Too many years have gone by where I have sat at the dinner table in complete disappointment of the taste of my butter. I, like so many it seems, just accept that rolls soaked in the stuff don't taste like the ones at restaurants. It's either too bland, not sweet enough, too salty, not salty enough. Enough already!
I have made some half hearted efforts in the past mind you. I've checked out the butters that say "sweet and salty" and they all failed the test. Ironically it's not those tastes that make the restaurant butter taste so damn good. Who would have thought...not me.
Now let me pause here to comment on the obvious you might all be thinking. Could I have just gone to the owner of the place we were at and asked him about where he gets it? Or maybe I could have called the number on the packet and asked if it's possible to buy it in some store? All true, but honestly it sounded like a hell of a lot more fun to just go out and buy all the butter I could find and try each one myself. So here it goes and yes I did find one - $50 and several annoying stares later.
Here is the list of the players. Now before you throw a shit fit about your favorite butter not being listed here know that I sampled from the best available in Southern California. Also know that absolutely no margarines were sampled and nothing stamped with ORGANIC. Maybe one of those tastes 100% like I am looking for but I will have to live without. There is no way I am letting any of that quitter crap in to my house.
(all are sweet and salted unless noted)
Ralphs Brand Butter - Store brand butter. Does not list if it is sweetened or salted.
Challenge Butter - European style and even makes a point on the package to mention it's wrapped in REAL foil.
Tillamook - One of the booj-wah butters in this test that gives me hope.
First Street - A California native. Will it show me the path?
Land O Lakes - This one mentions flavor protect wrapper. Is it a flavor worth protecting?
Plugra - Most expensive butter in this test and definitely the most booj-wah. Claims to be used by leading chefs.
THE RESULTS:
Plugra - very close to taste requirements, nearly perfect, GREAT aroma of all things butter
First Street - Smells like camel seamen and that smell stains the taste. It even has hints of margarine!
Tillamook - Decent aroma but ends up tasting like grease, not butter. Just an oily taste.
Challenge Butter - Very milky, almost no aroma
Land O Lakes - No aroma, but does have a some of the taste we're looking for. For those on a budget this should be considered
Ralphs Butter - No aroma and it tastes like it's simulating the taste I am looking for. Another one to consider for those looking to save a buck.
So there you have it. Plugra which is the most expensive clearly wins. It tastes the most like the butter you get in those little foil packets at restaurants. Ralph's and Land O Lakes can definitely be considered though. For me only the best will do. I will now have to shift money away from my personal hygiene budget and place more of it towards butter.
