Original article from The Kitchn
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Styling: Vicky Wasik
When it comes to horseradish, I’m firmly in the more-is-more camp. I want my cocktail sauce heavy on the horseradish, my steak frites with plenty of horseradish cream for dipping, and my baked potatoes piled with sour cream and a generous spoonful of the good stuff. That sharp, sinus-clearing bite is usually my favorite part of whatever I’m eating, which is why Corto’s new Horseradish Olive Oil immediately had my attention.
It’s part of the brand’s Agrumato-Method Gift Set, an $84 duo that also includes its returning Calabrian Chili Olive Oil. Both offer plenty of ways to dress up dinner, but let’s be honest: The horseradish is what sold me. I’m already thinking about my next baked potato.
What Is Corto’s Agrumato-Method Olive Oil Gift Set
Corto’s $84 Agrumato-Method Gift Set includes two 500-milliliter bottles: the new Horseradish Olive Oil and the returning, award-winning Calabrian Chili Olive Oil. These aren’t typical infused oils, either. Corto uses the traditional Agrumato method, simultaneously crushing fresh ingredients with freshly harvested California olives before cold-extracting them together. The flavors become part of the oil from the start, rather than being added afterward.
The horseradish oil is earthy and bold — chef Gayle Pirie of San Francisco’s Foreign Cinema calls it “a perfect delivery system for the previously unsung but beautiful flavor of horseradish.” The Calabrian Chili offers fruitiness, freshness, and gentle heat that chef Brother Luck says helps “let the ingredients tell their story instead of competing with them.” Both reflect Corto’s chef-first approach: Its Chef Taste Panel provides feedback on flavor, balance, versatility, and performance before the oils reach home kitchens.
How to Use Corto’s Agrumato-Method Olive Oil Gift Set
Naturally, my first plan for the horseradish oil involves potatoes. I’m picturing a drizzle over a split baked potato with sour cream and chives, or a little stirred into a creamy dip for fries. Corto also suggests pairing it with beef, oysters, and roasted root vegetables, so there’s plenty of room to branch out from my usual favorites. The Calabrian Chili oil would be an easy addition to fried eggs, roasted sweet potatoes, or a piece of chicken that needs a little something extra.
If you’d like some inspiration before opening the bottles, October is Corto’s Agrumato Month, with roughly 25 restaurants nationwide creating limited-time dishes using the oils. You can explore participating chefs, restaurants, dishes, and flavors through the brand’s interactive Agrumato map, then bring those ideas into your own kitchen. At $84, the set is a splurge, but it’s a fun gift for someone who loves experimenting with new ingredients — especially a fellow horseradish enthusiast. Just plan ahead: It’s currently scheduled to ship in mid-October.