May 5, 2014 – Remember when you vowed to get a grip on all those Extra Virgin Olive Oils and exotic vinegars on the shelves; and all the conflicting health claims out there? Well here’s your chance and it includes wine!!
The next event in Edible Monterey Bay’s In Your Backyard series, at Holman Ranch Tasting Room in Carmel Valley on May 20th, will feature olive oil and vinegar tasting along with a myth busting discussion led by Dr. Steven Brabeck.
Dr. Brabeck, a Monterey cardiologist, is so convinced of the healthfulness of the green and gold elixir that he opened a shop called the Quail and Olive last year so that residents would have access to the highest quality local products.
“There’s so much inaccurate information out there,” says Dr. Brabeck, adding he will start the session by showing participants how to taste olive oil and conducting a blind tasting of several varieties to demonstrate the pungency of different oils.
“Then we’ll get into the whole olive oil culture, how the trees are grown and how the olives are milled,” he says. “I want to show how the taste benefits are directly linked to the health benefits.”
The doctor says the three main health benefits of olive oil are: 1) it is a wonderful mono-saturated fat that helps increase the HDL “good” cholesterol while reducing the LDL “bad” cholesterol; 2) the polyphenols in fresh olive oil make it intensely anti-inflammatory; and 3) Vitamin E and Omega 3s in olive oil make it a good anti-oxidant.
Holman Ranch produces its own delicious olive oil each fall from a grove of 100 mature Tuscan and Spanish trees on the ranch property in Carmel Valley. Oil is sold in the tasting room each spring until they run out.
Dr. Brabeck—who sometimes refers to olive oil as Mediterranean ketchup—will also talk about how to use it in the kitchen. Different types of olive oil are better suited for specific dishes and he’ll get into healthful sautéing and baking, with useful information on how to convert recipes and substitute olive oil for other fats.
The evening, which takes place from 6-8:30pm, will also include a tasting of traditional Orleans process vinegars. Dr. Brabeck aims to dispel the myths surrounding balsamic vinegar—which he says is one of the most misunderstood ingredients in our cupboards. There will be fruit flavored balsamics to taste and a Champagne vinegar, along with a non-GMO corn based white vinegar.
Tickets are $10 for wine club members and $25 for all others and include small bites, pairings with Holman’s Estate Wines and the chance to get to know other local artisanal food and wine lovers.
To make reservations, call the Holman Ranch Tasting Room at 831.659.2640 or email info@holmanranch.com. The tasting room is located at 19 E. Carmel Valley Rd. in Carmel Valley Village and is open from 11am to 6pm.
Quail and Olive is located at 3 Pilot Rd. in Carmel Valley Village and is open Wednesday – Monday from 11am to 5pm.
In Your Backyard with Dr. Steven Brabeck
Cardiologist and Proprietor of The Quail and Olive.
Tuesday, May 20. 6-8:30pm
About the author
Deborah Luhrman is publisher and editor of Edible Monterey Bay. A lifelong journalist, she has reported from around the globe, but now prefers covering our flourishing local food scene and growing her own vegetables in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
