One impact our trip to Florence, Italy had was to think about the Mediterranean diet. We saw the use of extra virgin olive oil in many dishes including a wide variety of salads, pizzas, bruschetta, and as a general substitute for butter with bread. People generally seemed leaner and healthier?
Our last day took us to Castello del Trebbio, a beautiful estate in the Chianti Rufina region, 30 minutes north east of Florence. The castle was built in the twelfth century by the Pazzi family and is still inhabited by the current owners. Indeed, we were taken through several rooms of the castle by the tour guide.
This guide provided not only an overview of the Chianti wines produced by the estate, but also a perspective of pure virgin oil and its health benefits. He indicated
that one has to be careful what kind of extra virgin olive oil to buy. The big companies compromise by mixing oils so that they qualify with minimum standards. To best reap the health benefits as indicated by recent research studies, it is recommended to buy just the pure oils.At the market we saw sun dried mushrooms and tomatoes and a host of spices to make tasty salads with extra virgin olive oil. From now on, I will spend a little extra time choosing the right oils and vinegars to complement our servings.
