Man puts in online order for food. Food arrives. Man happy.
It's not exactly hunter-gathering, but I love buying food on-line. Not fish, meat fruit or vegetables – those I have to see, smell or weigh in my hands – but anything in a jar, can or bottle. Which led me to discover Oil & More.
Looking at their olive oil line-up was like looking in my own kitchen cupboard through the ages, from the classy Frescobaldi Laudemio and Badia e Coltibuono from Tuscany to the lovely Colonna from Molise, Raineri from Liguria, and Nunez de Prado from Andalucia.
They even have my favourite Spaghetti Martelli, Italy's very finest dried pasta, which I have been buying for a good twenty years. It now comes with a "Delia Cheats Ingredient" sticker on its sunny yellow pack, an absurd and offensive insult to its innate nobility.
Oil & More is a family-run business. Derek Hughes was an animal nutritionist before giving in to his love of fine foods, and the website has recently been joined by a deli called Porter's in Market Street, Llangollen, North Wales, which also sells a good selection of cheese, ham and salami. (Tel: 01978 862990.)
I found Oil & More by Googling for the little-known but sensational Banyuls wine vinegar from south-west France, without which my salads feel blunt instead of sharp. But once on-line, I added Seggiano roasted artichoke hearts, and a very good avocado oil for my summer tomatoes. (The only thing they don't have that I need is a really good fresh peppercorn, such as Wynad - please fix.)
Prices are modest, packing intelligent, and delivery fast. Man happy.
This shopping site looks terrific and I can't wait to try it but that olive stoner has to go - far too weedy (and pricey). Try this instead: http://gastroplod.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/terrific-tools-1/
Posted by: Gastroplod | Tuesday, 24 June 2008 at 07:05 PM
Wonderfull site, thanks for letting us know. Unfortunately I cannot buy anything as i live in China! But as I originally come from Anglesey in North Wales I shall be shopping in LLangollen next time back for a visit.
cheers!
Liz
Posted by: Liz Thomas | Wednesday, 25 June 2008 at 05:56 AM
A pity the author of this article pushes olive, without 2007 nutrition input. Olive oil contains three plant phenols, chemicals, namely phloridzin, chlorogenic acid and gallic acid, that respectively degrade and inflame the pituatary and hypothalamus glands, and the pancreas. These degraded parts then circulate, join up, and form the cancer nucleus base. This nucleus easily enters organs inflamed by many plant phenols. This is the start of a malignancy. The pituatary degraded parts uncontrollably release human growth hormone and stem cell factor, accelerating a malignancy. To those who think the Mediterranean Diet, MDiet, is health giving due to olive oil, be aware that the MDiet does not exist per se, and is only an olive oil marketing ploy. Greeks daily eat highest cholesterol feta goat cheese; the Italians cook with goose fat, butter or lard depending on the region; and the Spanish eat loads of fatty pork So if you must use olive oil, remember it is not a miraculous health giver but has a dark side.
Posted by: ThomasT | Saturday, 02 August 2008 at 02:51 AM