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Ethnic
& Regional Specialties
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Chilean
Carica
Looking to add some zing to your fish, lamb, ice cream or
martini? Carica, known also as "la papaya chilena"
from its roots in northern Chile, may be the perfect answer.
This crunchy yellow fruit is extremely versatile, as its strong
aroma and citrus and papaya flavors do not change with cooking.
Purée it for a sweet lamb sauce, bake it into a sweet
tart or even blend it into an ice-cold martini for an exotic
treat. This fruit is found exclusively at The Chefs’
Warehouse at a price of $13.50 per jar. For more information,
visit www.chefswarehouse.com. |
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| Tsar
Nicoulai Caviar
What's the best way to eat caviar? Before beginning
that debate, you need to start with fresh, high-quality
roe.
Tsar
Nicoulai sources a full range of premium imported and domestic
caviars from Manchuria, The Caspian and Black Seas as well
as a sturgeon farm in California. Their Beluga, Sevruga
and Osetras are flawless, consistent and worth every penny.
They arrive fast, fresh and intact. There's nothing mushy
here, and every briny egg begs to be eaten plain out of
the jar. The steely grey Beluga eggs are big and beguiling
and are reason enough to celebrate. The Sevruga is bold
and you'll swear you taste the ocean. Imported Osetra is
a shoo-in, with its nutty undertones and rich finish.
Most
notable, however, is Tsar Nicoulai's California Estate Osetra.
This triumph holds a firm spot in the premium category—it's
farmed domestically and it's a knockout! The roe is firm
and rich with an unquestionably perfect balance of nutty
and sweet. Their Iranian Asetra and Hackleback Sturgeon
caviars are also worth mentioning.
Tsar
Nicoulai also sells a full range of caviar samplers, as
well as alternatives including flavored whitefish roes and
salmon and trout roes. Ordering online is clear, quick and
easy. Their products are also available at select retail
locations.
Now,
if you must dress up your caviar, try to keep it simple.
Don't let it touch metal. Eat it icy cold with blini or
on a slice of buttered white bread. And don't forget to
open your best bottle of Champagne
or vodka.
For more information, visit www.tsarnicoulai.com.
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Hawaiian-style
pancakes
Pancake mixes can be a real flop. It's Sunday morning, you
finally have time for a nice breakfast and the last thing
you want is gooey chunks sticking to the roof of your mouth.
Taro Pancake Mix makes an easy and delectable pancake or waffle.
The taro plant comes from Hawaii, where it is cooked and mashed
to make poi, a dietary staple. For Taro Pancake Mix, poi was
dehydrated and mixed with wheat flower. Taro has a distinctive
but very pleasant flavor and we are certain anyone will love
it. Available at www.tarobrand.com. |
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Save-the-Elephants
Sauces
A Taste of Thai, producer of Thai hot sauces and similar
goodies, has launched a campaign to help save the diminishing
Asian elephant population by contributing 1.5 percent of
its profits to the Lampang Elephant Hospital in Thailand.
Do a good deed and eat well, too, by scooping up a Taste
of Thai product at supermarkets everywhere. For more information
call 800-243-0897 or visit atasteofthai.com. |
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Chasen's
Chili
Elizabeth Taylor and J Edgar Hoover ordered it by the pound,
and even Eleanor Roosevelt was denied the secret recipe! Chili
tycoon David Chasen began his chili empire in 1936 and it
is still going strong—at least in the grocer's frozen
food aisle. The legendary Chasen's restaurant has closed,
but its flavorful chili is still available in the freezer
section of select grocery stores. For a frozen packaged chili,
"Chasen's is good quality and has a surprisingly large amount
of meat," our tasters said, though some found its spices heavy
on cumin. The Texan taster denounced inclusion of beans, as
she should, since many Texans regard it sacrilegious to make
such an addition to real chili. |
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(Updated:
09/02/08 KR)
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