The Culinary Institute of America

What Chefs Want in Olive Oil | Insights from Suzie Kang

Suzie Kang, Grocery Category Manager at Baldor Specialty Foods, a leading East Coast foodservice distributor, oversees the pricing, assortment, and sourcing of olive oils. She works closely with chefs to understand exactly what they’re looking for—whether it’s a medium-bodied, versatile oil, one from a specific country of origin, or a beautifully packaged bottle perfect for the table.
In this conversation with Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, director of the Extra Virgin Alliance, Suzie shares insights into retail trends in olive oil, including the rise of plastic squeeze bottles and the growing practice of including harvest dates on packaging. These trends reflect a deeper consumer awareness of olive oil freshness and quality.
This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the International Olive Council.
Find recipes, videos and more information at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen
 

Olive Oil Tips and Trends from America’s Test Kitchen’s Lisa McManus

Lisa McManus, Executive Editor of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews, first dove into the world of olive oil while researching an article in 2006—and has been exploring its flavors and qualities ever since.
In this conversation with Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, director of the Extra Virgin Alliance, Lisa discusses how to educate the public about the different varieties and qualities of extra virgin olive oil. They also explore the potential of social media to reach younger audiences and share the importance of understanding that olive oil is a fresh, perishable product that should be appreciated for its flavor and freshness.
This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the International Olive Council.
Find recipes, videos and more information at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen

Inside Today’s Olive Oil Trends with Food Writer Jane Black

Jane Black, a Washington, DC–based food writer known for her coverage of culinary trends and the evolving world of olive oil, joins Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, director of the Extra Virgin Alliance, for a conversation about how consumer understanding of olive oil has changed in recent years.
Jane discusses the growing interest in quality, transparency, and origin, as well as the important role chefs play in telling the story behind the olive oil they choose for their restaurants.
This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the International Olive Council.
Find recipes, videos and more information at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen

How Chef Dominica Rice Cisneros Uses Olive Oil in Mexican Cooking

Chef Dominica Rice Cisneros is the owner of Bombera, a celebrated Mexican restaurant in Oakland's Dimond District, known for its Chicana heritage cooking, wood-fired techniques, and focus on community and local ingredients. 
She talks about cooking with lard, butter, and corn oil as a child, and discovering olive oil when she started working in Bay Area restaurants in the 1980s. Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne is the director of Extra Virgin Alliance, and interviews Chef Dominica about how she incorporates California olive oils into her Mexican cuisine.
This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the International Olive Council.
Find recipes, videos and more information at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen

Why Olive Oil Belongs in Your Desserts | Alice Medrich on Baking with EVOO

Join award-winning author, pastry chef, and chocolate authority Alice Medrich as she explores the surprising—and delicious—role of extra virgin olive oil in desserts. From boosting moisture in a Chocolate Marble Pound Cake to intensifying citrus notes in a mandarin olive oil icing, Alice explains how olive oil can transform classic recipes.
She’s joined by Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, director of the Extra Virgin Alliance, for a conversation about when and why you should substitute olive oil for melted butter. Together, they discuss how using high-quality olive oil can elevate flavor, improve texture, and even make your favorite sweets a little healthier.
This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the International Olive Council.
Find recipes, videos and more information at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen

How Ari Weinzweig Helped Bring Extra Virgin Olive Oil to America

Discover how Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of the legendary Zingerman’s Delicatessen, helped introduce specialty foods—and especially *extra virgin olive oil*—to the Midwest back in the 1980s, long before it became a pantry staple. In this conversation, Ari reflects on how customer tastes have evolved over the decades and how a new appreciation for high-quality olive oil has transformed the market.
He’s joined by Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, director of the Extra Virgin Alliance, who offers insight into what it takes to build consumer understanding, foster appreciation, and create real value for authentic extra virgin olive oil.
Founded in 1982 with business partner Paul Saginaw, Zingerman’s has grown from a single Ann Arbor deli into a vibrant “community of businesses,” including a bakehouse, coffee company, creamery, candy manufactory, and more. This video dives into that history—and the passion behind bringing exceptional food to American tables.
This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the International Olive Council.
Find recipes, videos and more information at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen

Watermelon Khichdi | Chef Heena Patel’s Gujarati Comfort Food

Chef Heena Patel from Besheram restaurant in San Francisco describes her dish of watermelon khichdi as the “mac n’ cheese of Gujarat,” her home state in India. That’s because this dish is the quintessential comfort food of her childhood, and a staple in many Indian households.
Khichdi is a healthy and hearty Indian dish made with rice and moong lentils. Pureed watermelon flesh, as well as the rind is used to add flavor and texture to make the khichdi. Topped with pickled garlic, mango, onions, chilies, peanuts, and cubed watermelon, this one-pot meal is deeply savory, delicious, and comforting.
Get the Watermelon Khichdi recipe here.

Watermelon Raita

Raita is the cooling counterpoint to many spicy Indian dishes. This yogurt-based sauce is often made with cucumber, but in this version Chef Heena Patel from Besheram restaurant in San Francisco makes the sauce with cubed watermelon. Cucumbers and watermelon are in the same family and can often be used interchangeably in recipes.  
Get the Watermelon Raita recipe here.