An Edge in the Kitchen

Great Review from Om-Nom-Nomnivore

Chad — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:34:35 +0000

I’m sorry I missed this when it first came out, but better late than never. This is a great review from the website Om Nom Nomnivore.

This book is quite bluntly, amazing. Chad has done such a good job in demystifying the whole world of professional-grade cutlery. The entire book is written to be the [...]

Steeling Your Knife

Chad — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:28:45 +0000

Proper technique for steeling your knife, keeping the edge sharp

That metal rod thingie that came with your knife set is called a steel or honing rod. Unless you purchased your steel separately, you probably ended up with a medium grooved steel. That’s okay, but a finely grooved steel is better. A completely smooth [...]

Gifts for Cooks Part Deux

Chad — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:19:49 +0000

Still searching for that perfect gift for the cook in your life? I ran my list by some of my favorite professional chefs and ardent home cooks and they made a few additional suggestions.

Le Creuset Dutch Oven

My wife thought I was insane when she discovered what I spent on my first Le [...]

‘Tis the Season: Gifts for the Cook

Chad — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:46:42 +0000

Stuck for the perfect gift for the cook in your life? Here are a few suggestions.

A Good Chef’s Knife

You don’t have to break the bank to provide your favorite cook with some serious hardware. While Wusthof, Henckels and Shun get all the shelf space down at the Towels-’n'-Such, there are are better bargains [...]

Faster than a Speeding Chef’s Knife

Chad — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:17:53 +0000

Coleslaw for a crowd and gratin by the cubic yard are not a problem if you have a mandoline in your arsenal.

Top to bottom: the mighty Shun mandoline, a Borner V-slicer, a Kyocera paddle slicer and my battered Matfer mandoline

What you need to know

1) You don’t need one (but they’re damn [...]

Apple Cinnamon Granola

Chad — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:49:50 +0000

When we began our cooking from scratch experiment I knew I was going to have to find a replacement for commercial breakfast cereal. My kids were only going to put up with so much toast & peanut butter or yogurt before demanding something they could put in a bowl and pour milk on. Puffing [...]

Through the Seasons with Cap’n Danger, Stunt Monkey

Chad — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:04:30 +0000

It was early fall last year when I first started thinking about this project and whether a suburban family really could make everything it eats from scratch. For us now, fall is the time to make sausages. To brew beer. To put up the last summer vegetables and horde the strawberry jam from early [...]

KitchenAid Just Doesn’t Give a Damn

Chad — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:29:51 +0000

If you own a pre-2006 KitchenAid Professional 600, be aware that it will probably come to a grinding, screeching halt if you make a lot of bread. When it crashes you will be assaulted by one of the most painful and soul-crushing sounds you are likely to hear in a kitchen. Your beautiful mixer [...]

The Dirty Truth About Cutting Boards

Chad — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:34:53 +0000

I have a new article up at The Daily Beast, The Dirty Truth About Cutting Boards. They went with a more lurid lead than I would have, but the article itself is a solid primer on cutting board safety and selection. Who knew food safety could be fun?

A recent report found that 80 [...]

Low Budget Knife Skills Videos

Chad — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:27:52 +0000

Two videos on basic knife skills. Felini they ain’t, but The Pinch & The Claw are your keys to making precision knife cuts with speed, safety and style. The Onion Cheat is a quick and easy way to dice an onion.

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