Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Recipes Between the Lines: Mirepoix

Onions, carrots, celery, leeks, parsnips, garlic, tomatoes, shallots, mushrooms, peppers, and ginger are among the ingredients commonly referred to as aromatics. They may be used in various combinations, as dictated by the cuisine and the dish itself. Even when used in relatively small amounts, aromatic ingredients make a significant contribution […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How to: Peel Fresh Peppers and Chiles

Peppers and chiles are often peeled before they are used in a dish, to improve the dish’s flavor or texture, or both. The skin of a fresh pepper or chile can not be peeled like some other fruits or vegetables, and instead, a pepper must be cooked on just the […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Kitchen Vocab: Nappe

Nappe is a French term describing the consistency of a sauce that will coat the back of a spoon. Ice cream base that is cooped is cooked to this stage before cooling and then freezing.  Cooking it to this stage indicates that the proteins have been fully cooked and the […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

7 Cozy Recipes to Welcome Fall

From coast to coast, and everyone in between, the weather is cooling. And whether you’re live somewhere truly brisk or simply “not that hot today,” the changing seasons are best marked with something warm and cozy to eat. In that spirit, we’re sharing some of our hands-down favorite recipes for […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

On-The Go Bites for Wherever LDW Takes You

Marking the unofficial end up summer is always bittersweet. Summer is special, and we think it deserves one last farewell bash this Labor Day Weekend. Whether you’re firing up the grill or taking the party to the beach, here are a few of our favorite savory bites, sweet treats, and […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

The Buzz on the CIA’s Bees

To an observer it must have looked like some bizarre heist movie. Here’s the scene: It was a warm night in late April. Ruined pillars from some forgotten structure loomed above the Hudson River. Flowers covered the apple trees nearby. A car approached, the headlights flashing, only to turn off […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Pre-Salt Meat for Perfect Results Every Time

If may sound a little basic, but today’s lesson is about seasoning meat before you cook it. Revolutionary, right? Sure, of course, we all know how important adequately seasoning food with salt is. Salt, in all of its varieties, primes our taste buds to enjoy food. But salt also primes […]

Chef's Blog

Becoming a Chef: The Pivot Point

One of my biggest inspirations in the culinary field is chef Alex Guarnaschelli. As a little girl growing up, I did not really see a lot of female chefs on tv, besides Rachael Ray. Watching Alex on Iron Chef really inspired me to go into the culinary field. Then a […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

The Basics of Hot Water Canning

Our world sometimes feels much larger than it once did, and at a time when we can buy produce from half a world away whenever we want it, some traditional methods of food preservation, like canning, may seem like old news. But for many of us, there is a sort […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Flavoring Homemade Ice Cream

As the summer settles in, there is no greater joy than a scoop of ice cream on a hot day. No matter your favorite flavor, from simple vanilla to the rockiest rocky road, an ice cream cone is the ultimate way to treat yourself. Near our San Antonio campus, where […]