Olive oil is something that has been passed down from the mists of time by our ancestors and now nourishes us in the same way as it did them.
In times past City States and nations rose and fell on their trade in Olive Oil and this underpinned great wealth as well as providing health to their citizens.
Olive Oil is the epitome of things Mediterranean and, as such, is an integral part of our cooking and eating at La Fiaba del Mediterraneo when one sees a bowl of olives or an olive tree, such as those at our doors, one is transported in time and space to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea where you can feast upon dishes, lovingly crafted by experts from fresh ingredients then served to your taste by attractive waiting staff.
Our aim is to provide you with a typical fine Mediterranean dining experience, with the foods that you know and like from your holidays served in your local area, and maybe some new things to try that will surprise and delight you.
Your meal may be borne from hunger, a celebration, a love affair or even just old friends meeting, but at La Fiaba del Mediterraneo you will find that you do not just have your hunger satiated, you have an experience that you need to repeat and that brings a smile to your face days after the event.
OLIVE OIL AND THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
Olive oil is an integral part of the “Mediterranean diet” which is associated with sensible tasty portions and slower, more enjoyable eating. People who eat a “Mediterranean diet” have been shown to have a remarkable variety of health benefits. The olive oil in the Mediterranean diet can quickly satisfy hunger and lead to fewer total calories ingested at mealtime. It is unclear if any single component of this diet is responsible for these health benefits or if it is a combination of olive oil and a diet high in vegetables, fruit and fish.
Extra virgin olive oil is one of the few oils that can be eaten without chemical processing. (Nearly every other vegetable oil has been detoxified and refined with steam and solvents). Fresh pressed olive oil can be eaten immediately and retains the natural flavours, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other healthy products of the ripe olive fruit.
Most doctors advocate lowering total fat and calories in your diet, and substituting butter, margarine and tropical oils with healthy fats like olive oil.
Olive oil is nature’s way of providing health & pleasure
The first pressing of the olive is virgin olive oil and is not contaminated by any chemical intervention. The oil is graded in much the same way as vintage wine.
We use the best of this oil to prepare our food and bring you the taste of the Mediterranean.
We welcome you to enjoy the experience
Olive Oil and your skin
Sales of skin and hair care products in the U.S. are a multi-billion dollar business and growing. Many of the latest “miracle in a jar” options are marketed as high-end, but costly, solutions to everyday challenges: how to keep skin moisturized, hair healthy, and facial skin free of wrinkles. Some of the most popular products, promoted as “natural” solutions, even incorporate olive oil as a key ingredient in their formulas.
But what many consumers don’t realize is something that people living millennia ago in ancient Greece took for granted; that extra virgin olive oil, all by itself, is one of the best beauty secrets. In addition to being a natural, hypoallergenic way to moisturize skin, extra virgin olive oil has the added advantage of providing strong antioxidants, like Vitamins A and E that help repair and renew skin that has been damaged from overexposure to sun, air pollution, and other modern-day environmental hazards – like cigarette smoke and fast food. These antioxidants have the natural ability to stimulate cells and return skin to a firmer, smoother, and healthier state.
To provide a slightly more scientific explanation, this damage is related to the destructive activity of oxygen-related free radicals produced by skin cells. Polyphenolic components of olive oil have been compared to traditional antioxidants, such as tocopherols, used by the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry to prevent skin damage. There are a number of simple and inexpensive ways to get the best skin care and beauty benefits out of a single bottle of extra virgin olive oil. The rich emollients in olive oil allow just a little to go a long way.
SKIN CARE AND OLIVE OIL
Skin Moisturizer
Whether applied to face or body, olive oil will penetrate deep into the skin and provide a long-lasting shield of moisture to keep skin smooth and supple. Used either as a night cream or daily moisturizer, it is best applied to damp skin, when water can help reduce any feeling of greasiness. We recommend using extra virgin olive oil.
Our readers have also suggested that a little lemon juice mixed with olive oil can provide a more bracing and refreshing feeling. In her best-selling book The Passionate Olive, Carol Firenze suggests making a moisturizer made of Italian parsley, water, and extra virgin olive oil.
Expect the natural benefits of olive oil to take a bit longer to be absorbed into the skin than most lightweight packaged skin products. But the advantages can be longer lasting too.
Exfoliator
If dry and scaly skin is a problem, Carol Firenze also suggests mixing olive oil and sea salt in a rub and massaging it into the affected area to slough off dead skin and enrich the healthy layer beneath it. Or add a few tablespoons of olive oil with a drop or two of lavender essential oil in a bath. This is a luxurious way to relax, soothe and moisturize the whole body.
Nail and Cuticle Care
Extra virgin olive oil makes the perfect, simple solution for dry nails and cuticles. Simply rub a few drops into the cuticle area and around the nail. Cuticles stay plump and moist, and nails respond with a natural shine.
Eye Makeup Remover
Just a drop or two of extra virgin olive oil on a cotton pad is all it takes to gently and effectively remove eye makeup without irritating the delicate skin around the eye area. The biggest added advantage is that when used consistently, olive oil can soften the skin around the eyes and smooth out wrinkles.
HAIR CARE AND OLIVE OIL
When used on hair and scalp, olive oil can be considered two products: a deep conditioner and a dandruff controller. After shampooing, massage a mixture of equal amounts of olive oil and water into your hair. Leave on for 5 minutes, then shampoo and rinse. Your scalp will benefit from healthy conditioning; your hair will respond with more shine and strength.
Please feel free to ask our Chef’s to provide you with this extra service at your convenience!!
