Caviar may look like a decadent luxury food and choosing the right one may seem like a daunting task but don’t let that put you off. In this article, we share The French Grocer’s Kaluga Queen Crossbreed Caviar that has the distinction as one of the world’s most sought after gourmet foods – the pearl of all pearls! The Kaluga is a type of large freshwater sturgeon capable of growing to sizes of over 18 feet (3m) long and weighing at a maximum of 2,200 pounds (1,100kg). They feed on salmon and other food in the river basin, spending part of their life in salt water. And did you know that an adult female Kaluga can produce up to 44 pounds of caviar?

The hybrid sturgeon is a crossbreed from Kaluga and Amur. The caviar matures from the 8^th to 10^th year. The Kaluga sturgeon takes up to 20 years to mature and produce its much sought- after caviar. And what do the Kaluga roes look like? They have a glossy light to deep brown or golden hue and the texture is firm and smooth. The flavour profile presents itself as earthy and buttery with a subtle salty note. Very delicate!

As Kaluga caviar is a delicate product, processing methods need to be specific to its requirements. It undergoes the highest sanitation standards at no more than 10 degree Celsius temperature to preserve its natural flavour.

Looking for an easy caviar “recipe”? Good caviar needs very little to shine. In fact, it is best to consume it in the simplest way. The most popular method is to enjoy it on crackers but you can also have it on warm food such as scrambled eggs! Make sure you work on low heat for the eggs and stir constantly, then add whipping cream to make the eggs deliciously soft. Shop for The French Grocer’s Kaluga Queen Hybrid Caviar here: https://thefrenchgrocer.com/product/kaluga-queen-crossbreed-caviar-50g-tin

In this article, we are pleased to present the Roger Coulon Heri-Hodie Brut Champagne that has an exquisite background due to the Coulon family’s fine heritage of viticulture. Heri- Hodie is from a “réserve perpétuelle”, which means it is built over time by adding amounts of wine from each harvest to particular storage vessels. Normally, such a reserve will be set aside for several years for it to become more established so that when it’s ready to be served, it will contain wines from five to as many as 15 different harvests…isn’t that amazing! And this blend combines 60% Pinot Meunier with 20% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir.

The white-golden colored wine has a very delicate, elegant and fruity Meunier bouquet of red berries. The wine shows remarkable finesse and elegance on the palate and is perfectly round, delicate, very fruity and charming but dry and always stimulating. This is nearly dominated by its Meunier part. Dosed with six grams per liter, this is absolutely delicious and filigreed but with aromatic and well-structured length. So delicate and fruity!

According to Eric Coulon, member of the acclaimed family, “Cultivating our vines is a beautiful and proud tradition. The source of our family’s inspiration is here in our vineyards cultivated with ORGANIC and AGROFORESTRY methods, on the Montagne de Reims.

This is the place where we, Eric, Isabelle and our children, Edgar and Louise, the 9th generation the COULON family, all have our roots.”

What’s more impressive is that the vineyard avoids the use of chemicals, filtration, finning and indigenous yeasts tank the Roger Coulon Champagne among the best of natural wines. Since 2019, the vineyard has also been converted into an organic base, further confirming the Coloun family’s commitment to a natural approach in viticulture.

Curious about this champagne? Discover more at: https://thefrenchgrocer.com/product/champagne-roger-coulon-heri-hodie-brut-75cl-nv

Fans and friends of The French Grocer, we have great news for you! Thanks to your loyal support over the years, we have recently expanded into a second online shop “Under The Vine” that serves even more exquisite foods and ingredients from around the world! This site is complementary to The French Grocer as our products are meant to bring the best culinary enjoyment onto the dining table, even in the humble kitchen at home! If you like what you see at The French Grocer so far, we promise you an elevated experience with premium products such as caviar, bottarga, foie gras, truffles and more.

Under The Vine is an online fine grocery shop inspired by the concept of communal dining in a vineyard where good food is always paired with good wine, and of course, a violinist serenading in the background. Fine dining at home with family and close friends needn’t be complicated – just set up the table and leave the rest to us. Because when you eat good, you feel good.

And here’s even greater news! Subscribe now to Under The Vine’s e-newsletter and immediately receive 10% off your first purchase. No minimum order required! Our current best sellers are smoked salmon fillet, Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy, Angus beef ribeye from Australia and N25 Kaluga hybrid caviar – each of them exquisite in their own rights. Fill up your cart with some good products today…but you got to be fast as stocks move quickly! Visit Under The Vine’s online boutique today at: www.underthevine.sg and start making your first order!

Defined as the undisputed queen of Mediterranean cuisine, mozzarella is characterised by a smooth texture and a delicate flavour, and takes its name from the operation of “docking” made by the cheesemaker to give shape to the different cheese. Enough of the technicalities, mozzarella is typically a southern Italian cheese made from buffalo’s milk by the pasta filata method. Fresh mozzarella is generally white but when seasoned it turns to a light yellow depending on the animal’s diet. Due to its high moisture content, it is traditionally served the day after it is made, but can be kept in a brine for up to a week (or even longer when sold in sealed packages).

At The French Grocer, we carry a huge selection of French cheese (of course!) but our spotlight today falls on the absolutely delectable Mozzarella Pugliese from Italy! Fairly common in supermarkets and gourmet cheese shops, we enjoy mozzarella as a creamy addition to our dishes and we’re only limited by our imagination on how to incorporate it! Here are some ways to enjoy mozzarella in all its natural goodness:

Lasagna: get the real taste of Italy with this comfort food that goes perfectly with mozzarella. The layered mix of pasta, meat and cheese will surely delight everyone at the dining table!

Baked garlic bread: Smell the goodness as this cheese melts in the oven together with all that garlicky fragrance! Try it to see the difference mozzarella makes!

Baked tomatoes: Stack up sliced tomatoes on mozzarella and pop it into the oven for a simple yet amazing dish. Then drizzle some balsamic vinegar for that extra oomph!

We could go on about this wonderful cheese but why not visit our online shop at https://thefrenchgrocer.com/product/italy-mozzarella-cheese-125gr-pugliese to pick up a few packets and try out the recipes?

Ever been to a restaurant in France and the waiter recommends you a “côte de boeuf”? This is a very popular and excellent cut of beef, and is commonly served along a variety of specialty sauce. However, do you know what cut of meat does “côte de boeuf” refer to? It is actually a thick-cut rib eye steak on the bone that has a fairly high fat content so this ensures maximum juiciness! But how do you prepare this quality meat at home? In this article, we share a simple recipe.

Here are the ingredients you need:

• A piece of côte de boeuf (get it here: https://thefrenchgrocer.com/product/argentina-grain- fed-angus-beef-cote-de-boeuf-800g-pce-frozen
• Salt and ground pepper
• Thyme and rosemary
• Garlic cloves
• Extra virgin olive oil

Preparation Method:

If your côte de boeuf is frozen, remove it from the refrigerator and let it thaw in room temperature until it is ready to use. Next, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

Now slather extra virgin olive oil over the côte de boeuf and season it generously with salt and pepper. Put a frying pan over medium heat and get it up to a good temperature before adding olive oil. You can now place the côte de boeuf in the pan and sear it for about 3 minutes. Remember, don’t move the meat until the bottom is gently browned. Then flip over and sear for another 3 minutes. Once both sides are done, place the thyme, rosemary and chopped garlic around the meat for their fragrance to permeate.

The final step is to transfer the pan into the pre-heated oven for about 20 minutes. You can insert a thermometer to measure the doneness of your preference. Voilà, a simple côte de boeuf recipe that you can try at home!