YUM FACTOR:Basil Oil

It’s a natural progression. After spending years swirling and sniffing wines, making the gentle hop over to olive oil was as natural as dipping bread into it.

It only took one visit with Ersilia Moreno, owner of Olive Oil of the World, to be beguiled by the intricate world of olive oils. As I sniffed and tasted the different olive oils and realized each had its own nuance, it dawned on me that I could easily turn into an olive oil snob.

That was months ago, when I first met Ersilia for a previous story. My cabinets are now stocked with four different types of her oils – a gentle and slightly peppery oil from Morocco for salads, a medium fruity oil from Greece for general use, a zippy little number infused with roasted garlic that’s perfect for dipping bread and lastly, one from California infused with basil. That’s the one I was most anxious to experiment with.

I had bought it with the hopes of giving my usually flat-lining basil plant a little respite. Ersilia’s son prescribed the flavorful oil to use on whatever I would normally toss with regular olive oil and sprinkle with fresh basil. I was dubious, but the basil-rich smell of the oil persuaded me otherwise. As he gave me a taste at the STORE Self Storage Green Market in Palm Beach Gardens a few months ago, it was as if the area around us was suddenly filled with the sweet, minty, earthy smell I know and love.

I first served this oil over a Caprese salad prior to a monster-editing session with my friend, then later that night over fresh potato gnocchi, each time delicious, the smell of basil wafting through my kitchen. Meanwhile, outside, my poor basil plant continued its fight for survival. I intend to save what’s left for a batch of pesto.

THE INFO: The basil oil sells for $15 on OliveOilOfTheWorld.com. There are also Olive Oil of the World booths at the Wednesday night West Palm Beach GreenMarket (5 to 8 p.m. through Sept. 19) on the eastern end of Clematis Street, and at the Saturday morning STORE Self Storage Green Market (8 a.m. to 1 p.m., through the end of September), just north of the intersection of PGA Boulevard and Military Trail in Palm Beach Gardens.

— Libby Volgyes

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PUB GRUB

The delectable O.G. Fried Chicken ($12) at The Rebel House in Boca comes shuffled between corn-cheddar waffles, slathered in a candied bacon syrup that you’ll be lapping off the plate. Off to the side, a watermelon-and-tomato salad that brings the same kind of sweet-savory combination to perfectly complement the chicken—which is seasoned perfectly, crunchy yet tender.

If you want a dessert to stand up to that kind of meal, try the Sticky Icky ($8), a caramel pie next to bacon-infused maple ice cream which, when eaten together, causes white flashes of Nirvana.

The Rebel House, an urban space embracing a certain dive charm, offers a food and cocktail menu as edgy as the mismatched décor. The place reflects the coming together of creative minds, the owners of Charm City burgers and El Jefe Luchador tacos, both in Deerfield Beach.

The Rebel House: 297 East Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton; (561) 353-5888; LifeTastesBetter.com

— Carlos Frías