June 16, 2006

Striking It Rich

Stonehouse Olive Oil

The energy crisis is no joke. Even for those of us who never drive.

Which has us thinking about alternative fuels. Even though we don’t mean gas.

We mean Stonehouse, a new sliver of a shop in the East Village that has struck oil — the extra virgin, dipping, and citrus kind. The first East Coast outpost of the California oliver sells bottles of fresh, bold, and crisp varietals. No imports here — just primo Napa olive oil.

Stop by and sample everything on the shelves. The house blend works wonders in vinaigrettes and marinades. Sevillano is full of antioxidants and is even better when blended with grade A balsamic. Surprise your palate with citrus oils like Persian lime and Lisbon lemon. (You haven’t lived ’til you’ve put blood orange EVOO on French toast.)

Selling directly to consumers enables Stonehouse to practice sound farming, support local agriculture, compensate workers fairly, provide the best quality around, and keep oil prices reasonable.

Making it the latest news in sustainable resources.

Stonehouse California Olive Oil, 223 Front Street, between Beekman Street and Peck Slip (212-358-8700 or stonehouseoliveoil.com).