Random Thoughts

October Musings From IL Fiorello

OCTOBER MUSINGS FROM IL FIORELLO As the events of the past two weeks, the Great Fires of California, have affected all of us, I want to take a minute to pause and thank many people for all their efforts.  Staff who drove down the vineyard dirt paths to come to work.  Staff, who even though […]

Cooking is Simple * Eating is Rewarding

  At our Visitors Center, people are always interested in why and how we prepare food, create recipes, and match oils with food. Here are some of my simple tenants for IL Fiorello.   Use good, clean, and fair ingredients. This is also the hallmark of Slow Food and sensible eating Don’t complicate your life […]

What People Say

  What do people say? What questions do they ask in an olive oil tasting experience? The other day, a group of visitors were talking with me about the experience of running a tasting room for olive oil. They asked me what questions we get during our olive oil tasting events. Last year we presented […]

All About Tomatoes

  August is tomato season in Suisun Valley and let me tell you- It is Everything Tomato at IL Fiorello! We have a lot here at the Farm. We’ve had to chase the mockingbirds away from them! Our chickens love the little red and yellow cherry tomatoes. They chase each other like little kids to catch […]

Nocino

Making Nocino, Italian walnut liquor, usually this is made on June 24th, St John’s day. But as you can see these walnuts got a little large very early. The alcohol turns bright green from the walnuts, as do your hands. Cut the walnuts in quarters and soak in alcohol for a few weeks or longer […]

Nasturtium Capers

Capers come from the Caper Bush, Capparis spinose and we are growing these at the Farm. But until the bush becomes large enough to produce capers, we are using Nasturtiums seed pods, by the thousands. The Nasturtium flowers are edible and are on our tasting plates, the leaves are delicious and hold little zucchini tastes. […]

How we Change Palates & Minds at IL Fiorello

  IL Fiorello grows and produces international quality, certified extra virgin olive oil. We also help our guests to expand their palates. This is called edible education, and palate expansion. We host our guests with a comparative tasting of our extra virgin oils and present a tasting plate of healthy food. Much of the food […]

Tea Party

20 guests were treated to an adventure to Alice in Wonderland’s tea, by Executive Chef Gloria Ciccrone-Nehls, also known as Alice, and Sous Chef Darren Porter wearing the Mad Hatter’s Hat.  The kitchen was decorated with a Cheshire Cat peering down from the upper shelves of the kitchen supervising the class. Roses and flowers imitating […]

Earth Day 2017

  IL Fiorello celebrated Earth Day/Weekend, in a big way, with 650 people visiting our Farm on Passport Sunday! Thank you to all who visited, everyone had a wonderful sunny and delicious time. Thanks to Slow Food for a display and information, to Denise Revel, Girl on the Hill for her beautiful lavender, and to the […]

The Health Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  Great Taste and Great for You! Certified Extra Virgin Olive Oil, the highest quality in California, has significant health benefits. Antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids all mean improved taste and health. Look for the seal of certification and the harvest and mill dates. The fresher the better. The main type of fat in vegetable oils, polyunsaturated […]

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