Olive oil bottle decanters are great for the table or as a kitchen tool. Olive oil is very healthy for you, and it tastes terrific too, full of flavor. This is especially true of extra virgin olive oil. Gourmet cold pressed extra virgin olive oil does not inexpensive, and spills or waste must be avoided at all costs. Small amounts, or “a drizzle” of olive oil is usually all that is needed or called for. If the recipe specifies a drizzle of olive oil, it is calling for a fine stream to be quickly poured. It is common for balsamic vinegar to have a matching decanter for the table.

There are two purposes to the design of olive oil bottles, cruets, and drizzlers. The first purpose is to add elegance and class to the table, instead of dispensing condiments directly from the manufacturer’s bottles. The second, but more important purpose of the design is to be useful and practical decanters. An olive oil bottle that has drips or runs down the sides is unpleasant to look at, and guests may be reluctant to touch the bottle under these circumstances. An olive oil drizzler makes dispensing oil or vinegar easy and clean with no mess.

Currently there are olive oil bottles with a wide variety of designs and patterns. Tuscan or gourmet scenes are popular on the sides of decorative bottles. Olive oil bottle suppliers that are from China create silk screened bottles that look hand painted. Many of these olive oil bottles are square bottles of either clear or colored glass with a cork stopper or bottle pourer that will fit into the neck. Caution should be used when buying a cheap olive oil bottle. If the spout is not constructed entirely of glass or stainless steel, corrosion can occur after prolonged exposure to vinegar because of the acidity in it.

A decorative olive oil bottle can be constructed from ceramic as well. However, chefs prefer a glass bottle instead of ceramic because the level of oil in the bottle can be easily seen in glass but not at all in a ceramic cruet. A properly functioning drizzler will pour the olive oil without making a mess. After all, if you pay that much for quality virgin olive oil, shouldn’t the bottle you use to dispense it show the same quality, elegance, and taste?

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Balsamic vinegar from Italy has a heritage of centuries old tradition. It begins with an aged reduction of Spergola or Trebbiano white grapes. These grapes are boiled down to a syrup in open fired copper cauldrons, very slowly. Once the moisture content of the grapes has been reduced by more than half, the cooking is done. This leaves a concentration that is called the “must”. The must is put into wooden casks. Older balsamic vinegar is added to the cask to promote the acetification process. The aging process of balsamic vinegar takes at least twelve years. Each year the aging balsamic vinegar is moved to different, smaller wooden barrels which are made from a variety of woods. Balsamic vinegar obtains it’s rich wood flavor from these carefully preserved olden barrels. Balsamic vinegar barrels are made from numerous woods, including cherry, oak, chestnut, and ash. Juniper and mulberry balsamic vinegar barrels are a lot harder to find because they are prized for the taste they give to the balsamic vinegar.

As a gourmet shopper, choosing balsamic vinegar at the grocery store can be confusing. It is hard to tell which balsamic vinegar costs five dollars, and which costs forty five dollars. Most of the cheap commercial grade balsamic vinegar is not really balsamico. The best way to find a good balsamic vinegar is taste testing. A shrewd shopper will know exactly what it tastes like before purchasing.

The authentic Italian balsamic vinegar is available in 3.4 ounce bottles. These bottles range in cost from $60 to over $700 a bottle, depending on the age and grade. Balsamic vinegar must be aged at least a minimum of twelve years, but the better ones are aged from twenty five years to fifty years. The oldest aged balsamic vinegars are like a liqueur, and not like vinegar at all. These should be savored drop by drop. A drop of this balsamic vinegar is exquisite in taste and palate.

There are three levels of quality for Tradizionale Balsamic Vinegar. These levels are designated by the Italian producers such as Reggio Emilia. Twelve year aged balsamic vinegar has a red level, or red label. Balsamic vinegar that has been aged twenty years has a silver level, or silver label. The designation of a gold level, or gold label, on balsamic vinegar means that it has been aged for thirty to forty years.

The quality of balsamic vinegar that you purchase will have a big impact on flavor and taste. Purchase the best balsamic vinegar that your budget will allow, and you will taste the difference quality balsamic vinegar brings to your kitchen.

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Oil and Vinegar Gourmet Gift Set, send by Priority Mail.

An oil and vinegar gourmet set makes a wonderful gift for any occasion. Popular for Mother’s Day, housewarming and anniversary gifts. The Gourmet Gift set comes with imported olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar from Modena Italy.

Cold pressed gourmet olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar add a healthy flourish to salads, pastas, and Italian cuisine. Perfect pantry additions for every cook.

Includes:

• Italian Masserrie di Sant’Eramo Virgin Olive Oil 8.5 fl oz.
• Italian Masserrie di Sant’Eramo Balsamic Vinegar 8.5 fl oz.
• An exquisite crystal European hand blown Grape design Cruet  Give a holiday gift of a gourmet oil and vinegar. Imported Italian gourmet Extra Virgin Olive Oil and aged Balsamic Vinegar from Modena. Includes the glass oil and vinegar cruet for table decanter.

Price $56.95

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Cruet Set drizzlers

Cruet set, hand made glass cruets from Europe. Non drip Glass cruets are made for easy oil and vinegar drizzling over any dish. Drizzle olive oil and vinegar in salads, or try as a condiment over tossed pasta, grilled vegetables, fresh greens, and roasted meats. Drizzle oil and vinegar flavor while cooking or serving. Drizzle red raspberry wine vinegar or cold pressed gourmet olive oil, these drizzle cruets dispense with fine condiments with perfection. 

A cruet set is the perfect unique gift idea for birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas gifts.

Each drizzle cruet holds 6 fl oz. Glass cruets are dishwasher safe.

Price $39.95

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Grape Cruet for oil and vinegar

Grape Cruet from Europe, hand blown glass-within-glass decanter design. Grape cluster designed oil and vinegar cruet. Each grape cruet is hand-crafted to showcase both oil and vinegar in a clear glass decanter. Beautiful when filled with oil and vinegar. Inner glass vessel magnifies after filling of oil and vinegar.

The grape cruet is our most popular oil and vinegar cruet. It is designed to fit easily in one hand for dispensing oil and vinegar. Used on the tables of fine Italian restaurants throughout the USA.

Hand made in Europe of technical grade glass. Each grape cruet comes with two bartop corks and is shipped double boxed. 

Price $28.90

Technorati Tags: grape cruet, cruet, oil and vinegar cruets, Gourmet gifts, Mother’s Day gift, chef gifts, kitchen gift

 There are many choices when it comes to birthday gift giving. Most people spend a good deal of time in the kitchen and a kitchen gift provides a wonderfully remembered birthday present that is highly useful and decorative.

The tradition of gift giving is an engrained part of our cultural life. When you take the time to thoughtfully choose a birthday gift, it is most often one of the recipients most remembered birthday presents. Something simple, yet elegant, will linger for some time. Often an exquisite imported oil and vinegar gift will make a lasting impression, especially if the items originate from a gourmet imported source.

Special moments may be few and far between, but a kitchen gift may provide one of the best reasons to give, visit, or call those who are close to you.

Technorati Tags: kitchen gifts, unique gifts, birthday gift

A unique kitchen gift is the ideal selection for Mother’s Day, Father’s day, an anniversary, or birthday gift. Everyone enjoys good food and some of us are more serious about cooking than others, thus, a unique kitchen gift which is practical and easy to use will certainly be appreciated.