walter wade wrote:Now getting at a Greek grocery store, 309 S. Halsted, last week, for $ 26.00 per can.
Give it a try.
Wally Wade

I hope that you are using the 'can' within about 6 months as oil does go rancid. I would never buy a can of any kind of oil. The 30-40 oz bottle is the most I am willing to buy at any given time.

California olive oil is great, and I fell in love with Ojai Olive Oil on my last visit to SoCal.
http://www.ojaioliveoil.com/

That said, I most commonly use Star olive oil -- a reasonably priced oil that Ferran Adria likes, and which did very well at a blind taste testing among LTHers a few years back.

I have always loved Manni olive oil if you have some money to spend. It is definitely a great finishing oil for some of the dishes you described although you have to keep in mind their shipping restrictions.

http://www.mannioil.com/
http://www.buymanni.com/

A year or two ago, I wouldn't have bothered to seek out California Olive Ranch evoo, but Cooks Illustrated's taste test and news about imported olive oil fakery persuaded me to try it out. The best prices I've found it at have been at Aldi's and Woodman's. Aldi's also sells an organic Spanish-Tunisian olive oil that is very well priced. (Hope it's the real thing.)