This week, a group of Italian friends from the Slow Food movement visited us at Pacific Sun. The Slow Food movement was born in Italy and initially was concerned with the preservation and enjoyment of culinary traditions and a more human pace of living. In its evolution as a movement, Slow Food began to include ecological and political issues such as promoting local food systems and opposing the de-naturalization of agriculture and food.

After touring the olive oil mill, we had dinner at Farm Star Pizza in Chico, California. The pizzeria features ingredients that they carefully select from farms in the Chico area (including Pacific Sun extra virgin olive oils) that end up in very well crafted pizzas.

On the menu was a Watermelon and Feta Cheese Salad that our friends immediately ordered along with the pizzas. The salad was quite nice and it reminded us of a typical winter salad of Sicily, that is made with blood orange and fennel slices.

Since we are in plentiful California, here are some possibilities for the rest of the summer if you want to have a refreshing salad on a hot day to be slowly enjoyed with friends:

• Blackberries in a spinach salad
• Strawberries with tomatoes, dressed with balsamic vinegar
• Grated carrots with raisins - dressed with salt, pepper, red wine vinegar and olive oil
• Peaches and tomatoes with red onions dressed with lemon juice and olive oil
• Arugula and nectarine salad with toasted almonds. A honey-mustard dressing works well here
• Waldorf Salad: Apples, walnuts and celery with mayonnaise (what about a homemade mayonnaise made with eggs from your local farmers market and a good olive oil?) in a bed of lettuce

And of course, all these are a great opportunity to feature a fine olive oil like Pacific Sun. If you want to accentuate the fruit side of these salads, try the Tehama County Blend or the Proprietor’s Select Ascolana. If you want instead to add some green and nutty flavors, choose the Eva’s Blend.

Enjoy!