16 Comments
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Carl Labanz's avatar

I learned to like olives in Spain. Gordal are also my favorite. Until then, I had hated olives because all I had known were the canned black ones used solely to ruin a pizza.

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Rachel Drummond's avatar

I’m glad Spain opened up your olive world

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David Wright Gibson's avatar

That was a fun read. Thank you. I do appreciate and share your frustration with friends who are picky eaters. So sad for them. I do provide space for them when they make a point to not make everyone else dance to their limited tune. Picky eaters who are fixtures in my life seem to have a willingness to deal with what is on offer and not make a fuss. I appreciate this and hope I do the same about durian and probably a couple other exotics.

Pero, ¡aceitunas son los mejores! I really enjoyed them as a snack if I am up late reading. I simply duck into the refrigerator and scoop a small bowl. Mmmm... The olive tiendas at the Mercat Central are an adventure. The challenge is to avoid overbuying. So many variations!

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Rachel Drummond's avatar

You’re welcome! Last I checked, absolutely no picky eaters were ever convinced to try more by being bullied into it. I tried to nudge with reverence and be honest about my side eyeing…

Y sí, aceitunas son muy ricas! 🫒🍸🤗

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David Wright Gibson's avatar

"honest about my side eyeing..." Bwahahahaha. Thanks for that.

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Liza Debevec's avatar

Olives are an acquired taste. I don’t know if there’s any scientific research for this, but I think it’s one of those tastes that people grow into in adulthood. I remembered that as a teenager. I had only one friend who ate olives. And I distinctly remember a trip to Sardinia when I was 19 and became a lover of olives.

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Rachel Drummond's avatar

I love that you can remember when the love of olives switched on in your brain 🤗

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Ellie is Based in Paris's avatar

This was such a fun read!

I didn’t really discover olives until my early or mid 30s. But once I did, I felt like I had this automatic portal to a sophisticated appetizer or a fun way to give a meal some oomph.

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Rachel Drummond's avatar

I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it 😊 “…automatic portal to sophistication” is spot on. How’s the olive variety in France?

Also I love your name change 🤗

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Ellie is Based in Paris's avatar

Rachel, that means a lot. I have fiddled with this name for several months. :)

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Mmmmm! Want olives now! When I started learning Spanish (aged 14) I decided I had to develop a taste for them and now I love them too. Can you do that thing where you eat every last little bit off the stone and pop it out through your fist super clean? I can't and it embarrasses me to see my skanky olive pits next to everyone else's clean ones 😅

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Rachel Drummond's avatar

I’m so glad you decided to try them! I don’t know if I’m at “super clean” but I do all right 😁 how’s your pit cleaning technique?

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Bernardette Hernández's avatar

Such a great read Rachel! Olives have been such a big part of my upbringing, can’t imagine not growing up without them!

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Rachel Drummond's avatar

Happy to hear it 😊

Do you remember what kinds of olives you grew up eating?

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Bernardette Hernández's avatar

Aceitunas verdes rellenas de anchoas!

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Rachel Drummond's avatar

Los clásicos!!

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