olive oil

Spice it up: Give the gift of new oil.

You've got until next Friday to finalize your gifts for your foodie friends and family. Your time is similarly limited when it comes to olio nuovo, olio nuevo or—a less cool way to say it—new olive oil. The fall is when most of the olives around here are pressed and the oil is generally available at the latest until mid-winter. New olive oil is peppery, robust and has some serious personality compared to its mellower, older sibling. Here are a few we'd recommend. They make great, if heavy, stocking stuffers.

The long-awaited view from inside Humphry Slocombe

Christine Ryan

And what's even more surprising, it's good. What's not surprising is the fact that the place—Humphry Slocombe, owned by Jake Godby, formerly of Coi, etc. etc.—is using McEvoy Ranch olive oil.

With the reopening of SF’s McEvoy Ranch at the Ferry Building Marketplace comes its new 80 Acres line of olive-oil-based body-care products, ranging from soap ($8) to body balm ($20). Mmmm. Ferry Building Marketplace, 415-291-7224