingredient can make. There's not a bottle in the place — not a filled one, at least — but instead two neat rows of 36 olive oils and vinegars in stainless steel containers called fustis line the walls, all ready for sampling.

The different types of oil are marked like wines with the name, country of origin, and amount of polyphenols (that's the compound that makes olive oil so healthy and gives it the slightly bitter, olive-y strength), plus a flavor profile and suggestions for pairings, both among foods and other oils.

If you can't imagine the difference between two extra virgin olive oils, you're going to leave with your mind blown.

There's the light, buttery, even slightly fruity Arbequina, the grassy Cerasuola, and the intense bitterness of Piqual. That's before you get into the infused versions, with everything from basil to a French bouquet of herbs (think lavender) and a spicy chipotle.

Among the vinegars, the Tradional Balsamico Condimento is sweeter than any balsamic vinegar I've ever tasted. It's harvested from the same produce and made in the same process as Italy's famed Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena. It's a premium product licensed and regulated by the government (like Prociutto di Parma or Parmegiano-Regiano). But without official designation, the Olive & Vine version sells for about one twentieth of the price.

And then there are the infused versions, with everything from fig to peach (another favorite) to cinnamon apple. (We hear the neighboring Ruggles Green chef has already snapped up the chocolate vinegar for a salad.)

Tasting the flavors, it seems impossible that these are just oil — they immediately call to mind a dish. The Persian lime olive oil calls out for Margarita chicken, the mushroom garlic olive oil belongs on a marsala dish, and the strawberry balsamic vinegar conjured images of a baby spinach salad with feta and walnuts.

These may be premium oils, but because owners Susan and Wayde Burt work directly with the importer, they're often cheaper than the high-end grocery store brands. A 200 ml bottle of any oil is $9.95, and it's filled and sealed fresh before your eyes. That's not bad at all. Frankly, I never thought I'd be the type to get into gourmet olive oils. But I tried it, and I'm into it, and I'm pretty happy to be proven wrong.

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cheers to that

Texas bourbon named one of 2024's top 10 whiskies

Still Austin Whiskey Co. Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey

Still Austin Whiskey Co./Facebook

Now if only we could snag a bottle...as a Christmas gift, of course.

Three cheers for Still Austin Whiskey Co.! The distillery's Bottled in Bond Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey was recognized as one of Whisky Advocate'sTop 20 Most Exciting Whiskies of 2024.

Every year, Whisky Advocate's expert panelists rank hundreds of whiskies based on their quality, availability, value for the price, and "X-factor," meaning an excitement-inducing component like a unique flavor or an innovative idea. An international panel also reviews contenders through several blind taste tests without knowing each whisky's producer, origin, age, or price.

The magazine ranked Still Austin's five-year Red Corn Bourbon No. 7 on the list with a prestigious score of 94 points. The Red Corn whiskey, which was released in June 2024, has mash bill consisting of 36 percent Jimmy Red corn, 34 percent white corn, 25 percent rye, and 5 percent barley.

According to panelist Shane English, tasting notes start big and bold with cracked pepper, dusty leather, and cocktail cherries, before moving on to a palate of chile pepper, caramel, and buttery cornbread.

"Each sip is electric — the pepper gives this whiskey a zing balanced by poundcake and glazed doughnuts," English said. "Charred oak fades to chocolate, coffee, and pecan pie on the finish."

Still Austin had the only Texas product on the list, which was fitting given the brand's recent boasting that it could match any Kentucky Bourbon. As a game day stunt when the Texas Longhorns played the Kentucky Wildcats in November, Still Austin refilled empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles with its own Cask Strength Bourbon for just $1.

When the brand isn't playfully antagonizing Kentucky fans, its Red Corn Bourbon sells for a retail price of $85 per 750-milliliter bottle, falling nearly in the middle of the price category out of all 20 bourbons on the list, with eight others priced for less.

For additional context, none of the top five bourbons fall under a $100 price tag. In fact, the most expensive bottle on the 2024 list is the Angel's Envy 2023 Cask Strength Port Wine Barrel Finished Bourbon, which ranked No. 12 and retails for $230 per bottle.

"Our top 20 whiskies represent a curated collection that deserves your attention. Each whisky on the list stands out for its superb taste, representing the pinnacle of a year filled with remarkable tastings," said executive editor David Fleming in a release. "This list features whiskies offering exceptional value, leaders in their respective styles, and superbly made expressions that are well worth seeking out."

Whiskey Advocate's 2024 Whiskey of the Year is Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Cask Strength Scotch Single Malt, which earned 95 points and retails for $165 a bottle.

whiskey bourbon distilleries awards lists