On Thursday, October 27, as part of the first-ever Taste of Italy Dallas, the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce of Texas was pleased to present a tasting of Calabrian extra-virgin olive oil featuring the oils of Tenuta Pantano. The guided tasting and seminar were led by Italian food and wine expert Jeremy Parzen.
As Italian gastronomy took the world by storm in the 1990s and early 2000s, interest in artisanally produced Italian extra-virgin olive oil grew rapidly. At the time, Tuscan and Sicilian oils were the main focus of most food lovers in the United States — and it’s easy to see why. Over time, however, Americans expanded their interest in the category as they discovered Sardinian, Ligurian, and even Veneto olive oils produced along the shores of Lake Garda.
Despite this strong interest in Italy’s finest olive oils, Calabrian oils — among the country’s most prized — remained under the radar for a long time. That’s because Calabria has long been Italy’s greatest “undiscovered country,” a land rich with culinary treasures and delights that Americans had not yet had the chance to fully experience. We are confident that attendees at the October 27 event were excited to learn about Calabria’s unique soils and terroirs, including the maritime influence of the Mediterranean Sea, which gives these oils their signature freshness.
“Calabrian oils are among the best I’ve tasted in recent years,” Parzen said. Having launched his food writing career at La Cucina Italiana more than twenty years ago, he added: “Thanks to the work of the chamber, I’ve had the opportunity to taste a number of Calabrian products that were not yet available in the U.S. And I was blown away by the quality and depth, especially when it comes to the oils and the wines.”
The Calabrian extra-virgin olive oil event was the featured seminar at this year’s Taste of Italy Dallas, the IACC’s first trade fair in the city.