Olive me

Ever since a trip to Italy last year, I've been using olive oil in nearly all of my cooking. It's in plenty of Italian recipes already, but it's also good as a condiment, or as a substitute for cooking oil. Thankfully for me and other olive oil fans, there's a newly announced competition and exhibition at this year's California State Fair that will highlight extra-virgin olive oil. The competition will feature EVOOs in more than 15 divisions and classes, including flavored oil, blends and more. The entry deadline for the competition is April 1; winners will be on display from July 10 through July 26 at the fair, where the public can get free tastings and see educational exhibits. Definitely worth checking out, as California produces a staggering 99 percent of the nation's olive oil, according to a fair press release. Head to www.castatefair.org for more information.