Product Cutting: Dijon Mustard

Grey Poupon mustard was created over 220 years ago in Dijon, France.
Today, the brand is made from the same ingredients—white wine, mustard
seed and a blend of spices. The brand is available for foodservice from
Kraft in both the classic smooth style and the coarser country style.
“Both work well in several applications,” notes Jeff Basalik, corporate chef. “It depends
what the operator wants in terms of build—more subtlety or more
rusticity.” Package sizes range from .25-ounce individual pouches to 8-
and 10-ounce tabletop jars or squeeze bottles and 48-ounce to 1-gallon
containers. Here’s what to look for when evaluating a premium Dijon
mustard.

1. Spoon the mustard into a bowl and smell the product. The aroma
   should make the nose tingle slightly. You should sense a nice layering
   of flavors and no off odors or overpowering heat. “Grey Poupon mustard
   is an enhancer—it shouldn’t blow you away,” explains Basalik.
2. Note the texture and color. Classic Dijon is thick, creamy and
   golden; Country Dijon is coarse-grained with crushed mustard seeds
   visible; the color is a deeper golden-brown.
3. Sample the mustard with small tasting spoons, using crackers
   and/or water as palate cleansers. The flavor should be smooth, clean
   and well-balanced—never muddy. “Rounded in flavor with a touch of
   heat,” describes Basalik.
4. Test the product in several applications:

• Mix about 1 teaspoon into ¼ cup mayonnaise. Taste the “bite” to
  judge proportions. Stir the mixture into cooked potatoes to evaluate
  its binding qualities.
• Add the mustard to a vinaigrette and whisk or shake to test its emulsifying properties.
• Spread mustard on a sandwich containing sliced, cooked turkey or ham. Note texture, appearance and taste.
• Coat surface of salmon fillets or chicken cutlets with Dijon and
  dredge in panko or bread crumbs. Check adherence and cooking results.