Aromatic & Deliciously Tasting Olive Oil…read more SITREP Olica Olive Oil is the wonderful business project of Olga O. who has created an exceptional line of various olive oils as well as balsemic vinegars and other sundry projects. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/olica-olive-oil-tasting-room-and-olive-mill-brooks?select=4GLglHXJtiJivsK5lwcH6w&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w THE SETUP Located primarily in the community of Brooks in Northern California, Olga has substantial acreage upon which her Olive Orchard empire is based. However, Olga also spends a considerable amount of time spreading the "Gospel" of delicious, well-made Olive oils - with an emphasis on Extra Virgin Olive Oils. FULL OF CLASS! Indeed Olga is, AND I was fortunate to have her be my instructor at an Olive Oil class at the California State Fair where she share her excpetional knowledge on both the production details of creating different kinds of oils - those olive oils we consume vs. those used for other industrial purposes, as well as sharing her skills in how one would discriminate in tasting between different varietals of extra virgin olive oils, including: * The different methods of extracting olive oil - first press, second extraction, etc.; and, * The various Olive Oil grades of quality, and how these are based on the extraction processes, how they be blended, etc.; and, * How to understand how they may spoil, discolor or be defective if certain precautions are not taken; TASTING Olga also showed us the "hows" to taste olive oil. Just like doing flights of wine, there is a tasting technique, similarly involving "air" - or MORE air to be precise, to open up both the notes of the olive oil as well as your taste buds. It made quite the difference! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/olica-olive-oil-tasting-room-and-olive-mill-brooks?select=4GLglHXJtiJivsK5lwcH6w&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w In the tasting process with Olga, we learned to recognize the three (3) positive attributes of extra virgin olive oil: 1. Fruity - perceived through smelling by the nose; 2. Bitter - more than half the time, this sensation occurs in the back of the tongue; and, 3. Pungent / Spicy - a biting tactile sensation in the back of the throat These attributes will help steer you to a better understanding of the kind of oil you are tasting. OLIVE OIL VARIETALS So it was quite the treat - after all of the "book learning" - to actually try several varietals, and tOlica had several olive oils featured - the standouts for me included: = Arbosana - light, fruity notes, and definitely one I enjoyed by smelling; = Picual - also a fruity olive, but deeper flavor; and, = Koroneiki - this was the most pungent, with a definite bite, and ended up being my take-away to enjoy at home - I actually already sauteed some vegetables and these tomatoes in the picture with the Koroneiki into a lovely pasta sauce that was absolutely deLISH! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/olica-olive-oil-tasting-room-and-olive-mill-brooks?select=hhzUjrbpf1GwnQQu92WkLQ&reviewid=z_6Pj3X3C75Echf7ImXR8g "TOP OF THE CLASS!" Since I did the best on the Olive Oil exam, guess who got a cool dapper Olive Oil apron? Moi! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/olica-olive-oil-tasting-room-and-olive-mill-brooks?select=L4PjZQcQGV5qfar2CQ2BDg&reviewid=z_6Pj3X3C75Echf7ImXR8g THE LOWDOWN Olica has the finest olive oils that you must try!

I can honestly say I am so upset with myself for not reviewing months ago. Never have I ever had…read moresuch an incredible experience with any other business of any sort! I'm so looking forward to seeing Olga again, amazing incredible person, I honestly miss her!

When I'm out n about driving thru the Capay Valley on Route 16, Seka Hills tasting room is always a…read moremust stop. I recall on my first visit (many years ago), they were selling olive oil and tastings only. Fast forward to present day, they have expanded to include wine tastings, and selling balsamic vinegars, wines, honey, beef jerky, and nuts. All local grown from Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation land. Very cool. They also sell kitchen and giftable items; and serve food made to order and also offering prepackaged to go. The staff are always so kind and helpful. The building and brewing facility is a beautiful architectural design. Even the outside landscaping and patio area are thoughtfully designed. The views are gorgeous overlooking the adjoining almond and olive orchards, and the Valley. The kind of scenery they put in sappy Hallmark movie backdrops. So darn lucky to live within driving distance. I have not tasted wine here before. But have tasted their olive oils and vinegars. Mmm. Actually we picked up some bottles since they had a sale and marked down some bottles from the prior year varieties. My favorite flavors of SH olive oil are Arbequina (classic EVOO) and Frantoio (this one has nutty, herby flavors with slight pepperiness). It's right off Route 16 and super close to the Cache Creek casino resort which is also a Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation venture. So if you happen to be at the casino, drive less than five minute to the tasting room. Plus if you need a rest stop for a restroom, Seka Hills tasting room has real nice ones.

After doing some berry picking, we saw Seka Hills Tasting Room. A gorgeous estate with a spacious…read moreneatly-kept outdoor seating area to enjoy the grove of olive trees and surrounding area. The ambience was very peaceful and tranquil. You could browse and shop for many charcuterie accessories, dried fruits, nuts, olive oil, flavored basalmic vinegar, wine, etc. During our olive oil tasting session, we tried samples of... Taggiasca: This elegant oil has aromas of sweet almond followed by herbaceous notes of dried thyme and fresh herbs. Frantoio: The flavor of this oil is fragrant with almond and floral notes with grassy flavors. Some bitterness, this oil has a lasting pepperiness. Lovely as a dipping and finishing oil. Arbequina Olive Oil: The flavor is a fresh herbaceous aroma, this harmonious oil has pleasant pungency with a slight bitterness. Its balanced complexity results in a long, satisfying finish. Use in baking, marinades, sauteing, roasting, as a drizzling and dipping oil and any sauce calling for EVOO. Picual Olive: the flavor is Green tomato and olive aromas, this distinct and harmonious oil is followed by nuanced flavors of fresh herbs, green tea and black pepper. Use it to enhance salads, vegetables, fish and grilled chicken and meats and drizzle over grilled peaches and pineapple. Tribal Blend: the flavor is bright and herbaceous aroma with fresh green notes followed by nuanced layers of green almond, sweet almond, and ripe banana with a smooth, buttery mouthfeel. Support your local business.

Visited July 17th..see my receipt…read more Really cute shop in Old Sacramento! I had researched them before going in because I was looking for Tuscan herb olive oil and a butter flavored olive oil and they had both! I love to cook and i like to use different oils in my cooking. This is very similar to the Olive Groove in Grass Valley that also carries great olive oils and balsamic vinegars. This place offers free tastings of oils and balsamic vinegar ( you help yourself with disposable containers) and small pieces of bread for dipping. The young lady working was very helpful and gave me suggestions of different oils to utilize. They also carry some salts and jams by the register. They also have coffee available. I am glad I restocked with some yummy olive oils!

I really liked this place when we visited in downtown old Sacramento. There are so many options to…read morechoose from where you want something sweet and spicy savory in between original. We ended up purchasing the butter flavor olive oil as something that I chose to start putting into my morning cup of coffee. Definitely has that hint of butter flavoring that's for sure. Great pricing here as well too. Nice well kept storefront and inside. Small inside, so be careful if there are numerous people as you don't want to be bumping into everyone or into the merchandise. But we will for sure. Be paying a visit again here.

Still worth the drive.. Great product…read more. Olive oil & basalmic are my family staples. This is the place...quality & price. I still miss their presence in Napa, but it's my reason for the extra drive to St Helena. Also a simple space for a quick picnic table meal. Winner-A+

First time for us. We met Stefano who told us a little history about his families store. He's a…read moresuper cool guy. Cutest store. We were here to buy olive oil. There are so many great products from Italy. Besides the olive oil, we bought a few focaccia breads and one pot meals which he suggested. We will definitely return every time we are in Napa. Thank you, Stefano for your kindness and great service.

This is a beautiful shop with the best olive oils and vinegar I've ever tasted! So many unique…read moreflavors, plus all kinds of other interesting and delicious food products, cheeses, boutique soaps, lotions and gadgets. I haven't named them all! I love the olive oil and it's the only kind I want to use. The balsamic vinegar is also the best. The environment is warm and welcoming and the staff is really nice and helpful, and well-informed about olive oil production and the variations in taste, etc. Shopping here is a fun experience!

I took my friend here, as she had never been to More Than Olives and she is a culinary connoisseur…read more This is the first place where I learned the health benefits and drink cocktail benefits of balsamic vinegars. I've used their raspberry balsamic vinegar in my cooking, salad, and as a digestion aid. There are many healing properties with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, while making different foods, even drinks, even more flavorful! You can sample their olive oils and balsamic vinegars before making your purchase, and the staff teach you about each vinegar and oil type. I've learned an abundance of cooking tips while sampling! What I also enjoy here is they have a variety of foods, skin and hair care products, sweet treats, and more, so it is a perfect business for buying goodies for yourself and to gift! The staff always check on you and make sure you are taken care of, as they answer your questions and give helpful recommendations. I look forward to bringing more friends and family here in the future! How the More Than Olives team treat you and how clean their store is, organized their items are, all give such a welcoming feeling and I find myself wanting to stay longer when I'm here because there are still items I haven't had the chance to check out yet! The wooden design of this store helps make me feel at home. This is one of my fav businesses to support because of their excellent customer service and their delicious and smooth olive oils and balsamic vinegars!

Had the best time here for my Husbands birthday lunch . The grounds are beautiful . There's so much…read moregreenery , blooming flowers and the olive trees and the huge tree outdoors while dining made it feel so tranquil and relaxing. I initially booked an olive oil tasting but later discovered that it was more of an educational thing where you have to sit in a room. With a baby and a dog , I was hoping we can just enjoy that outdoors but they weren't able to accommodate. I hope sometime in the future they can change that . Instead of the olive oil tasting , I decided to have lunch outdoors. It was such a beautiful day and a tad windy . We started with some cocktails. Pomegranate Margarita : 5/5 it was the perfect blend of tangy , slightly sweet and the salt rim balanced all the flavors nicely. Also , it was pretty strong . Charcuterie $45 : Wow the presentation for this charcuterie was beautiful . Everything on the board was yummy and was a nice snack for grazing and enjoying it with the cocktail . I really liked the sweet walnuts , olives , wagyu sausage , pickled carrots , cauliflower , & the fig jam . 5/5 French onion soup $20 : I never really think to get a french onion soup but I was convinced that this was the best thing ever .. and guess what ?! It was !! This was probably the best french onion soup i've ever had . It was super rich , savory , and slightly sweet from the carmelized onions . It also had some delicious melted gruyère cheese that was oozing with the soup . The puff pastry on top was soo good . It was nice and comforting . 5/5 Prosciutto and Brie $30 : Dare I say this was probably one of the tastiest sandwiches ever ?! I can't believe prosciutto and brie can taste this good . The combination of garlic aioli , pickled shallots , red onions with farm greens mixed in the sandwich really brought out all the flavors. The only downside is for the portion idk if it justifies the price 4.5 /5 Ordered a special Pre fixe menu that came with farm salad with Quinoa + Olive oil icecream puff pastry dessert $30 + 10 salmon add on to salad . Salmon quinoa salad : This dish was super simple but the fish was cooked to perfection . It was super moist and the quinoa was fluffy and the salad was nicely dressed . 5/5 We had a great time and the food was fantastic. I'm really happy this place was dog friendly and family friendly. It's so hard finding places that accommodate both . Service was great . Luis did a good job on making sure we were taken care of . He was always checking in on us during our meal and was even whispering when the baby was napping . A+ service . Overall this place is a hidden gem . It's a tad pricey for lunch but the quality and service makes it worth it . We will definitely be back again to try the other delicious foods !

I've been to wine tasting before, but never heard of olive oil tasting. I have been buying olive…read moreoil from places I have travelled all around the world and always enjoyed the distinct taste and flavor each country has to offer. So, when I heard about this place, I had to go check it out. My cousin and I reserved their tour and olive oil tasting with food pairing. After that we decided to eat lunch there as they also do have a restaurant. I was particularly excited about the food because the food they offered from the food pairing were all so delicious. I was disappointed as their restaurant food tasted okay and a little bland. Nothing out of this world. I suggest booking the tour and tasting, but go eat lunch somewhere else. However, I did learn a lot about olives that day. Their olive oil selections taste good and unique. Must try and buy some. The staff were all very nice and the scenery was very nice.

This is a manufacturing facility and there is no visitor center for opportunity to taste the oil…read moreDespite their website and various other sites suggesting so Wasted trip will never buy their oil again I was turned away by a very rude man, despite the fact that the yelp and various other website suggest that you can visit and taste olive

You walk into this gorgeous tasting room with a large central table and products to the right. the…read morereceptionist's desk is straightahead and she is so sweet and kind. In fact everyone I came across was wonderful! I had my two daughters with me and they were very polite even though the oldest one kept trying to meander around. They have all their products available for offer. They also informed me that they sponsor the dinner on Main st. and the learning garden how lovely!

The location is wrong in Yelp, they're located in Carmel, not St Helena…read more So happy to find this little gem, they have many selections of olive oil, balsamic, sauces and jams, and best of all, there were all available for us to try. This is a cute little shop with lot of things to offer other than olive oil, they have some cute little kitchen stuffs and souvenir gifts which are all so cool to have.

super cute spot to get olive oil. what caught our attention was the crowd inside so we went inside…read more the olive oil makes great gifts and you can sample all of the olive oils including vinaigrettes too! :)

I love the CVFS! Unfortunately we moved to Marin but still support the Capay Valley through…read moreanother local farm's CSA program (not FFTY). When I was a subscriber I truly felt like I was connected with the farmers, not just a business but families. I loved the variety and miss the dried fruits, eggs and meat options that I could add to my order. Yes sometimes you end up getting carrots and leafy greens every week, that's because it's carrot and leafy green season. Be it too little or too much rain, pests or other reasons - you're connected and see first hand how everything affects and interacts with the food the farmers labor over. The supermarket has spoiled us, variety all the time is not natural, we have seasons but we ignore this and ship what we want when we want. On a positive spin, we now have tons of carrot recipes. We received a peck each week and visited our local farmers market to supplement. our order. It's easy once it becomes routine. And check out the area's Hoe's Down Festival each October at one of the participating farms (Full Belly). Here you'll get an opportunity to meet the people that make it all happen, tour the farm and see where it all comes from.

I was super-bummed when the Capay Valley Farm Shop in Vacaville shut down several years ago, but…read moresince its closure I've been on their mailing list and that's how I heard about the Farm Shop's Farmshares/CSA program. I've been participating in the CSA since last winter and I'm a huge fan! However, an important distinction I need to begin this review with is that this CSA is NOT the same program as the "Farm Fresh to You" CSA run by Capay Organic, which a lot of Yelpers have already reviewed. I prefer the Farm Shop's CSA over the FFTY program for quite a few reasons, but here are the key differences you need to know about the two when looking for the right CSA for you and your food habits: FFTY delivers directly to your home or office, whereas the Farm Shop CSA program requires that you pick up your produce from a local drop-off point. You do end up paying for the convenience of this direct delivery: FFTY charges $31.50 for a "Regular" size box of nine different fruits and vegetables, whereas the Farm Shop CSA charges $27 for their "Bushel," which has eleven items. Portion-wise there isn't much difference, and my drop-off point is only a couple minutes drive from where I work so having home delivery isn't important to me. FFTY has more "size" options for their deliveries; the Farm Shop has just two choices: the smaller "Peck" ($18 for seven items) and the aforementioned Bushel. FFTY, as far as I can tell, sources its produce from just one farm (Capay Organic). The Farm Shop CSA program on the other hand sources its produce (plus optional add-on goodies like olive oil, nuts, dried fruit, etc.) from a pretty awesome collaborative of Capay Valley farms, including Durst, Full Belly, Good Humus, and Riverdog. FFTY allows you to customize your orders so that you can have more fruit than veggies in your CSA delivery, or more veggies, or all fruit/all veggies. With the Capay CSA program on the other hand, what you get is what you get. There is no customizing or picking and choosing your produce. It is a TRUE CSA where you take what you are given based on the season, the vagaries of the local weather, and availability. Perhaps because it is based on a collaborative of many farms, the Farm Shop CSA program has a spectular feature that FFTY does not have: it allows you to add on other goodies besides produce to your CSA deliveries. As a mostly-vegan I'm not interested in the pasture-raised eggs or Riverdog Farms' naturally raised chicken and pork, but I looooove Taber Ranch's olive oil, the dried fruit from Good Humus, and the raw nuts and dried onions from Full Belly. If you're interested in trying out a CSA, definitely give the Capay Valley Farm Shop's program a try! You can check their website to see if there is a drop-off point near you; if there is, it's pretty easy to get started. Probably the hardest part of this CSA for most people will be the "what you get is what you get" nature of each delivery, but that's what a CSA should be all about, to be quite honest. I actually like that aspect of the program: it did get hard in the winter to deal with chard, chard, chard and more chard, but being forced to try new fruits and vegetables has helped me broaden my palate even further as well as sharpen my cooking skills and expand my repertoire.Thanks to this CSA I've learned that I love celeriac grated and fried in a skillet like hash browns, that there is nothing better in summer than a just-picked boysenberry, and that I can cook delicata squash for lunch in the toaster oven at work. I have the "Bushel" delivered to me every other week. For one person it works out well: I usually go into a frenzy of cooking the first two days after getting my delivery but my time investment in the kitchen for the rest of the fortnight is pretty normal. By the time the next delivery rolls around I've finished nearly everything from the previous delivery, perhaps save for some of the harder root vegetables. I did consider doing the smaller "Peck" on a weekly basis but I prefer the greater variety of the Bushel. My last Bushel consisted of the following: Roma Tomatoes, Slicer Tomatoes (Durst Organic Growers); Chioggia Beets, Padron/Shishito Peppers, Yellow Crookneck Squash (Full Belly Farm); Suncrest Peaches (Good Humus Produce); and French Fingerling Potatoes, Green Curly Kale, Green Slicing Cucumbers, Red Torpedo Onion, Savoy Cabbage (Riverdog Farm). Most of the Roma tomatoes, cukes, and onion went into making a really good panzanella; the slicer tomatoes went into sandwiches; the beets were roasted off in the oven and plopped onto salads; and the peaches got eaten as soon as I got the box home and gave them a quick wash. I still have a week left before my next delivery and all I have left to make use of are three of the torpedo onions, half the kale and cabbage, and the potatoes. Wow, I actually almost ran out of review space! I'll end this by saying thanks, Farm Shop! Can't wait for my next CSA box!