Just thought I’d throw this out there since I’ve been reading through a bunch of threads and realized I never really introduced myself.
I’m Toby, I’m just a regular guy who cooks a lot (mostly for myself and a few friends), and over the past year or so I’ve gotten kind of hooked on learning about good olive oil. Didn’t think I’d ever be the kind of person who cared about “peppery notes” or harvest dates, but here we are!
What got me was this one bottle I randomly grabbed at a specialty shop. It was nothing fancy looking, but when I tried it on some roasted carrots it completely changed the game. Weird I know
Curious if others here had a moment like that? Or did you grow up with it and always just know the good stuff?
Looking forward to hearing what pulled the rest of you in.
Well now Toby, bless your curiosity! I love this question. And let me tell you, I’ve been using olive oil since before most folks knew what “extra virgin” even meant. I’m in my late 50s, been cooking since I was tall enough to stir a pot and I’ll be honest with you, I never understood the obsession with butter when a bottle of the good green stuff can do just about everything better.
What got me hooked? My grandmother, God rest her soul. She’d rub olive oil on everything from dry elbows to roast chickensand always said: “If you wouldn’t put it on your face, don’t put it in your food.” That stuck with me.
I’ve never married, never needed to too busy living, learning, and feeding whoever shows up hungry. EVOO’s been my beauty balm, my medicine and my secret weapon in the kitchen for decades. I don’t care about fancy packaging or celebrity brands. I just want the real stuff, fresh, honest and full of life.
So yes, I use it every day and I’ll talk anyone’s ear off about it if they let me.
For me there was no moment because I never knew life without it. My great-grandparents had groves back in Greece. My grandparents brought that knowledge here when they came over. Growing up we always had proper olive oil in the house, real stuff from family back home or Greek producers here. I remember my papou teaching me to taste olive oil on bread when I was maybe 5 or 6. He’d say you can tell everything about the harvest just from tasting. Seemed like magic then.
My wife thinks I’m crazy because I’ll spend ages in shops reading labels and checking harvest dates. But when you grow up knowing what real EVOO tastes like you just can’t accept the fakes. Now with our four kids we’re doing the same. They dip their bread, they know the peppery kick, they ask about the oil at restaurants. My oldest can spot rancid oil instantly. Makes me proud. It’s not just food for us it’s culture. Connection to family we never met who worked those groves.
too busy living, learning, and feeding whoever shows up hungry. EVOO’s been my beauty balm, my medicine and my secret weapon in the kitchen for decades. I don’t care about fancy packaging or celebrity brands. I just want the real stuff, fresh, honest and full of life.