All posts tagged: Chefs

8 Snacks and Guilty-Pleasure Foods Chefs Can’t Live Without 

8 Snacks and Guilty-Pleasure Foods Chefs Can’t Live Without 

While the world’s top chefs have direct access to premium ingredients, complex recipes and state-of-the-art appliances, they, too, fall for guilty-pleasure foods, shortcut ingredients and other foods nobody tells us novices about. Until now… To get the inside scoop on the best online food buys, I asked eight chefs to share the snacks, condiments and cooking must-haves that bring them the most joy when not on the line and firing up other people’s orders. Here are their picks.  Torres black truffle potato chips  There’s no denying the allure of a salty, crunchy potato chip, and umami-packed Torres black truffle variety is a staple for Executive Chef Michael Quigley of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa. “I first noticed these at the grocery store several years ago and was instantly hooked,” Quigley said. “When my local store stopped carrying them, I naturally had to turn to Amazon because I genuinely can’t live without them.” “They are ridiculously good: super salty, which I love, and completely addictive,” he added, noting that while best enjoyed on their …

How to save limp herbs

How to save limp herbs

What can I do with herbs that are past their best?Joe, by emailHappily, Joe and his on-the-turn herbs aren’t short of options. “The obvious choice for hard herbs is to chuck them in a sandwich bag and freeze them for future stock-making,” says Alice Norman, founder of regenerative bakery Pinch in Suffolk. Alternatively, Sami Tamimi, author of Boustany, would be inclined to dry his excess herbs. In summer, he’d simply pop them on a tray and put them outside in the sun, but right now he “dries them in a 60-70C oven, then packs in containers, ready for the next time you’re short of fresh herbs”. Norman’s current MO is to blitz languishing herbs (“rosemary and/or thyme work best”) with a 3:4 ratio of fine salt. “You don’t want too many herbs, because that will throw off the moisture content and turn the mix black, but you need enough for the blades to catch and break down the rosemary properly.” Pulse until fine, then store in an airtight jar in the fridge (where it’ll keep …

Ways to use mint sauce without having to roast a lamb

Ways to use mint sauce without having to roast a lamb

My wife adores roast lamb with mint sauce. However, after an online purchasing blunder, my larder now contains six jars. How can I make use of them apart from serving roast lamb every Sunday from now until the crack of doom?John, by emailAs is so often the case, it all starts with a shift in mindset. “When you see a jar of sauce, there’s a real tendency to think, ‘I must use this as a sauce,’” says Kate Young, author of Dinner at Mine? Start treating that surplus mint sauce as an ingredient instead, however, and your life will be a whole lot easier. “If John is planning on using chopped fresh mint with, say, meat, cheese or veg, then consider how you might use mint sauce in its place,” Young adds. Case in point: pea and mint soup, says Sally Abé of the recently opened Teal by Sally Abé in east London. “Stir in the mint sauce at the end of the cooking, then blitz with the peas.” Obvious, maybe, but it’s also worth …

Tarte by Cheryl Koh to close after 11 years on Apr 26

Tarte by Cheryl Koh to close after 11 years on Apr 26

Sad news for tart lovers. Tarte by Cheryl Koh will be closing down after 11 years, with its final day of operations on Apr 26. The brand is helmed by Singaporean pastry chef Cheryl Koh, who is also the pastry chef of three-Michelin-starred French restaurant Les Amis, currently ranked No. 38 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list. It first opened at Shaw Centre in 2015 as a casual but chic spin-off of the Les Amis Group, focusing on artisanal French-style tarts made with premium seasonal ingredients. Source link

8 Underrated Pantry Staples That Chefs Swear By (and You Need)

8 Underrated Pantry Staples That Chefs Swear By (and You Need)

Modern life moves at a relentless pace, which explains why we tend to stock up on the same reliable staples. Whether clicking through checkout screens or pushing carts down familiar aisles, we rely on these ingredients to carry us through another week of cooking without much thought.  For home cooks eager to elevate their everyday dishes, though, there’s a collection of overlooked pantry essentials that deserve a permanent place in the cupboard. If you’ve grown weary of even your favorite recipes, a small spice adjustment or aromatic addition can give them a second life. And the right pantry items can inspire new and exciting recipes. I interviewed a dozen top chefs from around the country for their expert recommendations, from dish stars to supporting roles.  Here are eight pantry ingredients to consider before checkout. 1. Clam juice  No, this is not a call to chug a bottle because of a current health fad. Clam juice is one of the most versatile ingredients that money can buy, adding a whisper of oceanic flavors to everything from sauces, soups and …

Where top chefs in Jakarta

Where top chefs in Jakarta

“They do really great Manadonese food. The spice level is very well controlled, quite different from the stereotypical Manadonese restaurants that usually serve very spicy dishes. As a result, you can really taste and appreciate the ingredients.” Jl. Wijaya VI No.14A, Melawai, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Hay Thien “This is a neighborhood place for me. A comfort place that I usually go to with groups of friends and family. When you go there, you don’t have to worry about the quality of food – they always deliver. This is my go-to place for gatherings.” Jl. Puri Indah Raya A No.1 1, Kembangan, Jakarta Sate Padang Goyang Lidah “As someone who grew up in Medan, Sate Padang was my typical after-school meal. Now that I live in Jakarta, the closest I get to tasting the satay of my childhood is Goyang Lidah in Menteng. It opens until after midnight, so I can still go after work, and it reminds me of my childhood.” Jl. H. Agus Salim No.50, Menteng, Jakarta Suji Suan Cai Yu Source link