Gateway to the East Valley- November/December 2010
“As Seen On TV- East Valley Treasures, Talents Showcased”
By Judy Crawford & Michelle Streeter
The Queen Creek Olive Mill has received double exposure, with the Food Network also highlighting its del Piero eatery- the mill’s Tuscan-inspired eatery featuring fresh gourmet sandwiches, panini, gelato and espresso, all served al fresco in the bucolic olive tree grove. This happened by way of Arizona’s own Iron Chef Beau MacMillan raving about the eatery’s signature panini on the network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate!” program.
“Dirty Jobs” host Mike Rowe help up his glass and announced he was looking for an olive for his martini- in a grove of olive trees at the Queen Creel Olive Mill.
The Discovery Channel’s popular show came to Arizona’s only family-owned and operated working olive mill in search of dirty and challenging work for Rowe. The show had no trouble finding it as Rowe helped to harvest olives by raking the from the trees, then handled “ca-ca,” the term for leftover olive pit grinds, during the extraction process where he also attempted to drink a shot of freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil. “It had a very peppery taste!”- Mike Rowe