Maison Bordier’s unsalted Le Beurre Bordier at DR Delicacy in Houston.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Diane Roederer sells luxurious ingredients such as truffles, caviar and foie gras to restaurants and enthusiastic foodies throughout the Houston area.
The French native’s company, DR Delicacy, includes a small shop in northwest Houston, 1291 North Post Oak, where she also stocks the shelves with pricey olive oils stored in perfume-like bottles, cookies you’d find in Parisian supermarkets and snails harvested in Burgundy.
But Roederer’s newest product is one that’s a first for Houston shops: Le Beurre Bordier.
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It comes from Brittany, France, and is not your run-of-the-mill butter. Chefs cooking at Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide buy the hand-churned, silky spread. Bordier is all the rage for butter content on social media with influencers racking up millions of views as they share tips on how to find the butter in France and conduct reviews.
“It’s the Roquefort of butter,” Roederer said.
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Diane Roederer owner of DR Delicacy in the Houston store.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
It took nearly two months of hunting before Roederer, who is known as the Truffle Lady for not only selling the prized fungi but organizing a large truffle festival, found a vendor. She places an order every two weeks from a vendor, which she’s coy about revealing.
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DR Delicacy currently sells bricks of Bordier weighing 125 grams, which is only slightly more than one stick of butter. The unsalted and salted butter go for $13.45 each. Roederer carries an espelette pepper one for $19.55 and another with perigord truffle for $36.25. At her shop and online, DR Delicacy may eventually stock other flavors like yuzu, seaweed, onion and Madagascar vanilla.
A variety of Maison Bordier’s Le Beurre Bordier, available at DR Delicacy in Houston.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Single servings of Le Beurre Bordier available at DR Delicacy in Houston.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Le Beurre Bordier in the refrigerated section at DR Delicacy in Houston.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
A variety of Maison Bordier’s Le Beurre Bordier, available at DR Delicacy in Houston.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Regardless of the recipe, Roederer said Bordier reminds her of the butter she grew up eating in Strasbourg, France. She describes it as creamy but not too rich.
“I think Americans love the whole story of butter and that France is known for its butter,” Roederer said. “Just look at Julia Child. She said everything is better with butter.”
There are countless videos on TikTok of influencers shopping for Bordier at LaGrande Épicerie de Paris. They show all the varieties of butter, and offer tips on how to bring the dairy product home, oftentimes getting the bricks vacuum-sealed and putting them in coolers or bags with ice.
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Le Beurre Bordier is sold at DR Delicacy in Houston.
Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle
Steve Buechner, the co-owner of wine bar and shop Lights Years in the Museum District, developed an obsession for Bordier after spending time in various cities across France.
From fine-dining restaurants to more casual bistros, Bordier was served in many of his favorite places.
“Even by French butter standards, it’s better than the next best one,” Buechner said.
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But it was difficult to source it for Light Years, where he sold it with slices of baguette. He recalls tracking down a distributor in Southern California, but he had to compose an essay to send to Bordier before they would agree to sell it to him.
Jean-Yves Bordier still ensures that the company uses artisanal methods, such as sourcing cows that graze on grass and flowers, churning each batch by hand and only selling limited quantities. French celebrity chefs such as Alain Passard, Marc Veyrat and Guy Savoy have all praised the butter.
Buechner started selling Bordier on his menu in October 2018 until about six months ago (he adds that he broke even at best on the cost).
“Every single packet of butter was excellent,” he said.
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Dining and Cooking