Stroud Green Olive Oil - end of term report

krappyrubsnif

Dear Stroud Green foodies,<br><br>Stroud Green Olive Oil is BACK<br><br>Available from late November (weather permitting), Abruzzo extra virgin oil will be available for free home delivery from November 25th (discount prices will apply to orders received before November 15th).  You can order your oil 'en primeur' for Xmas by using the form <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1scKA0XdzrxViPsSd3o7OalbZmB8l7vfnrf5FqvxZUgY/viewform">here</a>:<br><br><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1scKA0XdzrxViPsSd3o7OalbZmB8l7vfnrf5FqvxZUgY/viewform">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1scKA0XdzrxViPsSd3o7OalbZmB8l7vfnrf5FqvxZUgY/viewform</a><br><br>STOP PRESS:  We also plan to hold a special OLIVE OIL TASTING AND DINNER at Il Piccolo Diavolo restaurant, Crouch Hill, on Monday November 25th (Tickets just £25 if booked by Nov 1st.)    <br><br><a href="http://stroudgreenoliveoil.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page_4.html">The full menu and details are here.  Book now to avoid disappointment - places are limited</a>.<br><br><a href="http://stroudgreenoliveoil.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page_4.html"></a><br>Make this an extra virgin season!<br><br>KRS<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

Arkady

Me! ;-)<br>

munwin

<br>

munwin

me too.

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Idoru

"Make this an extra virgin season!"<br><br>It's way too late for that ...<br>

krappyrubsnif

@Misscara.......the Googledoc form is working if you would care to extend your digits in that direction.        @Idoru....I couldn't possibly comment.<br><br>Early bird prices small bottle £4.85, large bottle £8.30, Casa Meridiana special reserve £5.50 (normally £5 / £8.50 / £5.75) inc free local delivery.<br>

andy

going to make this sticky for a bit

ChangN4N6

Pls give some gratis as promotion to season , Tufo (Paola ), and Vitor ( head rubs) this will drive up demand. Chang

krappyrubsnif

Thanks guys - the first orders are rolling in.    I'll acknowledge them over the next couple of weeks and set up a good efficient delivery system.  It's really helpful to have some idea of demand because then I can decide roughly how many litres of wonderful oil to bring over.<br><br>Demand has been so big that I have to supplement the oil from my own small 'grove' with that of my next door neighbours - I have several - who between them harvest hundreds of trees.  The soil, trees, fruit and oil mill are all the same, and the oil is of similar quality.<br><br>Meanwhile, here's are this year's olives - as they were a couple of weeks ago<br><br><div align="center"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--hd4bzjxo9w/UlKFpsQq2VI/AAAAAAAAAkA/sXKjxymjRII/w387-h516-no/IMG_3314.JPG"><br></div><br>

ChangN4N6

Krappy are you going to do some samples with Vitor and Paola ? Think wud be gud publicity and shows a bit of community spirit. Chang

Peter Crumb

Looks decent. Have asked the girlfriend if she fancies the meal too.

krappyrubsnif

Dear all, <br><br>Just a reminder that Max and I are now taking bookings for the 'inaugural' SG *olive oil tasting and dinner* at Il Piccolo Diavolo, on <b>Monday November 25th</b> - special price just £25 if you book by Nov 18th.  The price includes three course dinner, a couple of drinks and tasting of five different oils.<br><br>You can book here:  <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/127E_jN6eVoUM6JB7yKKemCG5PIawVLuswODMHhsbiJs/viewform">Extra Virginity - an olive oil tasting night</a><br><br>Max has just revised and extended the menu choices.  Here's the full menu:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;" align="center"> <i> <b><br>Menu</b></i></div> <div style="text-align: center;" align="center"> <br></div> <div style="text-align: center;" align="center"> Complimentary glass of prosecco<br> </div> <div style="text-align: center;" align="center">  _____</div> <div style="text-align: center;" align="center"> <br></div> <div style="text-align: center;" align="center"> <b>Antipasto della Casa</b><br> <b> </b> (minimum for 2 people)</div> <div style="text-align: center;" align="center"> (Selection of cured italian meats, buffalo & pecorino cheese, home made </div> <div style="text-align: center;" align="center">  marinated and roasted vegetables, mix olives, cherry & dry tomatoes)</div> <div style="text-align: center;" align="center">  or</div> <div style="text-align: center;" align="center"> <b>Calamari fritti</b><br> <div>    (Deep fried coated squid rings)</div> <div> or</div> <div> <b>Bruschetta Romana</b></div> <div> (Home made toasted bread, topped with chopped tomatoes, wild rocket salad,</div> <div>  and buffalo mozzarella cheese) (V)</div> <div> </div> <div> _____ </div> </div><div align="center">   <br></div> <div align="center"> <b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ravioli with Spinach and Ricotta</span></b></div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">(Home made egg pasta parcel, filled with fresh ricotta cheese & spinach,<br> in tomato or butter & sage sauce) </span><span style="color: #ac193d;"><span style="color: black;">(V)  (N)</span></span></div> <div align="center"> <span style="color: #ac193d;"><span style="color: black;">or</span></span></div> <div align="center"> <b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Agnolotti</span></b></div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">(Home made egg pasta parcel, filled with butternut squash,<br> in blue cheese, Speck, & wild rocket salad in top)</span></div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">or </span></div> <div align="center"> <b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cannelloni</span></b></div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">(Home made egg tube pasta, filled with mix mince meat, tomato,<br> bechamel sauce & parmesan cheese)</span></div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">or</span><br> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Lasagne Boscaiola</b><br>(Home made meat lasagne in white bechamel sauce<br> with porcini mushrooms)</span><br> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">or</span><br> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <b>Scalopinna di Pollo</b><br>(Buttered chicken escalope in white wine sauce and salad)</span><br> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">or </span></div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Any pizza from the menu </b></span></div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>_____</b></span><br><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Selection of home made Italian cakes</b></span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Home made tiramisu</b></span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or</span><br><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Panna cotta with chocolate or frutti di bosco</span></b><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Chocolate mousse </b></span><br><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>_____</b></span><br><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Half a litre house wine (two sharing) </b>or<b> large glass wine</b></span><br> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b> </b>or <b>1 beer</b> or <b>soft drink</b></span><br><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>_____</b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Complimentary glass of  limoncello</span><br><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Every booking will receive a 25cl vial of SG Olive Oil </i></span><br><br><div align="left"><br>Naturally Stroud Green Olive Oil will be available for sale on the night at the discount price for guests, or you can pre-order here the olive oil here at a discount for orders received by November 15th, with free home delivery in N4 and N8, using this form:<br><br><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1scKA0XdzrxViPsSd3o7OalbZmB8l7vfnrf5FqvxZUgY/viewform"><b>Pre-order Stroud Green Olive Oil by November 15th</b></a><br><br>Have an Extra Virgin season!<br></div></div> <br>

krappyrubsnif

<a href="http://stroudgreenoliveoil.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/counting-down-days.html">New Extra Virginity blog posting here - comments welcome</a><br><br>I will be posting regularly on Blogger, Facebook and Twitter for the rest of the season.<br><br><br>

andy

This all looks great Mike. Unfortunately I'm away for the tasting, but would otherwise be there!

krappyrubsnif

Sorry to here you won't be here Andy.  We'll save you a bottle.<br><br>To everyone who has already ordered oil for home delivery,.or booked for the olive oil tasting - I'll be sending out acknowledgements soon.   I've been busy ordering bottles, labels and arranging transport.  Quite the little cottage industry.<br><br>Tonight I've blogged about <a href="http://stroudgreenoliveoil.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/olive-oil-sublime-or-scandalous.html">a book I'm re-reading on extra virgin olive oil, 'Extra Virginity' by Tom Mueller</a>.<br><br><br>

krappyrubsnif

Following requests, FREE DELIVERY of Stroud Green Olive Oil is now extended to most London N postcodes around Stroud Green!<br><br>N1, N2, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N10, N15, N16, N17, N19, N22<br><br>This will last at least up until Christmas on any orders sent to direct to me (and not just on pre-orders).   The oil will be delivered from November 25th.<br><br><b><a rel="nofollow" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1scKA0XdzrxViPsSd3o7OalbZmB8l7vfnrf5FqvxZUgY/viewform">Pre-order Stroud Green Olive Oil by November 15th</a> </b>at a discount<br><br>You can also <b><a rel="nofollow" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/127E_jN6eVoUM6JB7yKKemCG5PIawVLuswODMHhsbiJs/viewform">book here for 'Extra Virginity - an olive oil tasting night'</a></b> at il Piccolo Diavolo on November 25th.   Places are limited.   Only £25 for bookings made by Nov 18th.<br><br>Have an Extra Virgin season!<br><br>Krappy<br>

krappyrubsnif

Should we have a trendy olive oil tasting bar in Storud Green?   I've blogged on this vital issue.   You might be surprised at my conclusion<br><a href="http://stroudgreenoliveoil.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-tasting-bars-of-london-town.html"><br>http://stroudgreenoliveoil.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-tasting-bars-of-london-town.html</a><br><br>Comments welcome.<br><br><br>

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krappyrubsnif

You are unusually silent today, Misscara<br>

Arkady

Here's one for you, Krappy: <a href="https://consult.defra.gov.uk/crops/https-consult-defra-gov-uk-defra-consultation_oo">https://consult.defra.gov.uk/crops/https-consult-defra-gov-uk-defra-consultation_oo</a>;

krappyrubsnif

My take on this is that before they start bothering about container size and the shape and size of olives, the EU might want to address the teeny problem of the Olive Oil Mafia, and the massive amount of olive oil fraud taking place with the benefit of EU subsidies.......<br><br>According to my new friends, more than half of 'Italian Olive Oil' is not Italian and 70 per cent of extra virgin olive oil is fake.<br>

krappyrubsnif

Anyway, please do not disturb, I am listening to Lou Reed<br>

Arkady

I have not the heart to speak of Lou Reed yet. For me the grief is still too near

krappyrubsnif

I'm reviewing the so-called 'business plan' for SG Olive Oil and learning as I go along.  It's likely I will make a few more changes to get this to work.<br><br>Is there anybody out there with serious knowledge of how selling/retailing works, who might be able to give me a bit of free advice?<br><br>My thoughts are these: I'll probably focus now on 'selling direct' to people as much as possible, since putting the oil on sale through shops eats up so much of the profit and makes it scarcely worthwhile my putting it in bottles (shops demand a 40% mark up).  Yes, the oil will be in local shops, but it may be a lot more expensive than it was last year.  So if people really want to buy it, they'll likely be better off pre-ordering or buying direct when it's available (can pre-order at a discount here http://stroudgreenoliveoil.blogspot.co.uk).<br><br>I will also start a 'buy ten bottles and get one free' offer as from now.<br><br>I'm also a bit concerned that people might currently have the impression that 'real extra virgin olive oil' and having an 'olive oil tasting' is all very lah-dee-dah and precious, the sort of thing for posh people pratting around expensive wines, but it isn't like that at all. The idea of SG Olive Oil is to bring 'good' olive oil to the masses.  The oil tasting at Max's will be a very simple and honest-to-goodness affair without any of the high-falutin' language of wine tastings, not at all intimidating! I am never going to be a rich man from Extra Virgin Olive Oil.<br><br>I would be interested in people's comments, and I'm looking forward to having some fun in any case.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

ChangN4N6

This sounds good and I wish you luck. We got some last year and it did go cloudy quick - maybe this the natural way, tasted nice. Chang

krappyrubsnif

Thank you Chang, whoever and wherever you are - I appreciate your comment. If it went cloudy that could be because you put it in the fridge, or you just got a cloudy bottle - in any case, cloudiness (ie it's not filtered and pasteurized) is not necessarily a bad thing. Come to the oil tasting and check it out!

kreuzkav

Good luck KRS.  I will buy a bottle from a shop late November.  Probably from the Organic shop even though. I agree that people's impression is that it might seem la-de-da.  Love that expression but it's also good to challenge that perception.  I'm still single so won't go to your tasting event even though it looks like quite a night and good value for money.  Maybe I can convince someone before that.  Anyhow, good luck with the project.

Brodiej

Krappy. If you call it Stroud green olive oil, then immediately your marketable audience is limited. Sg is relatively unknown in London too. My advice is sell in bulk to people who would be happy to take a 5l or 10l can. I'd be happy to do that. Instead of selling 1l to the same people, sell them 10 or 20. if you called it crouch end olive oll I think theres a lot of potential publicity to be had. pretty much every day you get spoof tweets about panic buying at waitrose due to rumours of sun dried tomato shortages. Your product would play into that humour about crouch end. Olive oil has become synonymous with the middle classes which crouch end represents and is mocked for. Might not sit well with you but you'd sell more and have a bigger market.

miss annie

Sound advice. Absolutely agree about the name, get in stocked on the Clocktower Stores too and watch the tweets, blogs, radio play (Crouchenders) and Guardian feature flood in.

miss annie

Send out free stuff too, to food/lifestyle writers (not just print joirnalists). This does work if accompanied by a good press pack.