Connecting with our community through food is our favorite way to express ourselves, especially when it involves crafting dishes that celebrate abundant local ingredients. As we explore new flavors this year, we highlight some of the South's top restaurants whose pasta creations have inspired us and aligned with our commitment to quality and flavor. 

Our EVOO, a unique product, could bring a new dimension to these dishes. Please note that these endorsements are based on our tastes and what we’ve been inspired by lately. We do not currently collaborate with any of these businesses, so you won't find us in any of these restaurants, but if you want to bring the best of them home and apply our EVOO, you’ll get pretty close to what we’ve been inspired by, too. We simply appreciate and advocate the variety and quality of the extra virgin olive oil they provide, which, like us, enhances the outstanding dishes in their kitchens. We’ve subbed our recommended olive oils for the closest thing to a recreation.

Here's how our EVOO could be used in:

1. Sorella (Richmond, VA)—Mushroom and Truffle Fettuccine

Recipe Inspiration: While slightly outside our usual region, Sorella’s Mushroom and Truffle Fettuccine deserve a mention. Earthy mushrooms are sautéed to perfection and combined with a decadent truffle cream sauce, making this dish a must-try for any pasta lover. Adding our Coratina olive oil would enhance the earthy flavors and create a deeper, more robust profile that complements the truffle’s richness.

Key Ingredients: Fettuccine, assorted mushrooms, truffle oil, cream, garlic, Parmesan, thyme, and Coratina olive oil.

2. Nonna’s (Nashville, TN)—Spicy Rigatoni Vodka

Recipe Inspiration: Nonna’s Spicy Rigatoni Vodka brings a fiery twist to a creamy classic. The Calabrian chili peppers in the sauce provide just the right amount of heat, balanced by the richness of the vodka and cream. Our Arbequina olive oil would be the perfect addition, rounding out the dish’s spice with a smooth, velvety texture that ties all the flavors together.

Key Ingredients: Rigatoni, tomato sauce, vodka, cream, Calabrian chili, garlic, Parmesan, and Arbequina olive oil.

3. Osteria Mattone (Roswell, GA)—Duck Ragu with Tagliatelle

Recipe Inspiration: Osteria Mattone’s Duck Ragu with Tagliatelle is a Southern take on a Northern Italian favorite. Tender duck is slow-cooked and paired with fresh tagliatelle in a rich tomato-based ragu, offering deep, comforting flavors. We envision our Coratina olive oil being the perfect match for this dish, adding a bold, peppery note that complements the richness of the duck and sauce.

Key Ingredients: Duck, tagliatelle, tomatoes, red wine, garlic, onions, carrots, rosemary, and Coratina olive oil.

4. La Tavola Trattoria (Atlanta, GA)—Braised Beef Short Rib Pappardelle

Recipe Inspiration: La Tavola Trattoria’s Braised Beef Short Rib Pappardelle epitomizes comfort food at its finest. Slow-cooked beef short ribs are paired with wide pappardelle, creating a hearty, rich flavor, thanks to a slow-simmered sauce of tomatoes, red wine, and aromatics. Our Arbosana olive oil would be the ideal addition, enhancing the depth of flavor and adding a nuanced complexity to this comforting dish.

Key Ingredients: Beef short ribs, pappardelle, tomatoes, red wine, mirepoix, garlic, rosemary, Arbosana olive oil.

These restaurants feature the finest in Southern culinary talent and creativity. We greatly appreciate their work and hope you enjoy high-quality dishes enhanced with TOR EVOO and a touch of Texas Olive Ranch.