Easter oil Viewing “The Ten Commandments” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” are two Easter rituals in my family and I’ve flavored the season with the Bib

Viewing “The Ten Commandments” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” are two Easter rituals in my family and I’ve flavored the season with the Biblical flavor of a Chilean olive oil with the personality of a good wine. Bread to dip in the oil is an upgrade from popcorn for these movies.
Atlanta-based Foster Fine Foods LLC is the first to import and distribute Las Doscientas, Premium Single Varietal, Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Chile, in America. If you’re lucky, you can look for it at the National Association for the Specialy Food Trade’s 57th Summer Fancy Food Show, in booth in Washington, D.C., from July 10 - 12. You can go online and try it in your home. Huerto Azul jams and chutneys will be there, too, and the photos look enticing.
Makers say Las Doscientas means "The 200" in Spanish. It represents the 200 plots of farm land that were joined together to make the current Las Doscientas estate in the Maule Valley in Chile. The olives are estate grown, handpicked and then, for maximum freshness, first cold pressed literally within minutes of harvest. The oils are then packaged in a uniquely shaped glass bottle with a wooden, drip-free pour spout, and are available in two single varietals: Arbequina and Picual. I enjoyed Arbequina, which is fruity and smooth for salads, vegetables, poultry and fish. Picual is intense and peppery and best used for roasted meats and stews.

Purple passion
I was like a raccoon distracted by a shiny object this week when our ad man Ed Kestler brought a purple Swarovski Crystal pen, filled with 160 crystals, to be photographed for an ad. Gladys Wojcik, owner of Nederland Jewelers, figured news of this perfect gift for Port Neches-Groves High School grads ought to go in the Port Neches RiverFest section. The pen looked like a glittery wand, or a rainbow contained or something to call unicorns.
“People just love it. They love the look, the love the color, they love the price,” Wojcik said.
At $35, shoppers can get blue, black, pink or white crystal pens to match their bags, she said.
Ordinary ball-point refills keep your pen in blue or black ink, she said.

Tape just got better
Scotch Magic Tape is hitting the big 50 and celebrating by making my favorite tape even better. Look for Scotch Magic Eco-Friendly Tape this month with a refillable dispenser and tape made from more than 75 percent renewable or recycled materials. A plant-based adhesive makes it “magic” and it’s still photo-safe and can be written on with pen, pencil or marker.
Confession: I know few people more cheap (I prefer the term frugal) than myself, but life is too short to get stuck on lesser tape. Scotch Tape makes for a happy desk and a more productive lifestyle, in my summation.
ddoiron@panews.com