Cal Pressed California Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

"In many ways, a bottle of olive oil is like a bottle of wine. Just like a wine’s terroir, the environment in which olives are grown makes a tremendous difference in how their oil will ultimately taste. And, just as it is with a fine wine, smaller batches and more dedicated, hands-on production methods tend to result in significantly higher quality. That’s certainly the case with this highly limited offering from the folks at Cal Pressed. Made with olives sourced from a handful of small, family farms in California’s Central Valley, this first pressing of their 2023 harvest is beautifully balanced, with a lush, butter-forward profile that’s accented by gentle fruity and peppery notes, before finishing with just a subtle hint of grass. Available at Trader Joe’s only for a limited time, and at a price that’s a fraction of what you’d pay for olive oils of this quality elsewhere, Cal Pressed Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil can be used in practically any kitchen context—for sautéeing, grilling, even baking—but where it really excels is as a finishing oil. Try drizzling it over a sheet of freshly roasted vegetables, rubbing it over a salmon fillet before air-frying, or lightly pouring it over sliced tomatoes, torn basil leaves, and Mozzarella Pearls for an incomparable caprese. Or, to truly savor, simply enjoy it by dipping with plain crostini, as part of a charcuterie spread."