While attending the Historic Downtown Los Angeles Farmers Market recently, I was taken by one of their newer vendors, Olivedipity. Nicole Kelleher, the lovely young blond woman sitting at a table, immediately welcomed me and offered a sample of their infused, flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Set across the table on my right, in front of Nicole, was a row of balsamic vinegars, all lined up like little soldiers, while the table on my left held an army of flavored olive oils. There were flavors sweet and savory, and as varied as any I had seen in any market but that had rarely been applied to vinegars and oils. There were vinegars like white pineapple, cinnamon, cucumber melon, garlic cilantro, and prickly pear, and olive oils like chipotle, zesty onion, and blood orange.
I’m not a big user of oil and vinegar on salads, usually preferring more creamy salad dressings, but I was curious about the prickly pear vinegar. Nicole handed me a square of pita bread and a small cup, into which she poured the vinegar. The dark, rich liquid gave off a fresh, fragrant aroma. I dipped the white bread in the cup and stained it black with the vinegar. The pleasantly crisp, new taste was so good, even I was surprised when my throat immediately blurted out an mmm sound. I dipped the rest of the bread again and gulped it down, and then drank the remaining bit of vinegar from the cup.
Nicole and Mike Kelleher, from Murrieta, California, established Olivedipity because of their love of olive oils and balsamics. They enjoyed the tasting rooms they encountered during family trips and wanted to recreate that experience with their oils and vinegars. They also appreciate the health benefits gained from just two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil a day, from strengthening the immune system to actively fighting off diseases like cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis.
Their oils range in flavors from spicy to savory, with combinations good for many cooking needs. They have three extra virgin olive oils, or EVOOs, to chose from: California Mission, a smooth oil made in California with a pepper finish; California Koroneiki, also from California with an earthy taste and a bite of bitterness; and Moroccan, a creamy, buttery oil with sunflower seeds, Barnea olives, and a pepper finish. Olivedipity also have several EVOOs infused with flavors, such as bacon and butter—both of which are ideal substitutes for the real thing—basil, rosemary, roasted garlic, Meyer lemon, sundried tomato parmesan and garlic, and Italian herb. Their spicy pure (but not EVOO) olive oils, such as chipotle, spicy onion, jalapeno, and citrus habanero, are good for turning up the spice in your cooking.
Their balsamics are also great for cooking, and of course add flavor to salads and dressings. From traditional balsamics to white balsamics (blending white grapes with white wine to keep the lighter color), to fruity, savory, and seasonal balsamics, they offer a wide selection of flavors. Add a tropical taste to grilled shrimp or desserts with their white coconut balsamic; make your chicken or salads sweet and sour with their pomegranate, hibiscus, or spicy mango vinegars, or enhance the zest and zing in your seafood or meats with zesty lemon, white sesame ginger, or white jalapeno lime balsamics. They even have dessert balsamics like cinnamon pear, mango, white cranberry pear, blueberry, pumpkin pie, and chocolate mandarin.
While the cucumber melon infused balsamic didn’t strike me as anything special, the prickly pear was absolutely delicious, and I can envision cooking very special dishes with all the flavors. The balsamics are sourced from Modena, Italy, and the oils come mostly from the Mediterranean, helping to explain the high price of the bottles at $17 each or two for $30.
“But you only need a teaspoon or two for salad dressing,” Nicole explained, “so the bottle will last you a long time.”
Olivedipity may be new to the Historic Downtown Los Angeles Farmers Market, but I suspect they’ll be around to stay.
Olivedipity is owned by Nicole and Mike Kelleher in Murrieta, California. They can be found at several California farmers markets, including the Historic market downtown, or on the web at Olivedipity.com.
By Renee Camus
