Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

An Exquisite Gift of Caviar

Monday, February 15th, 2010

If you are looking for a special gift to buy, caviar is unlike any other for that special someone’s birthday, Valentine’s Day or Christmas gift.

Caviar is not only delicious; it is also considered one of the finest delicacies you can buy. Caviar is the Persian phrase for “egg,” and is most typically referring to fish eggs (otherwise known as “roe”) from sturgeon, which have been traditionally salted. The Persians are credited as being the first culture to cultivate caviar, which was obtained from the Black and Caspian Seas.? The Persians believed that roe had medicinal qualities. Since ancient times, caviar has been associated with royalty and wealth.? American caviar has been harvested for well over one hundred years from the Delaware and Hudson Rivers, as well as Oregon’s Columbus River.

Serving caviar is simple, fun and elegant. The first step is to be sure you find very high quality gourmet caviar. Cr?me fraiche, a French dairy spread similar to sour cream, is another essential to complement your delicious caviar. To have the ultimate caviar experience, you will want to use Russian Handmade “Blini” (which is like a miniature buckwheat pancake) for a base, with cr?me fraiche and caviar on top. There are also a variety of beautiful caviar serving plates and special utensils available for purchase.

Some caviar gift sets contain all the items you need for a luxurious and decadent caviar experience. Some of the best bargains come with gourmet American caviar, a package of blini, cr?me fraiche and even serving items, such as dainty mother of pearl spoons. If the nutty, delicate taste of sturgeon caviar is not suited to your palette, there are other delicious options to choose from. Try American Paddlefish, the tangy American Bowfish caviar, or many different types of roe in a caviar gift sampler.

If you have a loved one with sumptuous tastes, consider purchasing a gift certificate for caviar. Most retailers carrying fine foods also offer overnight delivery to maintain freshness.

Steaks Online

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Are you looking for a great steak dinner without having to travel to a steak house? Purchasing steaks online gives you access to restaurant quality steaks online, and in the comfort of your own home.
Most grocery stores do not sell the highest quality of steaks available. Steaks in stores are often graded at USDA Choice. These steaks can be quite delicious if prepared properly, but to get the higher grade USDA Prime steaks that you also find at restaurants, you may need to purchase the steaks online. These merchants have access to the finest quality meats like New York Strip Steak and Ribeye Steak.
New York Strip Steak is taken from the strip loin portion of the sirloin. This part of the steer does very little work, so it is very tender, although it’s not as tender as the Ribeye Steak. The strip loin is a larger than the tenderloin, so you can cut a sizable steak from that section. A quality New York Strip Steak will range in size from eight to 16 ounces.

The Ribeye Steak is cut from the beef rib portion of the animal. This steak is extremely tender and very well marbled. Ribeyes can be cut both boneless and bone-in. A bone-in Ribeye Steak will be juicer and more flavorful as the bone provides more moisture and flavor during the cooking process. A quality Ribeye Steak will run ten to 18 ounces.

A New York Strip Steak or a Ribeye Steak purchased from a butcher that sells steaks online has more flavor and better marbling than steaks purchased at a grocery store. Vendors that sell gourmet beef online have access to the higher grades of meat that are only sold at restaurants. Enjoy a delicious, high quality New York Strip Steak or Ribeye Steak from a merchant that sells steaks online.