Oils, Vinegars, and Vinaigrettes

Oil and vinegar have long been used as condiments for grilled foods and salads. First-pressed extra-virgin olive oil has a finesse and depth of flavor that surpass those of many a more complicated sauce. Because it is a completely natural product subject to variations in climate and soil, its flavor, like that of wine, is never completely predictable. Perhaps it is these subtle variations in flavor that make it possible to use olive oil throughout the year in all sorts of preparations without the flavor ever becoming monotonous.