Tips On Using & Preserving Olive Oil

My new found best friend is Italian extra virgin olive oil. Once you have tasted the best, it is really difficult to accept the rest. I am serious. I am becoming a connoisseur of olive oil and had no idea that bottle of oil that I had been using everyday contains such important qualitites.  Not all extra virgin olive oils however have these qualities. Only the higest quality extra virgin olive oil contains the largest number of polyphenols or antioxidants.   And even if you have the highest quality extra virgin olive oil, you can literally destroy its good properties with the wrong use or preservation. 

The enemy of olive oil is heat and light. That is why it is a good idea to purchase olive oil that is in either tins or dark glass bottles. Never never purchase or store olive oil in plastic. Plastic will kill it and destroy those antioxidants not to mention what it does to the flavor in general. The absolute best place for storing olive oil is in stainless steel containers but not many of us have the space or access to these, so the second best is in tins or dark glass bottles.

Keep your olive oil away from sunlight, heat from stove top range, any source of heat or light. Store in cool, dark area.

The best olive oil is the newest or "olio nuovo". It is the opposite of wine. If you can, it is best to purchase the newest or latest harvest of olive oil. This is because it contains the best qualities for flavor and health benefits. 

Tips on How to Purchase Italian Womens' Dress Shoes

Here are some insider tips on how to purchase Italian womens' dress shoes. There is a multitude of different makers of Italian dress shoes available in every department store, specialty boutique, outlet, online retailer, etc. However sometimes many of these shoes lack quality and are over priced. What should you look for before pulling out your wallet??

The three most important attributes when buying Italian dress shoes are :

-quality

-fit/comfort

-price

1.Quality- this is probably the most important factor when purchasing dress shoes. If the dress shoe is high quality, there is a good chance you will be able to wear it for years to come. Quality means that accessories or anything applied to the shoe does not come off. It also means that the shoe is not made of synthetic material but of high quality leather or high quality fabric. Look for the symbol showing that the entire shoe is made of leather and not just the tip, bottom, etc. If have your doubts, use your nose. Leather smells like leather and plastic smells like plastic. Ask the salesperson for further information. The shoe should be strong and not have any weak points. The heel should not be wobbly. The trim, lining, sole and seams should be exact without any visible creases. You should never see glue,spots or stains. Every detail should be precise. You should always look for the symbol "made in Italy." Many shoes nowadays have an Italian name, Italian packaging but are NOT made in Italy.

2.Fit/comfort- If the shoe is not comfortable, you will end up not wearing it. Although you will accessorize your closet, you will not be utilizing the shoe. Most of the time if the shoe is a quality shoe as stated above, it will be comfortable and wearable. Don't ever buy a shoe that is too big or too small. Don't ever believe a salesperson that says "oh the shoes will stretch" or "you will grow into them." Also don't buy a shoe knowing you will have to put another sole into it to get it to fit. These tactics seldom work.

3.Price- You should never pay more than what the shoe is worth. How do you know what it is worth? If it is a high quality shoe, you can use the prices of designer shoes as a gauge. If the shoe is high quality, comfortable, Italian and not designer, then its price should not be as high as the designer shoe. A shoe that is not made in Italy should never be priced as an Italian shoe. A shoe that is not all leather should never be priced as an all leather shoe.

I hope you keep in mind these tips before buying those beautiful Italian dress shoes.

Fotographs courtesy of Gerardine shoes (www.gerardine.it)