May 31, 2024

A Med Month Finale and Olive Day Launch

Posted in: Holidays, Mediterranean Diet

A Med Month Finale and Olive Day Launch

Mediterranean Diet Month

In Celebration of Mediterranean Diet Month, James Beard Award finalist, restauranteur, and Sylvia Center board member Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja has created a warm and comforting Mediterranean "girl dinner" with Divina Dolmas, Roasted Peppers, and fresh marinated tomatoes. Stick around until the end of the video for a surprise cocktail! 

"Now what's girl dinner? In my opinion, girls should eat what they want for dinner." 

 

 

A longtime partner of ours, the Sylvia Center is a local organization that seeks to create healthy communities through the power of cooking. Their mission is to educate young people and families through culinary programming to promote health and well-being. Ayesha Nurdjaja is a member of the diverse group of industry leaders who make up the Sylvia Center Board of Directors. She is also Executive Chef and Partner at New York City Mediterranean restaurants Shuka and Shuketta. 

National Olive Day

It's our favorite time of the year! As we transition from Mediterranean Diet Month to National Olive Day on June 1 (a holiday we invented!), we celebrate an essential element of Mediterranean cuisine: the olive. 

Did you know?

  1. Olives are a fruit.
  2. Around 80% of olives harvested are used for olive oil production.
  3. There are hundreds of olive varietals. A few of our favorites are the Castelvetrano, the Kalamata, and the Mt. Athos Green Olive.
  4. Many variables affect the taste and texture of an olive: terroir, varietal, maturity at harvest, and curing style to name a few!

Celebrate Mediterranean Diet Month and National Olive Day with these Mediterranean-inspired recipes.

April 22, 2024

Happy Earth Day!

Posted in: Holidays, Mediterranean Diet

Happy Earth Day!

While autumn is the optimal time to plant an olive tree, they can also be planted in the spring – perhaps as a part of an International Earth Day Celebration! In autumn of 2022, we accompanied one of our Kefalas Village farmers to plant new trees in an organic Kalamata olive grove just outside of Sparta.

After preparing the earth, we gently removed the saplings from their pots and settled them into the ground. We then watered the saplings, prompting the growth of an extensive root system that anchors the tree to the earth and effectively pulls up nutrients and water into the tree for use. These trees will start producing olives in the next few years and for the next few generations. 

We continue to be impressed by the ways olive groves inherently support our sustainability initiatives, a healthy planet, and a brighter future. Today we'd like to honor and celebrate olive groves for providing home to flora and fauna, livelihood for farmers and delicious olives for our tables. 

We hope you may include olives in your celebration today too!

November 14, 2019

Divina Fig Spread Named a Top Appetizer by Buzzfeed

Posted in: Holidays

Divina Fig Spread Named a Top Appetizer by Buzzfeed

Buzzfeed and Tasty recently unveiled their top 9 holiday appetizers that use 3 ingredients or less and we're thrilled that they included a Baked Brie with Divina Fig Spread! This holiday favorite is simple to make and a real crowd pleaser. Here's the Tasty recipe:

  • Place 16-ounce wheel double- or triple-cream brie on baking sheet. 
  • Spread 8 ounces fig spread on top. 
  • Bake at 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes, until brie is very soft and feels almost liquid inside. 
  • Carefully transfer to sheet tray and serve immediately, with 1 large, sliced baguette (toasted or not).

Have a wonderful holiday season and remember to include Divina Fig Spread as part of your entertaining display!

For more entertaining ideas from Tasty and Buzzfeed, check out the original article here.