Interview with Chef Walter Staib “Always be willing to experiment and try something new.” – Chef Walter Staib Chef Walter Staib is a third generation restaurateur with over 40 years experience in the kitchen. He is also the person responsible for rescuing our historic City Tavern Restaurant that was originally established in 1773 and was […]
“We cannot expect them to be a chef, we have to teach them to become a chef.” – Bertrand Chemel I am very excited to introduce Chef Bertrand Chemel to the Reluctant Gourmet Novice2Pro Chef Interviews. For those of you who are restaurant fans, you will remember Chef Chemel at Café Boulud in New York […]
Cooking is more a reason to get people together, talking, loving each other, participating in a communal activity. – Lola I met Lola when she commented on my Cooking Blog about a Tuscan Tomato, Cucumber & Bread Salad called Panzanella. She is an “Italian-American, home cook, freelance writer, translator, mother, dreamer” who has a […]
There is no crime in not liking some allegedly famous cheese. – Cheeseman Jack I met Jack at our local Farmers Market where he has one of his two popular cheese stands. His other cheese shop is in Philadelphia at the famous Reading Terminal Market. Jack is a true cheese monger but doesn’t like titles […]
“Cuisine is not made of only techniques. Understanding people and culture leads you to understand cuisine even more deeply. – Chef Hiromitsu Nozaki For those of you who are interested in Japanese cuisine, you are going to enjoy this interview with Chef Hiromitsu Nozaki who just published his new book Japanese Kitchen Knives. In this […]
Focus on learning the skills and techniques behind cooking…not just following recipes. – Chef Dawn Thomas With all the crazy cooking shows featuring celebrity chefs screaming and yelling at everyone, it’s great to hear Chef Dawn Thomas’s calming voice and watch her gifted hands as she teaches home cooks like myself the techniques of preparing […]
I look for dedication, I look for passion, I look for how they watch and listen. I watch their eyes and their gestures. – Chef Marc Vetri Interview with Chef Marc Vetri Although I have not had the opportunity (and I hope this changes) to dine at Marc Vetri’s restaurant here in Philadelphia, I may […]
“Using just a few excellent ingredients, anyone can make a perfect meal with very little formal training.” – Chef Walter Scheib Interview with White House Chef Walter Scheib This hobby of mine is getting more fun every day. This time I get to interview Chef Walter Scheib, the executive chef in the White House for […]
“There are going to be people who know more about food and recipes, can prep faster and will generally outperform you in the kitchen but you need to live your dream. – Culinary Student Greg Cerretani Interview with Greg Cerretani For the past several years I have been involved with Chef David Nelson’s Chef4Students.org […]
“If I think about some of the best moments of my life, they usually involve sitting around a large table with friends and family, enjoying wonderful food and a nice glass of wine or beer and talking of something important.” – Chef Trina Hahnemann I am very excited about this interview with Trina Hahnemann, a […]
I'm a work-at-home dad who enjoys cooking, learning everything I can about the culinary world and sharing it with you. To learn more about me... Read More
What is Demi Glace? I am a huge fan of demi-glace for preparing classic sauces like mushroom or peppercorn sauce but I have to warn you, it is a huge process to make classic demi glace at home. It is not for the faint of heart but well worth the effort – at least once. […]
Penne Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella
How to Make a Delicious Pasta Meal with Roasted Tomatoes & Fresh Mozzarella In our house we typically have a weekly “What’s On Hand” meal where my wife and I find ingredients in the refrigerator and pantry that need to be used sooner than later and prepare a pasta dish, stir-fry or Mexican fajita. This […]
Pan Roasting—the Chef’s Secret Cooking Technique One of my favorite cooking techniques not talked about in most cookbooks If I could teach you just one chef’s technique that will help you save time in the kitchen and deliver a thick cut of meat to the table with a perfect sear and juicy medium-rare throughout, it […]
