Posts Categorized: Expert Chef

Slaw: Mayonnaise Optional, Flavor Guaranteed

by in Expert Chef

Erin Dow

Most everyone knows what coleslaw (or slaw) is and people love it or hate it; well, they generally either love or hate the version they’re familiar with. But there are infinite variations–often associated with a particular region–so we’re pretty much guaranteed that there are a ton of shredded cabbage salads we haven’t tried yet. Because of the ease of preparation, the almost infinite possibilities and the flexibility of the ingredients, slaw is a side dish stand-by that provides us with several significant benefits over other salad-type dishes.

Slaw: Mayonnaise Optional, Flavor Guaranteed

Meathead: A Blog Worth Reading

by in Expert Chef

Erin Dow

On the numerous occasions I’m asked how best to ensure success in the kitchen, my two part answer is always the same. If taste comes first, your starting point should be the freshest foods you can find. Whether it’s local and organic or supermarket and conventional, the best foundation for a satisfying meal–and its preparation–is starting with quality product. And with a modest investment in a simple digital thermometer, your workload, your risk and your frustration levels are all but eliminated.

Meathead: A Blog Worth Reading

Locavore: Healthy Eating = Eating Local

by in Expert Chef, General

Erin Dow

I’ve often written about the fact that eating the freshest, local and seasonally-relevant foods can make cooking easier: better quality ingredients = better flavor with less work. But finding local and seasonal foods can be challenging for people who aren’t dialed into the nuances of the growing seasons and the best sources for the amazing local products that surround them. Fortunately, there are numerous apps available for iPhone and Android devices that provide an easy solution. I’ve dubbed around with several of them on both platforms, and the one I recommend most is Locavore, obtainable at both the Apple App Store and Android Market and, as of this writing, available for precisely no money whatsoever. That’s my kind of price.

Locavore: Healthy Eating = Eating Local

Assemble Your Way to Quick Nutrition

by in Expert Chef

Erin Dow

I’ve touched on many Asian cuisines over my years as a chef, and when I’m choosing a restaurant, places that feature the fresh flavors of Asia are hands-down my personal favorite. As a chef, I’ve learned the hard way that the only way to really mess up a stir fry or a noodle dish is to cook it too long. But really, the only way these dishes can be cooked too long is if the prep work isn’t done ahead of time. The focus on fresh and minimally-adulterated ingredients means the main goal when preparing Asian dishes should be to prepare everything quickly, but that can seem frustrating when the ingredient list seems so long. Assembly line-style preparation is the key to enjoying your favorite Asian dishes without tearing your hair out. There’s a reason why you don’t see chefs at Chinese restaurants chopping vegetables and meat to order: it’s already done.

Assemble Your Way to Quick Nutrition

School Lunch 2.0

by in Expert Chef, School Lunches

Erin Dow

A couple of weeks ago I got to be a lunch lady, which was something I never imagined would happen but always secretly hoped would. I got to do it for a day, but real lunch ladies and gentlemen do it day in and day out. Honestly, I canʼt imagine how thankless that job is, especially in a high school where the majority of their customers are angst-ridden teenagers. Teenagers stuck within the four walls of high school. On a sunny day in June weʼre serving hungry, stuck, angst-ridden teenagers.

School Lunch 2.0