From Danielle: EV Olive Oils and Green Almonds

Our friend Danielle (left), who lives in Palermo and loves authentic Italian foods, takes me to explore Capo Market in Palermo (Beautiful!) and writes this lovely article, below. From Sicilian EV Olive Oil to Sicilian green almonds, in season now and in abundance at Capo!

“At Gustiamo, we pair our Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) with our food in much the same way we do with our wine; matching the subtle flavors and highlights of the EVOO with the right dish. We do not dress fish, for example, with the same EVOO that we use for red meat, and we always smell our EVOO before using it. When smelling EVOO, like our own Pianogrillo EVOO, we often describe the distinctive flavor notes we get on the nose as “green almond”.

During a recent walk through Palermo, Sicily’s Capo street market, we asked ourselves the following question: How many Americans would actually be able to identify a green almond if they were to encounter one? We figured, probably not many. Right now, it is green almond season in Sicily and Capo is full of vendors selling them alongside fruits and vegetables. (Beatrice, left, pictured after a kind vendor opened a green almond for her to taste). Green almonds are pleasantly bitter with aromas similar to fresh cut grass.

Later in the year, these Sicilian green almonds, when left on the tree, will ripen and become our Almonds from Noto by Caffe’ Sicilia. Then in February, Agrigento, Sicily celebrates the first almond blossoms of the season with its annual festival. Will report from there. Stay tuned!”

Grazie Danielle! Keep writing about your amazing discoveries. We’ll be following you.