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Seven Culinary Cues for Cooking In |
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 Honing your skills in the kitchen should be a high priority on every man’s list. Enhancing your life in the kitchen will not only improve your day-to-day meals, but it also puts you in a unique position where women will adore you, your friends will wonder how you do it, and even football on Sundays is that much better. Be Better Guys asked Peter Smith, chef and owner of PS 7’s Restaurant in Washington, DC’s Penn Quarter neighborhood, to drop in and give some advice, from his world to yours on how to develop your own chef style.As a kid, I used to watch my grandfather and other relatives cooking together in the kitchen. I was always fascinated by the food, and even more so the camaraderie and traditions created through their time in the kitchen. I’ve been cooking ever since. I have been extremely lucky in the cooking experiences that have come my way, and have seen over and over the ways in which having culinary skills has positively impacted my life. Judging from my own life experiences, I can genuinely say that there is an abundant return on investment from knowing how to navigate the kitchen tool box, and I have compiled basic tips to get you started. This list is meant to take the pressure off when you are cooking, whether it is for a crowd or for a table for two.Give her favorite dish a twist.The best advice that I have is to consider your audience when you are planning any menu. If the meal is intended for the lady in your life, think about her tastes. By recreating her favorite dish you’re not only making something that you know she’ll love, but you’re presenting her with a new way of enjoying an old favorite. You can always fill-in any awkward silences on your date by telling her about your experience cooking the meal or why you chose the wine/cocktail pairing that you did.
- It’s all in the details. This rule applies to a few different aspects of the meal. First, the flavors in your food should be just right. Seasonings can make or break a man’s cuisine. Start adding seasoning little by little, tasting the food as you go. If you don’t like it, odds are neither will anyone else. Next, you should pay attention to is how the food looks on the plate. Typically, women are impressed with color and coordination, meaning the combination of food on the plate should not only be colorful (think vegetables and garnishes), but the food should also be displayed in a way that looks enticing.
- If after all of this advice you are still intimidated by your kitchen, make a fixings bar instead. Ok, hear me out on this one. At my restaurant the philosophy is, if you can buy it at the store you can make it at home. Therefore, if a full meal is too much for you to handle, try making some store bought hot dogs or bratwursts (my personal favorite) and recreate your favorite fixings such as mustard, spicy mayo and relish. This is great if you’re having a group over in a more laid back setting. By going this route, you may not be reinventing the wheel, but you are still putting forth effort into the occasion.
- Don’t forget to set the mood. If you want to go to the other end of the spectrum and prepare something romantic, the ambiance is an excellent way to build up to a great meal. However, if you feel like going for the traditional flowers and candles, make sure to keep anything scented far away from the dinner table. You don’t want any aromas to conflict with the meal. If you’re planning a romantic evening try to create a light menu. Heavy, overly rich foods make people lethargic and tired. A heavy stomach can ruin even the best evening.
- Cook within your ability. A special dinner that is meant to impress is not the time to try making the latest and greatest dish from Food and Wine or Gourmet Magazine for the first time. Simple can be excellent as long as it is done well. If you have time, it’s always best to do a test run. I‘m always playing with my recipes in the kitchen, tweaking them here and there to find the perfect fit. Test runs just make everything go more smoothly when you get to the main event. No worries, just great cooking.
- Choose a drink that compliments the meal. Whether it is cocktails or wine, do your research and choose a drink that will compliment both the aromas as well as the flavors in the dish. There are a tremendous amount of resources out there for food and drink pairings. You can explore the web for suggestions, or you can go to your local wine shop and ask an expert about great pairings for your meal.
- Make it fun. Cooking shouldn’t be a chore. Have fun in the kitchen and it will come through in the meal. You will be more relaxed and everyone will take notice. For me, cooking is extremely personal, it comes from the soul. The more you cook the more comfortable you will become. Here is a recipe from my bag of tricks. Enjoy.
Now that you have some basics, here is a recipe from my kitchen to try. This is one I would recommend for a date night, or smaller intimate dinners. It is no-fail crowd pleaser that I serve both at home and in the restaurant. Blood Orange and Hazelnut Risotto - 4 Blood oranges (2 juiced and 2 sectioned)
- ½ cup toasted and rough chopped hazelnuts
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups Arborio Rice
- ½ cup red wine
- 5 cups chicken stock (5 cups total liquid including the blood orange juice)
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Place chicken stock (and blood orange juice) in a heavy saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Heat half of the butter in a second heavy saucepan and cook onions, stirring frequently, until onions become translucent, about 4-5 minutes; don't let onions brown. Stir in the rice and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 2-3 minutes longer until some grains begin to look translucent. Add wine; cook and stir until wine is absorbed. Then add about 1/2 cup of simmering chicken stock to the rice mixture, stirring constantly, until the liquid is absorbed.
At this point you can add more stock, about 1 cup, at a time. The whole cooking process should take about 20-25 minutes. The rice should be tender, but firm, or al dente, in the center; test it by biting into some grains. When the rice is done, remove the pan from the heat and stir in cheese, butter, ¾ of hazelnuts and the blood orange section. Stir until cheese and butter are melted, then serve. Garnish the top with the remaining toasted hazelnuts.
Come meet Peter Smith and The Guys at PS7's at noon on Saturday, June 21 for the first of their guy-friendly cooking classes, Playing with Fire. Peter Smith is a graduate of L’Academie de Cuisine, who worked with Chef Jeffery Buben at the acclaimed Vidalia for 11 years before pursuing his own culinary vision. PS 7’s is a chic, eclectic restaurant with an innovative menu that reflects Smith’s playful passion for homemade ingredients as well as his creative approach to haute cuisine. . |
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