Kokova Magazine

Over the past few years at foodie events we have encountered a whole range of samples on offer. Tasty treats, chocolates, cookies and even pasta. Yet nothing gets some of us more worked up than when we see a bowl of oils or vinegar ready to be dipped.

And if a great tasting salad dressing or sauce is also on offer then we are in savoury heaven. Our top ten features the tip of the iceberg when it comes to dip-able liquids but we hope that even if you don't share our choices, you share our enthusiasm for finding something new.

Whether we are going all out with a bloomer of a Tiger Bread, sticking to our gluten-free option of a free-from baguette or popping it in on a cracker or spoon, we love dipping sauces, vinegars and dipping oils so, in no special order, we want to share some of the best with you:

Pukara Estate lead the way with their Caramelised Balsamic and Barrel-Aged Balsamic vinegars.

The Caramelised is a best-seller and takes vinegar to a whole new level. Suggested as a glaze on pan fried chicken, in salads or in a dessert with strawberries and ice cream. Or for a really sweet mix, try with the Pukara Estate Olive oil with lime. We used it as a salad dressing and dipping vinegar and will certainly be retuning for more.

The Barrel-Aged is made for mixing with your favourite Pukara Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil to make a vinaigrette or marinade but for us again it went as a straight 'bread to mouth' dip or pepped up our chip-shop chips no end!

Sussex Gold have a great addition in the form of their Oak Smoked Rapeseed Oil. Excellent for roasting winter vegetables, or add a few drops when mashing potatoes for extra flavour. Even those of us with an aversion to all things smoked had to admit that this bottle of oil really topped the league and instead of overpowering with the smoke above the oil, it blended well and gave a much more rounded flavour.

A great selection of dip-able dressings are available from Lucy's Dressings. In fact we are split on choice for our top taste when it comes to Lucy's Zesty Mayo or Great Golden Dressings.

The Zesty Mayo dressing, which we use as a dip, was Lucy's first Great Taste award winning dressing. A creamy and zesty dressing which works really well over potatoes, pasta or as a ready made sauce for fish or chicken. This is a deluxe dressing, made with the best mayonnaise, wholegrain mustard, lemon juice, honey and with a few capers too.

The Great Golden, because it's made from cold pressed rapeseed oil, which has half the saturated fat of an olive oil based dressing, tastes rich and full bodied and is made from award winning Hillfarm cold pressed rapeseed oil, cyder vinegar, mustard, lemon juice and a touch of honey for the sweetness. A personal favourite and suitable for everything!

A big surprise was the nutty taste we found in our next selection from GOOD Hemp Food. Produced in Devon, Good Oil is made from 100% natural, cold-pressed British hemp seed oil, is rich in Omega 3 and great for everyday cooking. It also makes a great 'seat' for some balsamic vinegar and demands to be tasted on fresh bread. A really nice nutty flavour in both the original and light version, drizzle it on a salad or use it in a stir fry for an added twist to the mix.

Our list would not be complete without a mention for twins Helen & Lisa from Sweet Mandarin. Their Sweet Chilli sauce adds a kick to any dipping sensation. Another good selection for chicken dipping and a sweet chilli pour over sauce, this even brings to life a meaty tuna steak and gives the fish a nippy little lift.

Olivebranch Founder Maria Koinaki offer not only olive oil, but a selection of Greek Mezze, fruit spreads, Tapenade and more. Olivebranch Olive Oil is cold-pressed solely from Koroneiki Olives to produce an intensely flavoured zesty oil, with a hyper-fresh lemony aroma. The flavour is rich and grassy, with more than a hint of pepper and walnut undertones.

Our top pick from Olivebranch is their Red Pepper Paste - a combination of char-grilled red peppers with mizithra cheese (similar in taste and texture to feta) and a handful of chillies, producing a pleasing balance between the sweet and spicy flavours. Great for stirring into pasta for a quick and easy dish that is packed full of flavour. It also makes a great pesto substitute or simply eaten with crackers.

Last but not least is a mind blowing combination from Casa de l'Oli who paired their Lime Extra Virgin Olive Oil with a shot of Blanco (Tawny) Balsamic. The result was heavenly and certainly worthy of our final slot (even if it is a double-up). If you see them at a show be sure to ask for this combination to try.

Our search for oils, vinegars and dip-able sauces will continue at every event we attend and as our favourites grow we will be sure to share.