Help please - looking for trusted source for oils/vinegars

[David M. Bueker]

I know I've sen references to sources people like, but the search function is not being my friend today.

Thanks!

We can find everything we want in a vinegar or oil at Whole Foods. Since we don't know what you have in mind, this may not be any helpl

[David M. Bueker]

No Whole Foods nearby...well there's one, but it's in a zoo

Local shop in Frederick, MD. Not cheap but worth it, I think, and they ship. Many wonderful, infused flavors!
http://www.loveoliveoilvinegar.com/

No Whole Foods nearby...well there's one, but it's in a zoo

Well ours is in Portland, ME and an hour and quarter from us. We do run up there every two months or so for Whole Foods (Paycheck), and a couple of other stops. Worth the trip.

[Jenise]

I've bought a number of things I've been happy with on line from chefshop.com, which actually has a brick and mortar store in Seattle. It was the one place I could find things like bergamot oil, for instance, and fennel pollen. The Corte Bros. store down in Mike Filigenzi's neck of the woods has also been a great source for high quality ingredients of this sort.

Has anyone ever used a product called "balsamic cream"? It apparently is balsamic vinegar mixed with grape must and infused with different flavors like mushrooms or truffles. I have got to order some. It runs about $12 for an 8.5 oz bottle. I am not sure whether this is a spray bottle or not.

[Jenise]

Has anyone ever used a product called "balsamic cream"? It apparently is balsamic vinegar mixed with grape must and infused with different flavors like mushrooms or truffles. I have got to order some. It runs about $12 for an 8.5 oz bottle. I am not sure whether this is a spray bottle or not.

Cream? Sounds scary.

Scary? In what way?

Hadn't thought of Corti Brothers, but Jenise is right. They have an excellent olive oil selection and some of those rare and wildly expensive "true" balsamic vinegars. Their problem is that they're not set up for web commerce, so you'd have to call them to find out if they carry a particular oil.

[Jenise]

Hadn't thought of Corti Brothers, but Jenise is right. They have an excellent olive oil selection and some of those rare and wildly expensive "true" balsamic vinegars. Their problem is that they're not set up for web commerce, so you'd have to call them to find out if they carry a particular oil.

They USED to have a website, I ordered from it once, 7-8 years ago. Then Daryl called me himself to clarify something about my zip code (apparently back in WWII, there was an airbase located here--unbeknownst to me prior to that phone call--which he knew about and wanted to know if I lived there).

Bariani makes excellent quality oil, which you can order at http://www.barianioliveoil.com/products.php though obviously shipping is expensive. I look for them in stores, too, because every bottle bears the month/year of harvest and the exact date of bottling, and it comes in a heavy, dark green bottle for freshness. Outstanding. McEvoy is also outstanding but very expensive.
Unfortunately, their balsamic is only a quarter step above supermarket crap.
I have had bad luck at Whole Foods, the most expensive oils seem to move the slowest, so the best I've had is actually the bottom-end house brand. At least it's not old. If forced to choose I would look for the California Olive Oil Council's seal, which is granted to a specific year's true extra virgin oil. Definitely better than imports of unknown composition, which may contain more than 0.5% oleic acid, etc., though they tend to be somewhat more expensive.
As for vinegars, those seem much more consistent and less-sensitive to storage. I've yet to be disappointed by a balsamic in a clear bottle that I could shake and determine viscosity and color.

I have used olio2go.com they deliver fresh olive oils and vinegars. Mikuni Wild Harvest is also a great source.