Tonight Slow Food Eugene hosts Paul Durant and Libby Clow, who will talk about creating an olive oil culture in the Pacific Northwest. High-quality olive oil is much more palatable than the average grocery store stuff; there will be a tasting aftward to prove it. Learn more about cool climate varietals and Oregon Olive Mill’s experimental crop at 7 pm at 16 Tons Cafe, 2864 Willamette. Come early to grab a spot.

Here’s more on the speakers:

Paul Durant is a fourth generation Oregon farmer.  In farming olive groves in the cool climate of the Willamette Valley, he is carrying on his family’s pioneer farming tradition dating to 1915.  Today the Durant family is producing premier quality Extra Virgin Olive Oils by farming on the edge to develop the ultimate in aromatic flavor expression.

Libby Clow is the Olive Oil Program Ambassador for the Oregon Olive Mill.  A Pacific Northwest native, her passion for food led her to work a decade ago as a shepherdess and vineyard hand on a sustainable estate in Tuscany. Prior to joining the Oregon Olive Mill team last August, she has had an extensive career in the food industry.

Learn more about Slow Food Eugene’s parent organization, Slow Food USA, here.