No Place Like Home

Karen Wight

I look forward to the mail every day. Especially the catalogs. It’s

like going on a quick armchair shopping trip. And though most of my

purchases are mainly mental, I love to peruse the catalogs that have

gourmet delectables.

Some of the items on my fantasy food list include exotic oils and

vinegars. When I get a catalog from Williams-Sonoma, I always dogear the

pages that have products I haven’t seen before. I’m guilty of getting

into a rut with my dinner menus, and this is a great source of new ideas.

The kids are big carbo-cravers. And as they are growing up instead of

out, I try to keep food in the house that will keep them filled up. My

big consumers love nothing more than to take a fresh baguette and dip

pieces in herbed oil and flavored vinegar. Now, I could make my own

concoctions, and occasionally I do, but it’s also fun to try new products

and combinations.

Williams-Sonoma has created the perfect answer to my “will they like

it?” product quandary. In their expanded location in South Coast Plaza,

they have added a tasting bar for their wide selection of flavored oils,

fragrant vinegars, salad dressings and marinades. Before you make the

investment in an unfamiliar product, you have an opportunity to take a

test taste.

The pros at Williams-Sonoma have thought of everything. There is a

large jar of freshly baked bread cut into cubes to facilitate dipping.

There are stacks of tiny paper cups to pour your sample selection into

and lots of napkins for easy clean up.

They have about 30 products on display, and if the product you’re

interested in is not included on the taster shelf, the staff will gladly

open a new bottle for you to sample.

Buying a few new flavors to add to my cooking chores raises my

interest level considerably. These products are an easy way to put a new

twist on your old standbys.

Last week, I came away with two new Asian products. An oil and vinegar

combination that was wonderful sprinkled over stir-fried snow peas and a

spicy blend of Chinese flavors that makes an awesome marinade for a

Crock-Pot pork tenderloin. These flavors were also delicious poured over

steamed rice.

Some of my favorite products come from a company in the Napa Valley

called Olivier. This company prepares infused olive oils in decorative

bottles. A partial list of products includes toasted Parmesan and garlic

dipping oil, Tuscan lemon pepper oil, toasted garlic oil and Italian

spice dipping oil.

The Italian dipping oil is seasoned with balsamic vinegar, sun-dried

tomatoes, garlic black pepper and herbs. Add a loaf of fresh olive bread

and some minestrone soup, and you have an easy and delicious dinner.

The Tuscan lemon pepper oil is great with grilled shrimp, the toasted

garlic oil is a perfect flavor to add to pasta, and the Parmesan and

garlic oil is a wonderful topping for crostini.

Four new ideas for dinner this week. You’ll be a hero with the family.

Tickle your taste buds and hop on over to the sample bar. These

specialty oils and vinegars make great hostess gifts, pantry staples and

add a little extra spice to your life.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs Sundays.