curious about olive oils?!
Answers:
The very best olive oils are from places like Lebanon or Syria. You want extra-virgin olive oil, the darker in colour the better the flavour. There is one very good oil called Rashaya (from the village in Lebanon where it comes from), I'm not sure if you can get it where you are, but if you have any Arabic grocery stores near you, check them out and see if you can find Rashaya or some other Lebanese oil. It will cost about $25 for 4 liters, but it is well worth it because of the taste.
Contrary to popular belief, Italy does not export their favorite or best olive oils to the United States.
The best olive oil I've found in the U.S. actually comes from Spain called Columela, but it isn't cheap, nor should it be
There is a brand in the supermarket that isn't too bad called Lucini
I prefer Spanish olive oils for salads and other dishes where the oil is actually a flavorful ingredient in the dish, but usually end up buying Italian ones, whichever one is on sale, because they are easier to find where I live and are less expensive.
