Oli + Ve Coupons and Deals

Description

Scout Notes: You know the first time you drank wine that wasn't Two Buck Chuck/cheese that wasn't a Kraft American Single/beer that wasn't Keystone Light? It opened up a whole new world to your tastebuds, right? And while you may not be quite at the point of waxing poetic about top-notes and mouthfeels and the like, you can still appreciate the upgrade. That's exactly how I felt when Alexis was leading me around Oli + Ve (say it with me: "Ollie and Vee"), letting me sample their premium olive oils and balsamic vinegars and explaining what, exactly, makes them different from the ValuBrand jars I usually nab off the grocery store shelves. Never again, ValuBrand. My eyes (and my tastebuds) have seen the light. Perhaps you, like me, never expected to taste much of a difference between an olive oil from Portugal and one from, say, Tunisia. But as Alexis introduced me to a few of their single-varietal olive oils from around the world, I actually could taste a difference — some peppery, some mild, some fruity, all complex in their own way. Then, a few tastes of their flavorful counterparts, the fused and infused flavored oils: basil, Harissa hot, Persian lime, a wild mushroom and sage that smelled like pure autumn, a blood orange oil that's dangerously good in brownie recipes, even a butter-infused oil (Paula would be so proud). My education in EVOO was followed swiftly by a tutorial in the sweeter side of the shop, the flavored balsamic vinegars from Modena, Italy (which you get to sample in a tiny cup of vanilla ice cream). Fig, blackberry ginger, even a lemongrass mint—each one of them pretty much turned my understanding of vinegar upside down ("you can put this on ice cream?"). Before long, I had a spoonful of espresso balsamic-topped ice cream in my mouth and visions of maple balsamic roasted vegetables dancing in my head. Add to that the wall of spice rubs, artisanal Italian pastas, and other gift-worthy (or, ah, self-gift worthy) goods, and your inner Giada is doing cartwheels. By the end of it all, you might not be able to cite the exact number of polyphenols in that Arbosano EVOO, but you will be able to discover whether you prefer that one over the Hojiblanca. And those generic grocery store oils and vinegars will only be vague memories. Store Highlights: Single Variety Extra Virgin Olive Oils, $9.95 (small), $17.95 (medium), $29.95 (large) Fused & Infused Olive Oils, $9.95 (small), $17.95 (medium), $29.95 (large) Balsamic Vinegars, $9.95 (small), $17.95 (medium), $29.95 (large) Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.