We'll Shoyu Authentic Japanese Soy Sauce!

One of the main components to many Eastern dishes is the use of soy sauce (called shoyu in Japanese). Normally, generic soy sauce is easy to find due to the mass production of it. But what about the high quality ones that are created not solely based on the amount that can be pumped out of vats quickly but rather the quality and time put into making it? This is where the Japanese brand Yamaroku Shoyu (or Yamaroku for short) comes into the picture to fill that void. In this article, we will go over who Yamaroku is, a glimpse of how authentic Japanese soy sauce is made, the importance of the "kioke" barrel and a closer look at each soy sauce from Yamaroku's line.

A Different Kettle of Fish

When shopping for fish, it is usually thought that the best fish is fresh from the fish market in the earlier hours of the morning. In order to get your hands on a highly prized fresh fish at such a place, you would need to be determined to get up early and beat the crowd as well as have a lot of money on you. Fortunately there are alternatives to this, and one of those is the canned gourmet seafood products available through companies like Frinsa, a Spanish seafood exporter. Hard to believe you can get gourmet food from a can? Read on as we discuss who Frinsa is, their principle and practice of farming seafood, what sustainability is, a breakdown of all Frinsa products and suggested recipes to go with each one.

Nature's Candy

Grilled Carica with ice cream

One thing many people like to do on trips around the world is to partake in the exotic foods each country specializes in. Whether it be standalone items or a dish made up of various ingredients, eating uncommon foods is enjoyed by many people. Understandably there are a few people who are cautious in trying new things due to their looks, taste or smell which they are not used to. Fortunately, there are gourmet level foods that have characteristics which people can familiarize themselves with. Take, for instance, the gourmet fruits of Tamaya's Chilean Carica and Baby Pears. The former may sound alien to a good majority of people while the latter's name shares a similar name to the more common pear. But what exactly are these fruits? In this post we will discuss who produces these popular fruits, the origins and how the carica and baby pears are made, and lastly popular usage of these including how the vodka brand Double Cross incorporates using the baby pears with their popular vodka drink. Read on more past the break!

Risotto: The Marriage Of Rice & Italian Cuisine

Among the staple foods enjoyed world wide, rice is one of the most widely popular and highly consumed cereal grain. By way of trade and exportation through many centuries, rice is now common in many cultures and cuisines throughout the world. Although the majority of rice grown come from Asian countries, it can be relatively easily grown anywhere, especially in areas with high rainfall since rice cultivation requires an extensive amount of water. Risotto rice is a northern Italian rice dish cooked in broth ending up with a creamy consistency, and it is the most common way of cooking rice in the country. The Italian company Riso Bello is a leading producer of the top risottos you can find thanks to their extensive background and experience in this field. In this blog post, we will describe Riso Bello, the growing of rice, how to make risotto, and the different Italian risottos.

Just Your Cup Of Tea

One of the most consumed beverages in the world is without a doubt tea. Though it may not seem like that would be the case here in America, in other parts of the world tea is the preferred drink of choice. With the many variations of tea that can be brewed in the world, there are countless types of tea that can be experienced from many countries. Chile is one of the countries that produces their own organic tea by a company called Garden Of The Andes. We, The Gourmet Import Shop, work closely with Garden Of The Andes to help make their teas available to America as well as other countries. Come join us in this blog post as we discuss the Garden Of The Andes company and their history, the process of how their tea is made, benefits of organic tea, as well as other tidbits of information that may be of interest. Head on past the break to read on!

Garden Of The Andes field of chamomile flowers

Add Some Spice To Your Life

In the world of gourmet food, many chefs and food lovers aim to create the most tasteful dishes. What supports them in this quest for deliciousness and can make a great difference in their recipes are unique ingredients. This is especially true when an ingredient's full potential has not been fully tapped and is just waiting to explode onto the culinary scene. This is where importers (such as us, The Gourmet Import Shop) who find the best from around the world and make it readily available. One such special ingredient hails from Chile by courtesy of the company named Etnia. It is a native spice called merquén (or merkén). In this post, we explain more about Etnia, what merquén is, the Mapuche people, and what the Fair Trade concept is that Etnia practices. Read on more past the break.

Seared Salmon with Merquén Crust, Quinoa Salad

Sweet Nectar Of Life

In case you weren't already aware, diabetes and obesity is a growing concern in not only America but also the rest of the world. These can be attributed to the over consumption of sugar based foods and drinks like soda and juices. Many people are seeking alternatives to the synthetically produced sweeteners, and then indulge in all these substitutes. There's a growing popular concept that the things you consume which come from nature itself is a lot more beneficial than the man made ones....and in this case it would be the artificial sweeteners. 

Banana Oatmeal Pancakes with Melted Peanut Butter & Nectavé Agave Nectar
Photo by Catherine Kung

That's where the need for a "healthy sweet" comes in to play. While that may sound like an oxymoron to some, those things actually do exist in the world. Agave nectar is a prime example that gives you a good sweetener as an alternative to synthetic sweeteners. Nectavé organic agave has been booming in popularity throughout the years both in the restaurant industry and for personal use. You may see some of these even sitting on the table in a restaurant for customers to use instead of the classic maple syrup. In this post, we will discuss the company of Nectavé, differences between other sweeteners as well as other agaves, benefits of using agave nectar, and many other tidbits. Read on more about this wonder liquid past the break.

Putting Your Eggs In The Basket

There's no doubt that noodles are an internationally renowned staple of food. From Asian cuisine like ramen and chow mein to the classic Western spaghetti and penne, noodles come in all shapes, types, and forms from all around the world. This leads us to the legendary noodle type, pasta, whose origination is first referenced in Italy. In this post, we will be taking a look at the unique Italian egg pasta type courtesy from our supplier La Pasta di Aldo. Keep on reading below as we cover the company La Pasta di Aldo, keywords in pasta ingredients, what makes egg pasta special, and some cooking & tasting suggestions.

Aged Before Beauty

In the world of gourmet foods, there is one particular factor that most food enthusiasts look at (depending on the item), and that is how much it has aged. The most well known and popular ones that would come to mind for most people are cheeses and wine. To some people the stinkier the cheese is, the better it tastes. When wine is aged considerably, changes in their aroma, taste, and color take place surpassing even its original incarnation. Balsamic vinegar can also be aged, and it's a bigger deal than you probably even realize. Just like with aged wine, getting a product to achieve the status as a true, aged balsamic vinegar has strict processes and requirements set by European standards. We at the Gourmet Import Shop have been importing such products from our Italian supplier, Mussini, who are experts in this field and have great knowledge in this industry.

In this post, we will go over a brief summary of who Mussini is, some Balsamic Vinegar 101, the meaning of IGP/DOP, Mussini's Coin System, and Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale versus Condimento. Grab some cheese & wine and head past the break to read more about aged Italian balsamic vinegar.