Sunday, April 18, 2010

Good Vinegar and Good Conversation

I have a little problem with oils and vinegars.  Much like spices, I love them a little too much and tend to buy any that look new or interesting.  Imagine my delight upon entering Vinaigrette, a shop that has dozens of super high quality olive oils and vinegars on tap.  Yep.  That means you get to taste any and all of them (I did).


These were my favorites of the bunch: Fig and Balsamico di Modena vinegars and Rosemary and Garlic infused olive oils.  It was a tough decision, let me tell you!  There's something really special about being able to hear the story of each of the farms and families that produce these oils and vinegars.  Each one was unique in flavor and history and I really wanted to take them all home with me.  Plus, where else can you go to talk about oil and vinegar for 40 minutes?  No where.

I drank tasted plenty of oil and vinegar on Friday, but Saturday morning I wanted to put this balsamico to good use with my breakfast, so polenta seemed in order.

This is soft polenta with oil-packed, home-dried, home-grown cherry tomatoes and oil-cured black olives topped with fresh basil and lots of black pepper.  And drizzled with balsamico, of course.  It was insane, really.  I could get used to this kind of breakfast.

4 comments:

Catherine Weber said...

oooooooohhhhhhh...amazing breakfast!

Where is this vinaigrette place, by the way?

Kassie said...

I love, love, love this place. The Champagne vinegar is my favorite in the non-balsamic category. And the porcini olive oil is great too.

Kris said...

There is another olive oil and vinegar place, over in Mendota Heights. It's called the Olive Grove and it sounds like a similar set up where you can try everything. If it's in your travel zone, give it a try.

Jennifer R said...

I've been to the Olive Grove and yes, you can taste everything. It was fabulous--my favorite is the Blood Orange Olive oil and Strawberry balsamic. They also have an 18 year balsamic that is delicious. I will have to check out Vinaigrette next time I get down to the Cities!