Building blocks
The best food is often produced by using the best ingredients. Why else would gastronomes be shelling out top dollar for Saga beef, Alba truffles or seasonal delights like white asparagus? This adage is no different when it comes to baking, as pastry chefs will usually have their preferred butter or flour brand that they swear by. Of course, home bakers do not have the advantage of ordering in bulk to validate importing large amounts of premium ingredients. We’ve collated three fantastic butter and flour that will up your baking game, as well as where to find them.
1
Beurre d’isigny
This Charentes-poitou protected designation of origin (PDO) butter is famous for its striking buttercup hue, thanks to high levels of betacarotenoids. It boasts a naturally smooth texture and superior melting texture. Available at Huber’s Butchery, Redmart and honestbee. 2 Lescure
Hailing from the same PDO as Beurre d’isigny, the region’s ideal climate makes it one of the top producers of grains in France. Better fed cows result in a butter with a richer mouth feel and 82% butterfat. Available at Little Farms and Bakerz@work Academy. 3 Unbleached Flour
The denser structure of naturally bleached flour helps in maintaining the integrity of artisanal breads. Additionally, less processing equates to higher nutritional content and lower trace chemicals. Available at Cold Storage, Phoon Huat and Redmart. 5
T65 Flour
The higher protein content (the 65 represents mineral content) makes this the perfect flour for baguettes and artisanal breads. They stand up better during the fermentation process, and leads to bread with an open crumb and crisp crust. Available at Bakerz@work Academy and Creative Culinaire. 4
Echiré
Long upheld as the butter of choice for French pâtissiers, the Deux-sevres PDO product contains 84% butterfat and has a distinct hazelnut taste. Its higher plasticity makes it ideal for laminated dough. Available at Huber’s Butchery, Isetan, Redmart and Delicia. 6 Organic Wholegrain Rustic loaves are made better using wholegrains, adding nutritional content and can be mixed with other grain types, such as spelt, amaranth or millet, for more complex flavours. Available at Cold Storage, Phoon Huat and Redmart.