A perfect BLT or lobster roll relies almost entirely on the quality of the ingredients. Summer-kissed tomatoes, high-end bacon, and of course, really good mayo. Elevating such a simple treat takes more than your average grocery-store spread. Chef Sam Mason and designer Elizabeth Valleau opened Empire Mayonnaise in 2011—with a brick and mortar location in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood—using only non-GMO canola oil and New York State egg yolks in their emulsified concoctions. The pair whips up a classic standard mayo along with intriguing takes like black garlic, vadouvan, and lime pickle. Empire also makes a point of using real ingredients in everything. Their truffle, for instance, is made with real truffles that have infused in a combination of olive and non-GMO canola oil; those mushroom-inflected oils are then whipped by hand with eggs into a lush spreadable sauce. While it’s true that an artisanal mayonnaise shop may sound like a pretentious endeavor, when the final product is as pure as Empire’s, it’s easy to get behind.
