Paso Robles Olive Festival
(L) Oils that almost glow (R) Olive Dish Cook-Off
Not only is Paso Robles the third largest wine-producing region of California, but it also boasts a number of olive tree farms and oil producers.
There are even a few tasting rooms, where you can try the varietal fruits, which vary in character just like grapes. While you’re at it, decide whether you like the bitter, green flavor of early-harvest oil or the mellower tones of the late-harvest olives.
For four years now, the city of Paso Robles has been hosting an olive bash, featuring oils, produce and products from around the state. In addition to the sampling of oils, olives, and tapenades, there’s even free olive oil ice cream!
You can sip purchased beer or wine while you nibble on food from the culinary row. Arrive in time for the noon olive dish cook-off, which always draws a crowd. If you miss it, check out o-recipes at http://www.pasoolivefestival.com/recipes.html.
If you’d like to do some tasting and are up for beautiful drive, head west on Highway 46, turn right on Vineyard Drive, and go 7 miles to the Willow Creek Olive Ranch, which is open Friday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Not only can you taste their award-winning Pasolivo oils -- such as their organic orange and Meyer lemon-infused varieties -- but they will educate you with an olive-oil-making show and tell. You can purchase gift packs, specialty olives, olive dishes, posters, etc., as well as one of the few 100-percent kalamata olive oils made in the U.S. and a loaf of Ciro Pasciuto's fabulous bread -- on Fridays and Saturdays only (read below about how Ciro's bread brings him not only cash but marriage proposals).
Located in lovely terrain near a number of vineyards, a stop at Willow Creek Ranch makes for a pleasant break when you’re wine tasting. For more info go to http://www.pasolivo.com/index.asp.
One note of caution: When shopping for olive oil, to make sure you get the real honest-to-god extra virgin olive oil you pay a premium price for, buy a brand made in California, which produces 98% of the U.S. market.
Otherwise, you may wind up with a lower quality of olive oil, even soybean oil, warns the California Olive Oil Council, which awards a seal of approval. For more info, go to http://www.cooc.com.