Getting tired of chicken? Try something new in the poultry department: guinea hen! We think of guinea hen as the beginner’s game bird, though it’s not at all gamey tasting. The lean meat stands up nicely to strong herbs and spices, and the approachable guinea hen can be fried like chicken, braised with herbs and root vegetables, or roasted with butter or duck fat. Read on for more about what may be your new favorite bird.
Tag: cooking tips
What is Turkey Brining? And Should You Do It?
When it comes to preparing Thanksgiving turkeys, there are two camps: the briners and the anti-briners. Which one are you? What is brining anyway? Simply submerging meat in a solution of salt and water for many hours before cooking. This enhances the meat’s ability to retain moisture and tenderness while seasoning it. Of course, when…
Our Best-Kept Secret for Eating Foie Gras
Pssst … we’re going to let you in on a kitchen secret. When you want foie gras but don’t need perfect, symmetrical slices, our foie gras cubes are the solution. Read on for some easy ways to use these delightful foie gras cubes, and stock your freezer today. You’ll thank us later.
Best Way to Cook a Turkey: Poached & Roasted Bresse-Style
We’ve already discussed the pros and cons of turkey brining here. For those that want to go beyond the brine, there is the Bresse style of poaching a turkey. Ariane is a huge proponent of this style of cooking from Bresse, the capital of all things poultry in France. Why? Because poaching a turkey, chicken…
Top 10 Ways to Cook with Ham
Our fully-cooked, ready-to-serve heritage smoked ham is tender, juicy and full of flavor. This Applewood Smoked Heritage Ham is cured off the bone; rubbed with salt and sugar and smoked over real applewood chips. Inspired by the old-time taste of the heritage pork, we keep our recipe and curing process simple. We never use artificial flavors or…
Why Let Meat Rest?
Whether it’s a ribeye, skirt steak, duck breast or pork chop, it is most satisfying to eat a piece of meat that is bursting with moisture and flavor. However, if you’re not careful with your dinner, you could end up gnawing away at a steak or chop that is dry and flavorless. That is not…
Cook Like a Chef: How to Sear Foie Gras
Foie gras. Two short words, one long culinary history. Foie gras (fwah grah) is French for “fatty liver,” and refers to the fattened liver of a duck (or goose), considered a delicacy around the world. Made famous in France, foie gras is a traditional food known to mankind since at least Ancient Egypt. Foie gras is…
Duck Breast 101
Duck breast is one of our signature products, and a perennial favorite. One of the most frequent questions we get is: how do I cook a duck breast? To answer that question, here is a handy infographic for your reference. It includes flavor profiles on the four different duck breasts we offer, and tips for…
He’s Crusty & Cheesy, But You Will Love Croque Monsieur
Let’s talk about Croque Monsieur, essentially a grilled cheese sandwich with the addition of ham, and a very French name. Oh, and a blanket of creamy béchamel sauce with melted cheese. Sound intriguing? It’s easy to make a great version of this classic sandwich at home. Beloved by brunchers all over the world, this…
What to Do With Ventrèche
What is ventrèche? Very simply, it is an unsmoked, salt-cured bacon from Southwest France, where it is a staple. Pronounced vohn-tresh, it is often referred to as “French pancetta.” Ventrèche is made from pork belly (ventre means belly in French) that has been rubbed with salt, spices and garlic before hanging to dry. It can be kept in…
Top Tips for Making Gorgeous, Gooey Gratin
If words like “creamy,” “cheesy,” “crunchy,” and “bubbly” make your mouth water, then you are most likely a gratin lover. Simply put, a “gratin” is any food with a golden brown crust on top, usually involving cheese and breadcrumbs. The word comes from the French, gratter, “to grate.” This is serious comfort food. Read our…
Duck Wing Cravings
Florence Fabricant is all about duck wings! In today’s New York Times she dishes about her obsession, and shares tips from our friend Chef Justin Smillie, who has perfected the duck wing at Upland in NYC (yes, those are D’Artagnan duck wings). With chicken, I covet the wings. With duck, not really; they tend to be…