I think this is a very odd product.

[grasswire]

I bought a jar of Mezzetta Kalamata Olive Sandwich Spread. Sounds delicious, right?

I really like the brand and thought I'd use it in sandwiches.

Oooog! It's sweet. It has raisins in it!

Is there something I don't know about mediterranean food that puts together kalamatas with raisins?

[NYC_SKP]

1. Leave it to any commercial food packer to screw up something good.

I'll bet it also has High Fructose Corn Syrup. You know, for flavoring.

Sorry for your loss, I do that all the time, grab something yummy sounding and read the label after it's too late or learn that it just sucks.

[grasswire]

7. ingredients

kalamata olives
raisins
olive oil
fresh onions
red wine vinegar
water
sea salt
xanthan gum


sounds good except for the raisins!

[kentauros]

2. I've never heard of that.

When I looked it up, I saw recipe-hits for sautéed spinach as well as used in empanadas. I could ask some Arab-American friends if they've ever heard of the combination

[Galileo126]

3. Whoa...

I love the Mezzetta line of products, but kalamata AND raisins?

OK, I'll give Mezzetta a pass on that one, and just steer clear. <ugh>

You might want to express your displeasure at their 'consumer feedback' site. "Listen, I LOVE what you do, but this one is a loser..."

Meanwhile, I'm gonna have a couple of Mezzetta peperoncini, and a beer. Or maybe their bleu cheese-stuffed olives?

[grasswire]

6. oh, I love the pepperoncini

especially in a salami and provolone sandwich on an Italian roll.

[Kali]

4. There is a lot of raisin use in some Mediterranean/Middle-eastern food

but olives and raisins as a spread? ewww

[Galileo126]

5. Maybe they were trying for a new spin on tapenade?

Then again, my Italian Gramma used to put raisins in her meatloaf. I'm perplexed....

[grasswire]

9. okay, it might work with crackers and preserved lemons..

....or something like that. Maybe with Armenian cracker bread and some kind of aoft cheese and dried apricots. Salted nuts on the side.

[grasswire]

8. this recipe looks good

.....but it still doesn't diminish the shock of the sandwich spread.

http://www.marthastewart.com/316767/chicken-with-olives-raisins-and-spinach?czone=food/dinner-tonight-center/dinner-tonight-main-courses&center=276948&gallery=275660&slide=283578?xsc=soc_gplus_chickenwitholivesraisinsandspinach

[azurnoir]

10. I like Mezzetta products but that does sound sort of weird

I have some of their Castelvetrano olives and they are so good

[Warpy]

11. There is.

You just found it unexpected. When you're over the shock, take another taste and think of it with pastrami or other typical Italian deli meats.

It's odd, but sweet and savory can be made for each other, like lamb and mint sauce, duck with orange sauce, chicken with honey glaze, ham with brown sugar.

It can work. You just need to taste it a little more critically and with an open mind.

[msanthrope]

12. It's very Sicilian. Raisins, olives, pine nuts, capers--the different combos of those

ingredients are the basis of many Sicilian dishes.

[The empressof all]

13. I kind of like that sweet and savory together

I am currently addicted to Trader Joes Olive and Fig Crackers. With a little uncommon cheddar! OMG Perfection.