I’m happy with my Costco EVOO, but won’t be single origin. I would try Boston Olive Oil company on Newbury Street in the Back Bay. I’ve never purchased from there myself, but it looks like the type of place where you kind find the high-end and high-quality oils.
EDIT: And on that note, I see their website also reads fine balsamic vinegar.
I have been buying Greek oil at Sophia’s North, which they decant from the big stainless jug into a bottle when you buy it. If they have the same oil at the main Sophia’s in Belmont, they’ll let you taste a swig before purchasing. We’re into our second bottle and happy. It’s my go-to for now.
My husband liked the New England Olive Oil Company in Concord though I wasn’t as enthusiastic. None of the varieties we tried from there had enough presence for me. (I can’t remember clearly enough—and can’t trace back to my original source— but seem to recall that at least a few independent olive oil shops in our area are supplied by a company called Veronica Foods?)
I was happy with the Kirkland Tuscan oil from Costco when we were members. There are some other pricer oils that I like, which therefore aren’t normal household staples (Alizari from France and Merula from Spain—Formaggio Kitchen stuff).
Per Eater, Grassona’s will be replaced by Ivory Pearl from cocktail guy Ran Duan (Baldwin Bar, Blossom Bar).
This is my main source of EVOO as well. Specifically the 1 liter glass bottles of Kirkland signature Italian olive oil. It is better quality that what I consider day to day oilve oil, but at that price you don’t have to worry about it. I can use it in all purposes. In the summer I generally might buy a small bottle of a special finishing oil from somewhere like Formaggio for the really good tomatoes from the garden.
Yes, thanks for the reminder, their balsimic is good for every day use and the price not outrageous.
I’m sure we’ve enjoyed your music at some point then. Thank you!
We think alike! Having a staple olive oil + a finishing oil in the pantry is what works for us too.
P.S. We don’t buy salad dressing as a result. And that is how I justify my fancy oil when I buy some.
Absolutely! Some good olive oil and a jar of dijon mustard obviates the need for bottled salad dressing for me.
I currently have a bottle of olive oil from Salt & Olive that indeed says “Supplied by Veronica Foods”. I would love to know what other area stores are supplied by them, as I really liked one of the oils we got at Salt & Olive. I will miss that store!
@nonaggie, you would need to verify this with the stores but my hunch is that Boston Olive Oil Company, New England Olive Oil Company (Concord) could be among those supplied by Veronica Foods.
Possible leads but not verified by me.
The bottles look the same
@tomatotomato, thanks for the tip. I just looked at their websites, and New England Olive Oil Company has the oil I liked (a Picual from Oro Bailen), so I think you’re right that they’re also supplied by Veronica Foods. (But the listing on their website says the oil was crushed in October 2017, which is rather old at this point. Perhaps the site is just out of date. Anyway, I will definitely check them out when I’m in need of a new bottle of oil.)
99 Ranch Market opens in Quincy on January 18 at 9 AM, says their ad in The Boston Globe.
Address: 475 Hancock Street, Quincy MA 02171
Yeah, I posted about this a few weeks ago. 
My mom actually popped in on Wednesday, when they had a soft opening. My mom speaks very little English. My mom definitely said it feels like a “Western supermarket” (I suppose she means it’s cleaner, the layout is more organized, etc.). She bought a fish, and was offered to have this fried up at no cost so my mom gave it a try. Apparently this fry service is free.
I tried her fried fish, and while the fry job was fine, it had no seasoning - just the whole fish dunked in. May be of limited use if you’re there buying whole fish, but it is nice to at least have that option.
^ Plus thanks to you and your Mom, now there’s already intel on the board about 99 Ranch!
This is apparently not new news, but the Harvard Crimson says Flat Patties will be replaced by a second location of Fóumami.
(I’ve never been to the original Fóumami; has anyone here?)
I worked in the South Station area for a number of years and used to go to that Foumami pretty regularly, and would do so still if I had one nearby. The closest comparison I can make is to Num Pang in the Prudential Mall. Tasty, somewhat different options than the “base + protein + sauce” bowl factories which are everywhere, but not something I would make a special trip for.
I was particularly fond of Foumami’s bibimbap salad, and their shao bing bread, which they serve with everything is kind of like a scallion pancake in consistency.
99 Ranch instagram confirmed steaming/frying fish is free with purchase. They are already open today, but there are various prizes and goodie bags at stake for tomorrow and Sunday (and lion dances and DJ and family activities…) so expect a huge crowd with grand opening/Chinese New Year next weekend.
Ranch99 (and most other Asian supermarkets at least in California) clean, filet, fry, stream etc your whole fish for free. (I never looked for it but isn’t that also the case in Boston ?)
The fish section of Asian markets here will definitely clean the fish for you, and some that have enough of a non-Chinese clientele will even offering different types of cuts (fillets vs steaks, as an example), but I’ve never seen steaming or frying.
I did brave the cold and the crowds this Saturday and it was a zoo in there. I didn’t even attempt to get too far in to the meats and seafood sections because it was all grid-locked. I like the store overall, but need additional time to look for the different items I buy. It reminds me of a cross between H-Mart and Kam Man, but better organized than Kam Man, and less Korean-centric than H Mart.
I didn’t see a particularly huge Japanese foods section, which is slightly disappointing. I do need to take a better look though. I also didn’t see the big bags of the Japanese haiga rice I like to buy from HMart in Burlington, and that would have been the real win for me.
Overall, I definitely like having it as an option. There is a bakery in the store with what looks like very appetizing cakes and other desserts. There was a guy manning a grill there, so I think there will be a very limited offering of cooked foods.
Minuteman Diner, Great Road in Bedford, is finally open (they originally planned to open last summer). They are only serving breakfast so far so their “diner by day, tavern by night” tagline is only half fulfilled. I have mixed feelings, we need more good lunch options in the area and a really awesome diner would be a very welcome addition, but I am not known for my self-control…
