‘Extending’ the olive branch
At Oliviers & Co., the mission/vision was always clear cut — to search for the very best in artisanal olive oils from all over the world, package and market them in a manner that befits this glorious product, and elevate the olive to the point where we’re talking about vintage quality, and referring to olive vineyards, as we would to grapes and those producing Grand Cru wine. If in this world’s history, the olive branch has symbolized peace and celebrating good fortune, Oliviers & Co. would take the lead in celebrating the olive; and creating retail stores that are not just about olive oil selections but would also highlight an epicurean’s kitchen needs. And here in Manila, the very first Oliviers & Co. store has opened its doors on the second floor of Central Square, Bonifacio High Street — as brought to us by the Food Retail division of Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI).
Being a French company based in Provence, the Oliviers store, I have to confess, gave me a feeling of déjà vu — it was like I had been ushered into a L’Occitane shop, but now designed for a kitchen’s requirements. Rather than being presented with skin care products, it was now choice condiments, sauces and tapenade — while still celebrating the bounty of Provence. I loved it because there was that same ambiance of how there is an array of a very choice selection; and one is encouraged to be very interactive, testing the products, and being encouraged to mix and blend! No surprise then to discover that with 80 retail stores all over the globe, Oliviers & Co. is the brainchild of Olivier Baussan, founder of L’Occitane, and that the present CEO of O&Co. is chief olive grower Albert Baussan. Renowned French chef Thomas Keller (of the French Laundry) uses O&Co. oils in some of his soups, and O&Co. boasts of an “olive oil sommelier,” quality and product development director Eric Verdier.
In truth, anyone who’s a kitchen junkie or foodie will find O&Co. “Heaven’s playground,” and each will discover his or her list of favorites. Thanks to marketing officer Kash Ong, I stumbled onto my current list of “must-haves:” the pesto Genovese is basil, Parmesan and pine nuts, and serves not only as a delectable spread, but can also be a pasta sauce. On rustic bread, I sprinkled the olive oil with essence of truffle, and liked how this one was subtle, not overpowering as some truffle products can be. And my surprise guilty pleasure of a find were the chocolate-covered hazelnuts. The various vinegars, and how they’re either herb- or fruit-infused were a delight to taste-test.
One section of the store is of course devoted to choice olive oils from all over the world. While a bulk come from countries that form part of the coastline of the Mediterranean — France, Italy, Spain and Greece among others; there are also olive oils from Portugal, Lebanon and Uruguay. O&Co. was an eye-opening and mouthwatering retail experience; and if, per my metaphor, they’re extending the olive branch, I capitulate, surrender and succumb...happily!
Glib tongue
The three novels today hail from writers with a penchant for language and a fine sense of creating unique voices. Extence creates a hero out of a young boy afflicted by epileptic seizures, precocious and immature in equal measures. Donoghue imagines a 19th-century San Francisco, with a demi-monde of immigrants from France. As for Graedon, she conjures up a near future where books and libraries are endangered species.
The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence (available at Fully Booked) Set in England, this novel is a coming of age story that creates a singular voice in Alex, and has him confront challenges that range from epilepsy caused by the freak occurrence of being hit by a meteorite fragment, to forging a friendship with an elderly man who has euthanasia on his mind. Mr. Peterson is an American vet living in Alex’s neighborhood, and he introduces Alex to the world of Kurt Vonnegut. The touching oddball bonding delights us readers, and when progressive damage to his brain stem has Peterson looking to Alex for assistance, an odyssey of sorts follows, and this wonderful novel dishes out compassion and thought-provoking in unforgettable ways.
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue (available at National Book Store) Written by the same author who gave us Room, this novel takes a real life unsolved murder from the late 19th century, and with intensive research, brings to life the San Francisco of that era. With the underbelly of society providing our protagonists, there’s also a great “ear” for the music of the dance halls, dens of vice and fringe society of those times. Was Jenny murdered by mistake, or is there some deeper, sordid story? This Blanche, her newly found best friend has to uncover, while looking out for her own survival and finding out what has happened to the son she has neglected while she pursues a career as the star dancer of a lowlife bordello/saloon. It’s the City by the Bay uncovered.
The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon (available at Fully Booked) A literary, mystery/techno thriller set in a near dystopian future, this debut has a strong set of characters, and a wonderful premise. What if the Print is Dead world was here, and we depended on handheld devices called Memes (think iPhones to the 10th power) to get us through things as basic as communicating? A corporation has been buying up dictionaries and has turned “definitions” and usage into a profit-oriented market; perfect given the breakdown in communication skills due to the dependence on Memes. Doug, the editor of the North American Dictionary, one of the last bastions of free language, has gone missing, and it’s up to daughter, Anana, to discover why, and if it’s connected to the “word virus” that’s spreading.
