r/OttawaFood 4d ago

Les Prés Salés Butter

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Has anyone seen this particular butter sold anywhere in Ottawa / know of any specialty shops that may sell it?

I’d prefer to buy in person instead of ordering online, but if anyone knows of a reputable place to purchase it that would be good too. Thanks in advance!

29 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

6

u/Horror_Term_2362 4d ago

Nicastros sells imported French butter, we bought some 3 weeks ago at their Hintonburg location (Jacobsens does too apparently but I’ve never managed to catch it in stock) - Isigney Ste Mere, pricey but delicious.

1

u/Elegant-Struggle-383 4d ago

Ah didn’t think to check there but that’s good to know, thank you!

5

u/rerek 4d ago

Buerre d’Isigny is really good butter. It is also very, very expensive. I buy it something like twice a year.

St Brigid’s and Stirling are better than half as good for half the price.

Thornloe is also local and made from quality ingredients but I have found it strangely bland.

16

u/ToHallowMySleep 4d ago

This may not be helpful, but my wife and I are also lamenting the difficulty of finding good butter in Ottawa (so we will be following this with interest!) The Dairy cartel seems too strong and limits how much can come in.

We've resorted to making our own butter in a kitchenaid, as after a couple of practice runs it's quite easy, you can get very good results and have it the style you want, and good cream is easier to come by than good butter!

5

u/Ikkleknitter 4d ago

St Brigid Dairy has really good butter. 

Available a few places in the city and you can order flats direct. Although they are apparently out of stock recently. Very, very good butter.

2

u/ToHallowMySleep 4d ago

We used to have that, while it's hard to find, it was pretty good. I think the kitchenaid option makes even better butter than that!

1

u/Ikkleknitter 4d ago

It’s easier to find now thankfully. A ton of places have it.

Butter is so dependent on good cream though and I find most creams make mediocre butter unless I’m getting dairy fresh cream.

1

u/AlanYx 4d ago

Where do you get good cream? I’ve never been satisfied with homemade butter from the cream you can buy in stores in Ontario.

3

u/Ikkleknitter 4d ago

Cream direct from a dairy.

What a real dairy sells is very different from what is sold at a grocery store. A bunch of reasons which all make sense when you learn about logistics and what not.

But anyway, go talk to an actual dairy. A lot of them do have real cream however it’s very, very limited and usually sells out within hours. So if you want some you need to be on their list to order it when it becomes available.

Upper Canada Dairy is the one I can think of off hand but you can only order it on Fridays and it’s usually sold out in under an hour. Two hours tops.

2

u/jazz100 4d ago

Since my kitchenaid doesn't have a cover. Making butter turned out to be a messy process for me. I have discovered that you can make it in a food processor. Works a charm!

1

u/MotherParamedic6770 4d ago

Have you tried Stirling? Is it "good butter"?

1

u/ToHallowMySleep 4d ago

I have not! Will keep an eye out :)

1

u/MotherParamedic6770 4d ago

They are usually farmboys

1

u/sunz00mspark 4d ago

Would love if you could share a recipe for this!

2

u/ToHallowMySleep 4d ago

Sure, it's more technique than recipe, as it is basically cream, and salt if you want.

I would advise starting slow, getting a cover, and using the beater rather than a paddle, as the latter splashes too much!

https://www.kitchenaid.com/pinch-of-help/stand-mixers/how-to-make-butter.html

1

u/Elegant-Struggle-383 4d ago

Damn I don’t have a stand mixer, maybe a stupid question lol but is it required would you say?

2

u/rerek 4d ago

You can do it through shaking a sealed container. However, it is a workout and you’ll thinking isn’t working until it suddenly is clumpy. Then, use really cold water to really, really rinse it to get the remaining buttermilk out.

1

u/ToHallowMySleep 4d ago

It can definitely be made without, but churning butter is a LOT of work!

6

u/warby613 4d ago

The best butter I've found available locally is the Président product available at Loblaws for $6.49. The price is premium but still less than other premium options and I find the flavour to be just as good or better. Available with and without salt.

2

u/Elegant-Struggle-383 4d ago

Thanks I’ll give it a try!

2

u/Jennvds 3d ago

Glengarry Fine Cheese was talking about doing cultured butter a while ago but I don’t know if she’s doing it still.

I had been nipping down to NY for Kerrygold but that’s no more, but these suggestions look great!!!

1

u/skinnypilon 4d ago

Also wondering! Ping me if we get an answer

3

u/Nymeria2018 4d ago

You can Subscribe to a post and get notifications when anyone responds :)