This fall season marks the inaugural harvest and pressing of Pelican Hill Resort’s locally grown virgin olive oil, sourcing hundreds of hand-picked, century-old olive trees growing across the 504-acre coastal Resort. As the newest offering among Pelican Hill’s Epicurean Experiences, the Resort has partnered with Temecula Olive Oil Company to bring to fruition its vision of growing, harvesting, pressing and bottling its own line of signature resort-grown virgin olive oil.
“Dining enthusiasts will savor this incredibly fresh, locally grown ingredient in our menus, while we delight in our newest Epicurean Experience paying homage to the centuries-old Italian tradition of creating the finest olive oils, wines and salt in the world,” said Giuseppe Lama, Managing Director of Pelican Hill Resort. “Our resort-grown olive oil honors the culture and custom of passing olive oil recipes down through generations of Italian farmers, beginning thousands of years ago with the Romans and Etruscans.”
On the evening of October 22, Pelican Hill Resort previewed its first batch of resort-grown olive oil and introduced two Olive Oil Savor Menus to celebrate its inaugural harvest season. A perfect complement to Pelican Hill’s acclaimed signature restaurant, Andrea at Pelican Hill Resort – Newport Beach, which specializes in rustic Northern Italian cuisine, the Resort’s inaugural olive harvest season inspired special Epicurean Experiences available for the first time this fall. Local neighbors and visiting guests are invited to sip and savor selections from Chef Luca’s special lunch and dinner creations at Andrea at Pelican Hill Resort – Newport Beach and Chef Mark’s prix fixe dinner menu at the Coliseum Pool & Grill, both available through October 31.
Additionally, The Spa at Pelican Hill offers a wonderful opportunity to sense the renewing power of a natural Olive Oil Body Polish on the skin, as its rich antioxidant properties guard from harmful free radicals and slow signs of aging. Finely ground olive skins complement an organic raw sugar to gently exfoliate, followed by a hydrating olive oil shea butter enriched with Vitamin E. Guests take home a personalized, hand-blended olive-based body oil and aromatherapy for simple hydration to last until their next visit. Spa and dining reservations are recommended and may be arranged by calling 800-820-6800.
The Inaugural Olive Harvest and Pressing
Amidst magnificent Palladian-inspired architecture and landscape reminiscent of Northern Italy’s Tuscan villages, 750 century-old olive trees thrive in the Mediterranean-like Southern California climate at Pelican Hill Resort. Last spring, Pelican Hill selected the 193 healthiest, most fruitful trees to be harvested this fall. Throughout the spring, summer and early fall seasons of this year, Pelican Hill’s landscape manager and resort naturalist carefully monitored the olive trees to prepare for the Resort’s inaugural harvest season. In early spring, the creamy white olive tree flowers turned to fruit and the ripening phase ensued until purplish-black ripe olives appeared in mid-October.
During the first harvesting on October 22, Pelican Hill’s harvest team shook the trees, so that the ripe olives fell off the branches to be gathered for pressing. Using a machine-based three-step crushing, mixing and pressing process, Pelican Hill pressed its first olives picked fresh from Resort trees at the peak of their flavor and quality. The resulting oil presented smooth, spicy and tremendously fresh flavors in tastings straight from the processing vat. Although the Resort’s olive oil is not immediately available for purchase, Pelican Hill is exploring options for producing, bottling and retailing its virgin olive oil as early as next year.
Seasonal Epicurean Experiences at Pelican Hill
As the late fall season turns to winter, Pelican Hill brightens the holiday season with Epicurean Experiences for families, friends and colleagues. Amidst the casually chic comfort of Southern California’s premiere coastal resort, inspired culinary delights paired with personalized service make for unprecedented seasonal celebrations and warm memories in a luxurious seaside setting.
“Our festive holiday fare and culinary academy classes are the ideal ways to celebrate the season together with family and friends,” says Executive Chef Jean-Pierre Dubray of Pelican Hill Resort. “While we delight in creating unforgettable Epicurean Experiences year-round, it is during this much-anticipated time of the year that we are especially excited to invite both neighbors and visiting guests to indulge in our exquisite culinary creations.”
A variety of seasonally inspired Epicurean Experiences await at Pelican Hill, from late fall through the New Year.
For more info, visit: www.pelicanhill.com
Posted 10/29/10.
