THE OLIVE OIL MASTERCLASS; LESSONS FROM A PROFESSIONAL OLIVE OIL SOMMELIER

Wilma van Grinsen-padberg, Lannoo Publishers, $58

All the best ideas start with a story, and this book is no exception. Wilma van Grinsen-padberg was an olive oil buyer for an international retail chain and, dining out one night, came upon a striking anomaly. The sommelier could wax lyrical about the origin of most items on the table; all except the olive oil. It struck Wilma that olive oil is such an important yet anonymous ingredient, so she began giving masterclasses to restaurant staff. Wilma, now an olive oil sommelier, has such respect for the product she’d like to see consumers allowed to taste oil before buying it and for it to be mandatory to print the harvest date on the label. If Wilma’s mission is to lift olive oil from obscurity, The Olive Oil Masterclass is her manifesto. She shares its history, its journey from tree to table, its health benefits, how to best use it, and offers juicy factoids just perfect for drizzling over your dinnertime conversation.