Folle for Olive Oil!

386 av. Victoria, Westmount, QC, Canada H3Z 2N4

When I heard about the opening of Olives en Folie, a store dedicated solely to olive oils and vinegars located in the heart of Westmount, I knew I needed to stop by immediately. A trip to Greece last summer exposed me to some of the most robust and flavourful olive oils I have ever tasted. Restaurants served tomatoes from their backyards and homemade cheeses drizzled with the most perfect olive oil and no matter how simple it seems, it just cannot be matched.

I was so excited to visit the store and to see and taste firsthand their selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. First of all, the store itself is beautiful! But the real focus here is the product. The olive oils and balsamics are stored in large tins that seal their contents from any light or air. After one year, whatever is left in the tin is discarded in order to ensure ultimate freshness.

The tasting process went as follows: a small amount of olive oil was poured into a blue tinted glass (so that tasters are not influenced by the colour of the oil), cover the glass with your hand, swirl it around, uncover, and smell. After smelling the olive oil, take a little sip from the glass and take note of the flavours and sensations you experience. The lovely and knowledgeable store manager Joe, explained that olive oil tasting is a unique and subjective process designed to give tasters the ability to identify the peculiarities of each olive oil based on personal tastes and preferences.

There are over 60 types of olive oils and vinegars throughout the store. From Greek olive oils, to flavoured olive oils, these oils could be used to cook, in salad dressings, and even in your baked goods. They are really versatile. Some of my favourites were the white truffle, basil, and vanilla. Some of these are flavoured with natural flavouring, while others are infused. The balsamics were also a treat. Two of my personal favourites were the white maple balsamic and the 25-year aged Modena balsamic.

I urge you to pay the store a visit, and have a nice chat with the store’s staff- they really know their olive oils! they will give you all kinds of great recommendations on recipes and how to use each oil and vinegar. The best part is that they fill up the bottle right there in front of you and offer different sizes. Weave through the store tasting as much as you’d like and leave with some of your favourites!

P.S. Near the cash they sell some awesome local products. I bought preserves by a Montreal company called The Preservation Society, and fell in love.

From left to right: Greek Olive Oil, Modena Balsamic, Basil Olive Oil, White Maple Balsamic

Mind, Taste, Love.