Carol Firenze is a renowned author, known for her manuals written on olive oil, including The Passionate Olive – 101 Things to Do with Olive Oil. In addition to being a writer, she holds a doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco and teaches history. Carol has dedicated part of her professional career to researching olive trees and everything related to them. Her research has confirmed that olive cultivation and the endless uses found from its wood, leaves, fruit and oil have had a significant historical impact on commerce, trade, health, medicine, beautification, religion, rituals and culinary practices. Olive trees have impacted the history of Western civilization to a great degree.
In love with the crop, its EVOO and its entire history, she received her Certificate of Achievement as an Olive Oil Consultant from the Italian Olive Oil Center at the Italian Culinary Institute in New York. Also, she is a former member of the Board of the California Olive Oil Council.
Her work reflects her passion for educating others on the vast range of uses of olive oil. She devotes 12 chapters to detailing the 101 uses that can be made from EVOO, and describes the physical and chemical characteristics of liquid gold and the differences that exist between the different nomenclatures of olive oil in great detail. She categorizes the hundred or so uses that can be given to this precious liquid by subject. It can be used for cleaning, repair, maintenance, for wood, plants, gardening, for health as it is a natural ally against diseases of metabolic character. Furthermore it can be used to fight cardiovascular, digestive and tumoral diseases. It is a natural beauty product, as it to maintains and rejuvenates your skin, body, scalp and hands. Not only that, it is applied in the delicate stages of pregnancy, protecting the skin of breasts and newborns. It is also complicit in sensuality, as she describes how it can enhance sexual pleasure. She indicates how it has been used in magic rituals, and religious rites throughout the times. In addition to this extensive repertoire of uses, it is great for parties and special occasions. On such occasions, EVOO not only adorns, but accompanies a lot of the dishes, leaving the guests ever-satisfied with its delicious taste.
In the end, this book shows how this liquid gold can be included in our daily life, making our existence far easier and much better.