Gastrobabe looking for ITALIAN BALSAMIC VINEGAR

[chicsavvy]

Does anyone knows where to buy Italian Balsamic Vinegar? I've been wanting to get those real mean balsamic vinegar ever since I dined at Vertigo in BKK a few years back.

I don't know if they have added anything else to it but just dip it with some olive oil with the warm assorted breads, it can be just as good as a small full-filling snack.

When I asked what type of balsamic vinegar they used, the friendly Thais just said "Italian Balsamic Vinegar."

It has a partial sweet taste along with the sourness of the vinegar. It is unlike the usual balsamic vinegar where you could only taste the extreme sourness.

Let me know if anyone has the details for me to cook at home that is.

[ksl]

Does anyone knows where to buy Italian Balsamic Vinegar? I've been wanting to get those real mean balsamic vinegar ever since I dined at Vertigo in BKK a few years back.

I don't know if they have added anything else to it but just dip it with some olive oil with the warm assorted breads, it can be just as good as a small full-filling snack.

When I asked what type of balsamic vinegar they used, the friendly Thais just said "Italian Balsamic Vinegar."

It has a partial sweet taste along with the sourness of the vinegar. It is unlike the usual balsamic vinegar where you could only taste the extreme sourness.

Let me know if anyone has the details for me to cook at home that is.

From the vinegar expert, balsamic vinegars can be purchased here, although you should experiment with vinegars, the equivalent is an Asian 6 month to 3 year old vinegar, older the better, but more expensive, the 6 month is 100% natural sorghum and fruit, no additives or colouring, and no vinegar taste because the fruit juice is fermented at the same time, but you still know its vinegar.

Depending on what food you are cooking, you could look at the range of vinegars in NTUC, these are developed for food and drink.

Although you do not dilute them with food, just marinate pork for example in the pineapple vinegar....all the vinegars are natural sweet, and can be drank with water, although soda water is better, for health or mix the vinegar for salads, with olive oil. Cranberry or the red grape is tasty.

There are about 10 flavours in all, depends on the flavours you want. Balsamic is a much sharper taste, which you can feel as its going down, the Asian ones are more mellow, because of the different ingredients, mainly rice based.

Italian balsamic I have seen in Takashimaya, I think it was in the basement, cold storage part.

But there are many copies about too, so be careful, a true modena is around 12 years old minimum, is not cheap a 250ml bottle in Singapore would be expensive, anything under 200$ is a copy balsamic.
take a look at these prices

http://www.become.com/shop?refdisa=ytf& ... modena&qet

[banana]

Try Jason's, there's one at Orchard Tower. Vaguely recall there being a specialty store that deals with gourmet vinegars as well but can't remember where exactly. Think it was at one of those newer malls like Vivocity or Cathay.

[chicsavvy]

Hey Guys thanks for your info, especially with attached sites to it

I've used the ones in Jasons before but have forgotten what brand that was and it was the usual sourish type. I didn't know NTUC sells European vinegar Because everytime I go there, they seemd to only sell those localised used ingredients like Chinese rice wine and white vinegar (I don't usually buy my food groceries in NTUC because they don't have a wide range of imported European food) I supposed Jasons are so far the ones with the wider range.

I think ksl has given me a good site because those are the types of balsamic I've been looking for. I thought they usually come in exquisite glass botttles and of course a good balsmic also costs more.

Guess I'll have try to look around in the shopping centres areas again I think there is a store at the basement of Paragon shopping centre where they specialise in Italian gourmet such as fresh pasta, olives, wines...

Anyways I'm only using the balsamic mainly for breads and salads But marination for meats is a good idea too

[ksl]

Actually the vinegars sold in NTUC are more health related and are specially brewed with aged brown rice, because of the mellow taste, western vinegars are very sharp in taste, but the longer it is aged, the more mellow and darker it becomes. Actually I tell a lie, because all brewed vinegars are healthy, and the Modena Balsamic is one of the best for health, but very expensive to drink and not made to drink.

In NTUC they are under Asian drinks, because they are sold as health drinks, but I do know a few chefs, that use them for marinated meats, Vinegar is very much classified like wines today, and a 30 year old Asian is superb.

The Asian ones are like a syrup too, like the balsamics and are ideal for cocktail parties, and can be mixed with other cocktail flavours, the apple one for example is really refreshing, and invigorating served with a dash of mint, and a slice of lemon, with lots of crushed ice.

One really needs to experiment, making jellies, and toppings for ice cream or adding it, to soya milk or yoghurt, it's really tasty.

[zjules]

Jones the grocer on dempsey hill has a really nice selection of that kind of thing.. also has a whole climate controlled cheese room! mmm cheese

[chicsavvy]

Ooh...cheeseeee Ironically I wasn't a fan of cheese a few years back (guess because I was kinda concious about health) but recently a year ago, I've came to appreciate them. I've yet to be a cheese connosiour but I know I love this type or rather brand called Emmantelle? (forgotten how it's spelled).

I like Stilton cheese too but too sharp to taste on its own

Anyways, maybe I'll drop by the Jones to see the selections. I think it is really hard to find specialised European authentic gourmet stores around cos I've lived in the UK and always love to whip up a few good dishes and play host for my friends to come around savouring wine and taste food