Make Your Valentine Say 'Olive You'

A good olive oil can make or break a dish.

A good dinner can make or break a relationship. Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but Leslie Ellis, manager of Oliviers and Co. on Newbury Street, has all the ingredients to wow your valentine with your superb cooking skills.

With a selection of olive oils and gourmet food from across the Mediterranean, you can sample over 30 oils until you find one that suits your palette. The most popular choice is the Basil Specialty Olive Oil. Add this to fresh mozzarella and tomatoes to make an instant caprese salad, Ellis said.

Or try O&CO.’s limited edition Affiorato oil from Sicily. It tastes like freshly cut grass with a hint of raw artichoke.

She suggests pan-searing scallops in the Affiorato oil, then top them off with a few drops of balsamic vinaigrette.  Put the scallops on a bed of arugula to finish off your meal, and your sweetheart will start to believe you really are an Italian chef.

In fact, many of the store’s clients actually are chefs.

For those who don’t quite know your way around the kitchen, olive oil may not be the first thing you think of when shopping for your valentine, but, “It makes a great gift for someone who has everything,” Ellis said.

The products range from $35 to $75.

“Anyone…” Ellis said, “Can find something they love.”

Or someone.