"Two Blokes Blending Butter" – Compound butter top-seller at Missoula Farmers Market

Year after year, as this market grows, it offers locals access to more and more folks with enterprising artisanal food ideas. This year, Dave Smith and Paul Tripp – "Two Blokes Blending Butter" http://daveandpauls.net/Compound_Butter.html – seem a front-runner example.

Their current assortment of four compound butters – and more to come – feature flavor profiles that traverse sweet to savory. Green Garlic and Calcutta Curry are savory choices that could complement anything from a big fat ribeye hot off the grill, to a jumbo shrimp saute, to steamed mussels.

Sweeter Mighty Maple and bittersweet Oddly Orange are best suited for a peach or apricot saute, a French Tarte tatin, or as an addition to pastry or pastry cream, or Sunday morning waffles.

In case you’re wondering, compound butter is any butter that has had an additional flavor or ingredient added to it – from dill to orange water to Chinese five-spice and cumin. Its popularity in bread baskets in our nation’s top restaurants is at an all-time high.

By LORI GRANNIS

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/entertainment/dining/article_6fc31c02-9370-11e0-98d6-001cc4c002e0.html