Carol Firenze
Carol Firenze may be the best advertisement for her own charming and
cleverly written reference book, The Passionate Olive – 101 Things to do with
Olive Oil, which is packed with history and how-to information about olive oil. Her
enthusiasm and vivaciousness about this liquid gold are contagious. A life-long
educator and seasoned lecturer, Firenze’s dedication to her lifework of studying and
glorifying the olive is undeniable. At the end of her creative and dynamic lectures,
her audiences are infused with her passion for this “gift of the gods.”
Carol earned her Olive Oil Sommelier Certificate from IRVEA (Research
Institute for Excellence in Food) in Tuscany and her Olive Oil Consultant Certificate
from the Italian Culinary Institute in New York. She is a former board member of
the California Olive Oil Council and a frequent contributor to the Olive Oil Source
and national magazines. She holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of
San Francisco, with a focus on cross-cultural communication. Her management
consulting career and interests have taken Carol around the world. She has worked
and lived in England, France, Japan, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Switzerland and
China.
Carol’s family hails from Liguria, a region in Italy known for its fine, light
olive oil and her last name, Firenze, coincidently, translates directly to Florence,
which is the capital of Tuscany, a region of Italy known for its high intensity olive
oil, mirroring Carol’s own passionate interest in the subject. She was born and
raised in California’s Mediterranean climate, where 99% of the olive oil in the US is
produced, and grew up with an appreciation of olive oil as one of the icons of fine
living.
Her background, coupled with her interest in the cultural history of
commerce, health, medicine, beautification, rituals and culinary practices, led her to
become a noted olive oil expert and is reflected in her desire to continually educate
others on the breadth and depth of the uses of olive oil. A popular speaker, she
lectures worldwide and hosts seasonal Olive Harvest Adventures in Tuscany, Umbria
and California.