Pasta is a common go-to meal for many of us because it is easy to prepare (even in bigger portions) and also because there are so many types of meat protein to add for enhanced nutrition. But do you know how to get that perfect plate of al dente pasta that springs delightfully in the mouth? Read on to get a few easy pointers!

Pasta is easy to cook and so we need not fuss over the type of pot—it can be small or large depending on what you have in the kitchen but many chefs prefer a deep pot because long strands of spaghetti can sink to the bottom more quickly. Do remember, however, that you would require more salt if you’re starting out with more water in a big pot. We’re going to toss in some salt next as soon as the water is boiling. You should have heard of this “allimportant” step because it helps to give flavour to the pasta other than the sauce, which you stir in at the end. Aim for 1 tablespoon of salt for every 16 cups of water, which works out to about 500g of pasta.

Stir the boiling water as soon as you put the pasta in. This prevents them from sticking to one another or to the side of the pot. Taste the pasta soon so that you have time to adjust the cooking time if it has not yet reached a level of al dente. It should be chewy and slightly firm at the core. Finally, stir in your sauce of choice and garnish!

Did you know that at The French Grocer, we have an Italian Corner that offers a small but well-stocked range of pastas? From spaghetti to ravioli and even to ready meals that you can pop into the oven for a quick lunch, we have it all. Visit https://thefrenchgrocer.com/shop/65-frozen-pasta for the complete selection!

At The French Grocer, our pantry is stocked with a variety of food such as canned tomatoes, olive oil and even Basmati rice, but what we are most eager to present in today’s article is honey from Lifou, New Caledonia!

The beauty of New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a French territory comprising dozens of islands in the South Pacific. It’s known for its palm-lined beaches and marine-life-rich lagoon which is among the world’s largest. A massive barrier reef surrounds the main island, Grand Terre, a major scuba-diving destination. The capital, Nouméa, is home to French-influenced restaurants and luxury boutiques selling Parisian fashions. This French territory is an unspoilt paradise with natural scenery and a mild pleasant climate. And this is why the island is such an optimal place for cultivating honey!

Honey from Lifou (A French Grocer special)
The honey that we carry on our online store does not contain any preservative, pesticide or colouring – that is our guarantee. It is 100% natural straight up from the pristine land of New Caledonia. The unique fragrance of this honey originates from the vast floral diversity on the island of Lifou. With different flowerings throughout the year and a clean environment without any trace of pesticide, the honey from Lifou has high nutritional qualities and an exceptional taste. This is an artisanal product from independent apiarists who extract, filter and decanter the honey in a modern honey house. This honey has also been awarded the Médaille d’Or au S.I.A.L de Paris!

How to store honey
You probably won’t be finishing the entire jar of liquid gold in one sitting, so how do you keep it fresh? Remember to keep the remaining content tightly-sealed and store it in a dark location. You do not need to store the honey in the fridge as it does not go bad if it is protected from moisture.

So there you have it, honey from the beautiful island of Lifou, New Caledonia! Visit our pantry at https://thefrenchgrocer.com/product/100-pure-honey-250g-jar-miel-production-artisanale-nouvelle-caledonie to grab a jar today!

Even though Covid-19 may have accelerated the boom of online shopping (including that of groceries), did you know that e-commerce is not merely an alternative to brick-and-mortar shops but has many other benefits of its own?

Save more time
When you are at a physical supermarket, you tend to spend more time walking up and down different aisles looking for a particular product that could have been misplaced. Otherwise, that product could have its price tag mislabelled and you would have to spend time again scanning it to get the correct price. Overall, the time spent wandering in a supermarket is decidedly more than online shopping because the physical space is spread out over a large area. Online grocery shopping provides you the convenience of finding items simply at the click of a button or the glide of a mouse. Products are neatly categorised on online grocery websites and you can even apply discount codes if you have one.

Avoid multiple trips to the supermarket
Shopping online for your groceries also allows you to avoid making multiple trips to the supermarket. Even though you can buy food items in bulk during your grocery run, it is far more convenient to just log on to your favourite grocery website and fulfil any purchase that may have been missed out. Also, whenever you check into an online grocery website, there may be updated information or promotions that you can take advantage of immediately if you have registered as a member.

Your shopping experience is customised
Adding onto the previous point, if you are a registered member of an online grocery website, you would be able to “shop by history” because your past transactions are logged in the system. You would be able to quickly and easily pick out your favourite products without having to run from aisle to aisle in the supermarket. Another added advantage of everything being tagged online is that your preferences are recorded and the next time you visit the site again, suitable recommendations may appear just for you, like a butler that brings you around the aisle!

The French Grocer is an online one-stop grocery website where you can not only buy the finest foods from all over the world but also learn about new recipes from Guillaume, the founder! We are constantly enhancing your online shopping experience including the revamp of this website (as you might have noticed) and we will continue to bring you more improvements in the future. In the meantime, happy shopping with us!