The Executive Chef of Singapore’s Les Amis, renowned for its fine French cuisine, shares his insider knowledge on the creme de la creme of produce from France and beyond.
1. Black Truffle from La Maison Plantin, Puymeras, France
I feel that this is by far the best quality truffle that you can find in the market. It also has a very pure flavour – unlike those with Chinese truffle mixed in.
2. Camembert Cheese from Bordier Cheesemonger, Saint Malo, France
Camembert is the king of French cheeses. This maker, in particular, produces Camembert of consistent quality. This means that the cheese is always aging in good condition, so that its flavour is never too strong or weak. The maturing of cheese is known as affinage. Different retailers across France offer this product and we also serve it at Les Amis.
3. Kaviari Eel, Paris, France
These are very special because they are grown in a French farm and then smoked in Holland (as the Dutch are masters of the technique). The eel has a lot of fats that give it an extra tender texture.
4. French Mustard, Orlienas, France
This is the best mustard in the world. It is also one of the more traditional ones around that is almost hand-made, with an artisanal texture. The flavour is not too strong and complements meats well because it doesn’t overpower the flavour.
5. Alain Abel Vanilla, Tahaa, Tahiti
The Alain Abel vanilla is reputed to be the last artisanal Tahitian vanilla around. The production is very limited and only a few eateries in the world, namely fine dining restaurants that care about the details, serve it.
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.
