How to Treat an Olive

Transforming these small, plump fruits into flavor bombs requires very little effort. They are the perfect fatty morsel to serve with a sunset cocktail or to kick off a dinner party. Olives with pits have better flavor and texture than ones with their pits removed. Get a mixture of buttery and briny types, such as Castelvetrano, Taggiasca, Cerignola, Niçoise, and/or Kalamata. These ingredients are easy to omit, substitute for, or add to, depending on what you have on hand, though I find fen