But you’ve got to act fast! Vigne Vecchie’s Pacific Place pop-up is only in place until Thursday, 10 November, and we’re kicking ourselves that we didn’t discover it sooner.
Family-owned Vigne Vecchie has been in business for nearly 50 years, based in the beautiful southern Italian town of Salento, Puglia. With extra-virgin olive oils ($188/500ml) at the core of the brand, Vigne Vecchie (‘the old vineyard’ in Italian) is all about the authenticity of its products, from pastas, to biscuits, to jams.
We were impressed with everything we sampled. The extra-virgin olive oils, made in extremely limited quantities each year, are indeed noteworthy for their vivid colour, smooth consistency and intense olive-skin flavour. In addition to the standard EVOO, flavoured oils ($105/100ml) including rosemary, garlic and chilli are also available (the chilli oil with its subtle fiery kick was the winner for us).
We also enjoyed the additive- and preservative-free vegetable pâtés and preserved vegetables, offered in a range of flavours. We adored the broccoli ($88/230g), preserved simply in olive oil with a hint of lemon and vinegar, which retained its crunch even after being well soaked in liquid. The tiny Celline black olives ($88/230g) provided a briny, explosive punch that made our taste buds pop, making them perfect for a savoury pick-me-up. The creamy caper pâte ($58/130g) was another highlight; it would make a great sandwich spread (and mayo substitute).
If you’re a truffle lover, pick up a jar of black truffle salt ($180/120g) – we hear some scrambled egg calling its name – or black truffle carpaccio (available as part of a truffle gift set for $688), which would make an indulgent pasta mix-in or bread topper.
If your tastes veer towards the sweeter end of the spectrum, Vigne Vecchie’s organic jams ($388 for a three-jar gift set) are phenomenal, particularly the cherry and ginger variety, whose flavour combination was a revelation. Your morning croissant will never be the same again. The more savoury jams like the orange, mustard and chilli and the fig and mustard would also make the ideal accompaniment to a cheeseboard or could even be mixed with olive oil for a unique salad dressing.
Another unusual product offered by Vigne Vecchie is their vinocotto ($165/250ml), made using grapes that have been slow-cooked to a thick, rich reduction that resembles balsamic vinegar. Its flavour can best be compared to liquid raisins, and we can imagine just a little drizzle would jazz up a grilled steak, lamb chop or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Is your calendar packed for the next few weeks? You’ll still be able to sample the delights of Vigne Vecchie on future Sundays at Quarry Bay’s Tong Chong Street Market or the Christmas shopping extravaganzas that are Conrad Hong Kong’s gift fairs.
For a full product list and to place direct orders, email info@vignevecchiefood.hk or phone 2949 9800.
L2 (on the cinema side), Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty
