Home Contact Sitemap login Checkout



Store Hours: 9:00am - 9:00pm daily

Café hours: 7:30am - 9:00pm daily 







Italian Centre Shop
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Curbside Pick-Up
  • Departments
    • Departments
    • Gift Baskets
    • Party Platters
    • Deli
    • Bakery
    • Produce
    • Massimo's Cucina Italiana
    • Winemaking
    • Naturally Raised Meats
  • Spinelli Bar Italia
  • Tavola Calda
  • Recipes
  • Blog
  • About
    • About
    • Heritage
    • Charitable Giving
    • Media Gallery
  • Events
    • Events
    • Calgary Events
    • Edmonton Events
  • Shops
  • Careers
Print This Page

All About Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is one of the key cooking ingredients that we use day to day. EVOO is one of the highest quality in flavour and aromas. That is why we use it as the starter for salad dressings; as the base for marinades and sauces; and, as a finishing touch on dishes. But how much do you really know about olive oil in general?! 


We’re sharing some of our best tips to get the best use out of olive oil in your recipes:


Why are there such a variety of prices?

  • A lot of time and effort goes into making a high quality extra virgin olive oil; thus, you’ll find these to be the most expensive in the shop. Fresh, healthy olives are picked and cold-pressed then used to make the higher quality oils. On the other hand, a lower quality oils’ olive-picking process may not be as stringent, resulting in the use of more heat or chemicals during the process. The price really depends on how the olive oil is made.


What is the difference between olive oil that is better for cooking VS finishing a dish?

  • Save the good quality extra virgin olive oil for cold applications when finishing a dish like drizzling over pizza, pasta or hummus - trust us, you’ll notice the difference! Or, use it to make salad dressings. Choose a lower-quality olive oil to keep on hand for general cooking.


Cooking with olive oil?

  • When compared to a canola oil, olive oil has a low smoke point so you may want to keep it for pan-frying only. What does a low smoke point mean? It means the temperature at which the oil starts to smoke and burn. Not only would oil heated past it’s smoke point impart a burnt flavour to your food but any nutrients found in the oil are destroyed when overheated.


Because olive oils have a variety of tastes, be sure to try and test out a variety of brands to find the one you love the most. Then, keep one delicious extra virgin olive oil on hand for finishing dishes and one basic olive oil for cooking!

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

* indicates required


Sign Up for our Calgary Newsletter

* indicates required








CONTACT US

  • LITTLE ITALY

    • 10878 95 Street
      Edmonton, AB
      780 424 4869

SOUTHSIDE

5028 104a Street NW

Edmonton, AB

780 989 4869

  • WEST END

    • 17010 90 Avenue
      Edmonton, AB
      780 454 4869
  • SHERWOOD PARK

    • 700 8005 Emerald Dr
      Sherwood, AB
      780 416 4869

  • WILLOW PARK

    • 9919 Fairmount Dr SE
    • Calgary, AB
      403 238 4869

Corporate Customer Service
780-424-4869 x.351 (Mon.-Fri. 9am-4pm) or [email protected]


© Italian Centre Shop. All Rights Reserved Policies






START SHOPPING