Christian's favorite

After delighting our Gréber branch for just over a year, Christian joined our Aylmer store in spring 2023. Knowledgeable and passionate, he has joined the La Boite à Grains team after a 25-year career in the restaurant business.

"La Boite à GrainsWith Christian, we're talking about a new way of thinking: less food waste and healthier eating. It's a company that takes great care in choosing its suppliers, to ensure that customers are presented with trusted products of the highest quality. And it's all about meeting new people!

Today, Christian presents his favorite. Or rather his favoritesThese are gourmet, local products with 100% natural, organic ingredients.

Christian, tell us about your favorites, starting with the organic beef tomahawk and ribeye from Les Fermes Valens...

Valens Farms have very good products, natural and organic. Their cuts are super nice, the color of the meat is dark, dark, dark red. When you taste it, you can feel the difference. When you cook it, you can see that these are well-fed animals. The steak doesn't shrink.

Beef tomahawk is a completely natural piece of meat. A superb piece for the barbecue, it impresses and makes a beautiful presentation.

Do you have any tips for cooking tomahawk and ribeye?

For beef tomahawkFor the beef tomahawk, we're going to prepare it by reverse cooking. Instead of searing it, we light one side of the barbecue and put the steak on the grill. Five degrees ahead of your desired temperature (using a cooking thermometer), this is where you sear the piece of meat.

And most important of all, we all too often forget to rest. If you've cooked the tomahawk for half an hour, let it rest for 10 minutes, if you've cooked it for 45 minutes, let it rest for 20 minutes and so on. You can then season to taste.

For rib-eye steakwe seize it at the highest possible temperature on the barbecue. Here again, rest makes all the difference.

What other Quebec cheeses are your favorites?

We recently added La Boite à Grains some superb Quebec farmhouse cheeses, from a recent appellation d'origine contrôlée. The cheese is made from A to Z on the farm. There are cow's milk, goat's milk and sheep's milk cheeses. I've tasted a lot of cheeses in my life, but this is a real favorite. These are really beautiful products.

Le Bois de Grandmontwhich comes from Lac Saint-Jean, is a delicious camembert. To accompany the tomahawk, you can chamber it, as they say, by leaving it at room temperature. When the steak is ready, you can place a few slices on top. It's dripping, it's good, you won't regret it!

Le Sabot de Blanchette is another great discovery for goat cheese lovers.

What does healthy eating mean to you?

First of all, eat when you're hungry. I prefer to eat small portions several times rather than three huge meals. Then variety, eating less meat but better quality. This fits in perfectly with the meat choices offered at La Boite à Grains.

Lots of color on the plate. The more colors, the more vitamins. For protein, you can vary between red meat, chicken, pork and fish. Of course, plenty of vegetables and fruit.

And don't forget that eating is above all a pleasure. A good marinated salmon cooked on the barbecue is very healthy and enjoyable.

Do you have a favorite meal of the day?

I'll say suppertime, when I have time to prepare a good meal, and the smells are wafting through the house. In winter, I'll cook a lot of stews, like beef bourguignon, a good oven roast, prime rib with potatoes (gratin dauphinois or duchesse potatoes). A good white fish from Quebec or the Maritimes, a scallop as an appetizer, is very pleasant. I also make a lot of soups, which is a good way to avoid waste!

Do you have any healthy habits to share?

I love walking and golf. Walking is great for your well-being, especially in the evening, as it helps you unwind from the day. And coming back to food, enjoying a good home-cooked meal that you can share with friends and family is great for morale!

Thank you Christian for sharing your favorites with us!

Don't hesitate to say hello to Christian on your next visit to our Aylmer store. 😊

Meats from Valens Farms

Since 2005, Les Fermes Valens has offered a fine selection of 100% natural and organic meats and charcuterie, raised locally without hormones or antibiotics.

Discover their specialties in store and learn more here.

Quebec farmhouse cheeses

With an appellation d'origine contrôlée and farmhouse cheeses made locally with 100% natural and organic ingredients, enjoy superb, tasty and addictive products.

Discover the selection in store and learn more here.