Did you know 25% of Italy’s olive oil comes from my favorite little region that is burrowed down deep at the toe of the boot? Well, it does.
It is also a staple in every Calabrian kitchen and is used in antipasto dishes, pasta plates, meat, fish and even desserts. In fact, it is a little joke around our house because most recipes don’t even list olive oil or garlic in their ingredients … because, you know, they are a given – you should know to use them.
Marcella Hazan, renowned Italian food writer and author of Marcella Cucina cookbook said, “The taste of a dish for which you need olive oil will be as good or as ordinary as the oil you use. A sublime one can lift even modest ingredients to eminent heights of flavor; a dreary oil will pull the best ingredients down to its own level. Partial clues to the quality of the olive oil you are buying are supplied by the label and the price, but ultimately, the only way to determine which one, among those available, is right for you is to taste and compare.”
And that’s where we come in.
Through the magical interwoven web of the Internet, I met Monica Kripalani, a new distributor of Calabrian olive oil whose recent trip to the mezziogiorno changed her life. After a brief tour through Calabria and into the hills of Lamezia Terme, Monica decided to open Monica’s Fine Foods to share her new-found love of Davoli Olive Oil with North America.
And that, my friends, means you.
Monica is giving away one 250ml bottle of Davoli Extra Virgin Olive Oil to one lucky Facebook Fan *and* a $50 gift certificate to a random blogger.
Interested, any? Here are the details!
To be eligible to win the free 250ml bottle of Calabrian olive oil, all you need to do is become a Facebook fan of Monica’s Fine Foods before Friday, February 26 at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time). At that point, Monica will randomly select a winner from her Facebook Fans and the winner will be announced here on My Bella Vita on Monday, March 1.
Bloggers, this part is for you …
For your chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Monica’s Fine Foods, just re-post this contest information in full on your website or blog by Friday, February 26 at 5:00 PM. Leave a comment here on My Bella Vita telling us about your post, and you will automatically be entered into the drawing.
Due to distribution restrictions, Monica can only ship items in the US and Canada, so if you have a US address … you are good to go!
In bocca al lupo!
What is your favorite way to use olive oil? I think a simple pasta with aglio, olio e peperonico (garlic, olive oil and red pepper) highlights good olive oil and brings out the flavors of spicy peppers. What about you?
*Pictures by Monica of Monica’s Fine Foods
REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY STRENGTHENS MILITARY LANGUAGE TRAINING
US Fed News Service, Including US State News December 29, 2008 The U.S. Army issued the following news release:
U.S. Army soldiers and civilian personnel now have access to language training designed to get them speaking another language even faster. The latest version of the foreign language software uses technology to create an environment of complete immersion in the studied language. The Army e-Learning initiative has delivered language training to more than 180,000 uniformed and civilian Army personnel. go to website army e learning
Units preparing to deploy across the globe are using Army e-Learning for pre-deployment training, including foreign-language instruction. Courses in Arabic, Farsi and Pashto are not only making measurable differences in basic communication skills, but may also help soldiers achieve their missions in the Global War on Terror. More than one-third of the personnel are studying Arabic, one of many mission-critical languages offered through Army e-Learning, a component of the U.S. Army Distributed Learning System (DLS).
Now available in 21 languages, the latest version of the language training software features state-of-the-art speech recognition technology and guided pronunciation exercises and simulated dialogues that build confidence and perfect pronunciation. It is designed to provide soldiers the fundamental language skills needed to communicate upon deployment.
Foreign language training provides our soldiers, leaders, and Army civilians online courses geared towards building their proficiency in another language as quickly as possible,” says Lt. Col. Antonio Boston, Product Manager for DLS. “Language skills, especially speaking and listening skills, are critical. The new upgrades to the software focuses heavily on building those key skills quickly, making it an ideal solution for our needs.” Stan Davis, Deputy Product Manager for DLS and Project Officer for Army e-Learning adds, “We are proud to provide free, state-of-the-art solution for our troops. With this latest upgrade, Soldiers will get to develop their conversational skills, as they use new technologies and practice producing new phrases that will help them as they carry out their operational duties abroad.” About the U.S. Army Distributed Learning System The U.S. Army Distributed Learning System (DLS) acquires, deploys and maintains a worldwide learning infrastructure that innovatively combines hardware, software and telecommunications resources with training facilities and course content to deliver a cohesive, Web-based solution. DLS is part of the U.S. Army Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS). PEO EIS is responsible for project management of DoD and Army business and combat service support systems, as well as related Army communication and computer infrastructure. Army e-Learning, a component of DLS, contributes more than 2,600 training courses in the areas of foreign languages, information technology, business, leadership and professional development. website army e learning
Wow, looks great Cherrye! I think it’s high time that Americans realize that Tuscany is not the only region that makes high quality olive oil! Actually, most of the quality olive oil you can buy in your average American supermarket (Filippo Berio, etc.) does not specify where it comes from in Italy, and I would bet the most part comes from the south, probably Calabria! I will post the contest and re-post here.
You are right-Tuscany gets all the glory! he he
.-= Live from Tuscany´s last blog ..The Whys of Wine on Friday – Sherry v. Port =-.
[Reply]
I can’t think of one favorite way to use the liquid gold.
I cook with it so often.
Yea, it was a tough question, wasn’t it? He he
.-= nyc/caribbean ragazza´s last blog ..Snow in Rome?! =-.
[Reply]
Dave and Deb…Ooh, I am so there. I have read so many posts lately on Italy and food. I am going to admit, Indian (gasp) and Sri Lankan are not my favorite foods and that is where I happen to be traveling. Italian is soooo where it is at for me. It didn’t help that I was reading Eat Pray Love and my mouth was salivating during the Italian section of the book all through my time in India!
I do agree, great olive oil can make such a difference in a dish. When the olive oil is not up to par…well neither is the dish.
Ha, I won’t tell anyone about your Indian food secret … he he. I’ve only had Sri Lankan once and *loved* it, but yea, it is hard to beat Italian!
[Reply]
Here is my post, Cherrye! http://livefromtuscany.blogspot.com/2010/02/calabrian-olive-oil-giveaway.html
Awesome! Thank you for playing!
.-= LivefromTuscany´s last blog ..The Whys of Wine on Friday – Sherry v. Port =-.
[Reply]
[...] Calabrian Olive Oil Giveaway 16 02 2010 Reposted from My Bella Vita: [...]
This blog has the best giveaways!
I reposted this here:
http://yummysushipajamas.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/calabrian-olive-oil-giveaway/
Awesome. Thanks!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Proofread More Languages =-.
[Reply]
I shared this post on my website. I pay for good olive oil, so to win some would be heaven.
Can I win some bread to dip the oil in as well?
Hey, stranger! Thanks for reposting the contest. Good luck with the bread bit!
[Reply]
I can’t wait to try olive oil from Calabria and compare it with Tuscan. I posted the giveaway information and some links to recipes at http://www.paulastourtalk.net/paulas_tour_talk/2010/02/olive-oil-from-calabria.html
Thanks, Paula. Please let me know what you think about your taste test!
.-= Paula Russell´s last blog ..Olive Oil from Calabria =-.
[Reply]
Being in Hawaii limits our choices of olive oil, compared to mainland US. Hope I win, but can’t wait to get to the Calabria region to try for ourselves, then I may be on a regular mailing list for receiving quality olive oil! Aloha, Judy
I can’t wait to hear what you think about it.
[Reply]
[...] a CommentClabrian Olive Oil Giveaway at My Bella VitaThere is a delicious contest going on at My Bella Vita and we couldn’t resist taking part.Having been traveling in Asia for the past few months, we [...]
Here’s my post Cherrye: http://juliegilley.typepad.com/my_far_and_away_blog/2010/02/calabrian-olive-oil-giveaway.html
It will soon be posted on my Facebook Fan page too: http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Far-Away-Itineraries/339318125160?ref=ts
Thanks, Julie!
.-= Julie Gilley´s last blog ..Risotto With Osso Bucco for Valentine’s Dinner =-.
[Reply]
Cherrye I reposted this great giveaway on my blog…..
I truly want to get my hands on some Calabrian olive oil….thanks.
http://susan-myjourney.blogspot.com/2010/02/monicas-fine-foods-featuring-calabrian.html
[Reply]
Hey! Here’s my blog where I re-posted the info to this cool contest. Thanks!
http://warmoctober.blogspot.com/2010/02/mmm-olive-oil.html
Thank you, Gina.
xo
gina
.-= gina morra´s last blog ..mmm olive oil =-.
[Reply]
One more thing, here is my link to your contest, I forgot to post it. http://theplanetd.com/clabrian-olive-oil-giveaway Good luck to all!
Yea!! Thank you.
.-= Dave and Deb´s last blog ..Adam’s Peak Pilgrimage =-.
[Reply]
[...] Blogger Monica: Our Escape to Calabria Posted on: Feb 22, 2010 Last week I introduced you to Monica Kripalani, founder of Monica’s Fine Foods in California, who traveled to bella Calabria last summer, [...]
I just left a post on my Facebook page about the contest for the Olive oil.. and asked my friends to add the page for a chance to win also.. ;D LOVE THIS PAGE!!! ;D
Yea! Thanks. In bocca al lupo!
[Reply]
I’ve fanned Monica’s Fine Foods… looking forward to reading more about her stuff. My current fave is a Sicilian olive oil that I buy from my favorite Italian restaurant here in Houston, DaMarco’s. Ever been there, Cherrye?
I haven’t, Amy! You’ll have to tell me about it so I can check it out next time I’m in Houston!
[Reply]