One part of our company that often gets overlooked is our appreciation for our vendors, retailers, bloggers, chefs and restaurants.  While traveling for business or pleasure; our family tries to stop in and say Hi at as many stores as we can.  We also try to travel and have dinner at just about every restaurant that uses our oil in their kitchen at least once a year.  Many of the specialty food stores are also family owned and operated much like ourselves; and even if we have never formally met, you tend to develop a nice relationship with these companies and stores.  I invite you to read about only a few of the companies that have helped Calivirgin grow and check back to see posts on a few others.

Jeremy Wine Co.
Jeremy and Choral Trettevik
6 West Pine Street.
Downtown Lodi, CA 95240
www.jeremywineco.com

 Located right in our own backyard, Jeremy and Choral have been close friends since day one.  It was their design studio that helped sculpt the fantastic look of Calivirgin.  They enjoyed sharing and drinking wine along with the label design so much their passion created Jeremy Wine Co. 
Located in Downtown Lodi, their tasting room is a perfect place to relax and grab a glass of wine.  Giving a gift and looking for a bottle with a label that is clean and modern with wine that tastes great?  Check out their line of wines or join their wine club.
            They have also created their own following of Calivirgin Olive Oil fans in their tasting room.  When asked what their favorite use is, Choral said, “ Our favorite use for the basil oil lately is on bruschetta, but I have been using it to grill just about any vegetable and it’s sooo good!  Also – the garlic oil keeps my fingers nice & clean and not smelling like I just chopped garlic!”

We Olive, San Luis Obispo
Ray Russell
weolive.com
958 Higuera Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Four out of the six Calivirgin team members are California Polytechnic Graduates so the fantastic weather and charming downtown of San Luis Obispo will always hold a special place in our hearts.  Ray opened one of the first WeOlive franchises downtown in the heart of SLO.  WeOlive stores sell many of the 200+ California produced olive oils and they only sell oils that are certified extra virgin by the C.O.O.C. www.cooc.com  You can also buy dipping dishes, tapenades, olive oil bath products, and pretty much anything else olive oil related.  Not only do you get to taste many of the oils before you buy but Ray and his employees (Many of whom are CalPoly students) are versed in olive oil and oil production and are happy to answer all of your questions.  Ray said he loves the CalPoly connection Calivirgin has and his customers enjoy buying oil from an alumni grower and producer. 

Great News! Cookware and Cooking School
1788 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109
www.great-news.com

Great News Cookware and Cooking School is a fantastic place to check out if you are ever in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego.  They like to say they are the perfect blend between a home kitchen and a cooking school.  Not only do they teach you how to cook at home but their store carries hundreds of great cooking gadgets, tools and products.  You really need to check out their online calendar of cooking classes.  Classes are daily and you can sign up for a class online.  I just wish they were located closer for me to take advantage.  “We all love your product! I could put Calivirgin on anything.. Another favorite is to drizzle it on a white or margherita pizza – yum!”  Below is a recipe from kitchen Manager Jessica Rhomburg; something simple and fresh that she’s created a few times at Great News!

Rustic Baguette with Farm Fresh Balsamic Strawberries and Nutella
Yields 24 Crostini
1 ea     Good quality baguette, sliced on a bias ½ inch
4 T       Calivirgin Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ c       Nutella spread
1 pint   Farm fresh strawberries, cored and sliced
3 T       Calivinegar Barrel Aged Balsamic
2 T       Turbinado sugar

METHOD

Preheat your grill to medium high heat. Toss sliced strawberries with balsamic vinegar and sugar, set aside. Drizzle olive oil over the sliced baguette and lightly season with a pinch of salt and fresh cracked pepper.
Grill bread on both sides till nice grill marks show and the bread is golden brown. Spread Nutella on each crostini and top with the balsamic strawberries.
Place on a platter and serve!

Con’Olio
Jeff and Tabatha Conarko
www.conolios.com
North-Arboretum Shopping Center
10000 Research Blvd, #130
Austin, TX 78759
&
South-2nd Street District
215 Lavaca
Austin, TX 78701

Jeff and Tabatha left corporate jobs to pursue a dream of opening a family owned and operated store.  The result was Con’Olio, a premium olive oil and balsamic vinegar store and tasting bar.  50+ olive oils and vinegars to taste and buy plus they offer educational classes and a monthly club.  Everything is bigger and hotter in Texas and our Calivirgin Hot Virgin Jalapeno olive oil is our biggest seller in the Con’Olio store.  Tabatha recently sent us some kind words saying, “We love to use the Jalapeno oil to cook scrambled eggs and to line my baking pans when cooking enchiladas and Jeff likes to use 2 teaspoons when making his homemade salsa!”

Market Hall Foods
5655 College Ave 
Oakland, CA 94618
www.markethallfoods.com

Market Hall Foods is located in North Oakland California in the Rockridge area.  A european style market place; Market Hall Foods is recognizable for its unique architectural design as well as the eight individual food and flower shops which open out to the sidewalk.  A one stop shop for artisan oils, vinegars, breads, pastas and cheeses to name a few.  Wether you are looking for hard to find imported products or locally produced items Market Hall Foods has it covered.  Market Hall Foods marketing & communications director Sara Feinberg was happy to share, “We love using the jalapeno garlic or the jalapeno oil for corn-on-the-cob. I also use those oils to fry my eggs in the morning. I love basil oil drizzled over a watermelon and feta salad – perfect for summer dining al fresco!”  Market Hall Foods is also a connoisseur of fresh 100% extra virgin olive oil and they stock their shelves with some of the best California grown oils available in the market today.  They even host an annual California Extra VIrgin Olive Oil Festival around the month of March where they sample food pairings, offer oil tastings and give cooking demonstrations  featuring fresh California grown olive oils.

This is only a small sample of locations who help spread the word about Calivirgin Premium Extra Virgin olive oils and vinegars.  Check back to read about some of the fine restaurants, chefs, and food blogs that also enjoy using Calivirgin olive oils.  If you are intersted in bulk oil oil or flavored oils for your restaurant or private use or you would like to carry our products in your store please feel free to contact us and we would be happy to get you more info. Click here for a link to all of our locations and our contact info.