Secrets of the Best Chefs: Recipes, Techniques, and Tricks from America's Greatest Cooks|eBook (2024)

Finally, a chef cookbook that demonstrates sympathy for the novice! Highly recommended for home cooks who want to become less recipe-reliant.” —Library Journal, starred review “These are the kind of recipes that become part of your permanent repertoire, and the chefs’ ‘secrets’ are the kind of key information that transform a modest cook into a brilliant one.” —Austin Chronicle “There’s truly something here for every cook. . . . If you've ever dreamed of apprenticing in your favorite chef's kitchen, you won't want to miss this extraordinary book.” —Fine Cooking “It’s difficult to fully explain how fantastic this book is without just putting it into your hands and pushing you into a comfy chair for the afternoon. A tome of collective culinary know-how that simultaneously entertains, engages, and educates . . . you’ll want to spend some time with this one.” —TheKitchn.com “Packed with recipes and witticisms from 50 of today’s greatest cuisiners . . . Delectable.” —Atlanta Magazine “A who’s who of the food world . . . no one could ask for a better group of instructors.” —Publishers Weekly

“I love this book. It is a collision of one of the most curious and enthusiastic home cooks I know, Adam Roberts, and a long list of chefs and cooks I would do just about anything to learn from. He is able to draw out a fascinating range of quotes, lessons, recipes, and insights—each as distinct and personal as those sharing their kitchens.” —Heidi Swanson, author ofSuper Natural Every Day

“Adam Roberts’s book is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn from the best chefs in the country.” —David Chang, chef/owner, Momof*cku

“Adam Roberts is an original: smart, funny, talented, endlessly inquisitive, an A student and, happily for us, an A+ teacher. Everyone from beginner cooks to sure hands will learn something new on each page. And even if, like Adam’s mom’s, your stove stores shoes and handbags, you’ll still be charmed bySecrets—it’s a great read.” —Dorie Greenspan, author ofAround My French Table

“One of the best and most approachable books on chefs’ cooking I’ve seen—showcasing recipes anyone can master, without fussy techniques or fancy equipment.” —David Lebovitz, pastry chef and author ofThe Sweet Life in Paris

“As interpreter, tour guide, doppelganger, chef-speak translator, and technical test bunny, Roberts heightens the experience of cooking with the greats by giving us the inside track on accessing the greatest kitchen talent of our time.” —Andrew Zimmern, host ofBizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern

“Adam Roberts, who blogs asThe Amateur Gourmet, brings a professional’s clarity and imagination to this unusual and very useful cookbook. There are plenty of great recipes here, but what makes the book uniquely valuable are the insiders’ tips and trade secrets, full of reassurances and common sense, generously shared by chefs both famous and little-known, from José Andrés and Jonathan Waxman to Tim Artz and Angelish Wilson. I’d saySecrets of the Best Chefsis almost guaranteed to make you a better cook.” —Colman Andrews, editorial director TheDailyMeal.com and author ofThe Country Cooking of Italy

“Adam Roberts renders each chef’s story so engagingly that every chapter is its own travel story; taken as a whole, they add up to the most inspiring portrait of contemporary American cooking we’ve seen.” —Matt Lee and Ted Lee, authors ofThe Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern

“Adam Roberts is the affable and infectiously curious friend we all wish we had with us in the kitchen—the one who prods us with questions, entertains us with amusing tales, and makes us feel better when our cake flops.” —Amanda Hesser, food writer and founder ofFood52

“This book is packed with the kind of insights and tips that stay with you for a lifetime of cooking, and written from a sophisticated yet friendly and relatable point of view that tells any reader they are welcome and that they can do this. It looks great, too, and the photos make obvious the amount of fun Adam had doing this—sending perhaps the best message of all, that cooking with friends is the most fun you can have standing up.” —Ted Allen, author ofIn My Kitchen

“Finally, a chef cookbook that demonstrates sympathy for the novice! Highly recommended for home cooks who want to become less recipe-reliant.”—Library Journal

“A who’s who of the food world . . . no one could ask for a better group of instructors”—Publishers Weekly

“Packed with recipes and witticisms from 50 of today’s greatest cuisiners . . . Delectable.”—Atlanta Magazine

“These are the kind of recipes that become part of your permanent repertoire, and the chefs' "secrets" are the kind of key information that transform a modest cook into a brilliant one.”—Austin Chronicle

“There's truly something here for every cook. . . . If you've ever dreamed of apprenticing in your favorite chef's kitchen, you won't want to miss this extraordinary book.”—Fine Cooking

Secrets of the Best Chefs: Recipes, Techniques, and Tricks from America's Greatest Cooks|eBook (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret of a good chef? ›

The best chefs know exactly what and how much ingredients they need, where all of their utensils are located, how to pace themselves during crunch time, and what they can do to make the day as efficient as possible.

What makes someone a good cook? ›

Being able to prepare food properly without a timer and knowing what all the settings on the oven do are also key indicators of a good cook. Chopping an onion in seconds, cooking steaks perfectly using the thumb technique and the ability to whip something up from scratch also sets confident chefs from the rest of us.

What makes for a great chef? ›

Passion: A great chef has to be passionate about food and cooking. They have to genuinely enjoy the whole process of procuring, preparing, cooking and serving food and have to be able to design menus too.

How do you level up your cooking skills? ›

How to Improve Your Cooking Skills
  1. Use Plenty of Salt. Salt naturally brings out the flavor in a dish. ...
  2. Keep Your Knives on Hand. ...
  3. Cut on Wood or Plastic. ...
  4. Include High-Quality Ingredients. ...
  5. Organize the Kitchen. ...
  6. Clean as You Work. ...
  7. Keep Space in the Pan. ...
  8. Create a Balance of Flavors.

What is the hardest thing for a chef to cook? ›

The 10 toughest dishes in the world
  1. Consommé Devilish dish: A clear soup made from meat, tomato, egg whites and stock, slowly simmered to bring impurities to the surface for skimming. ...
  2. Turducken. ...
  3. Béarnaise sauce. ...
  4. Baked Alaska. ...
  5. Croissants. ...
  6. Soufflé ...
  7. Macarons. ...
  8. Beef wellington.
Jan 18, 2023

Who is the world's number one chef? ›

Joël Robuchon, 31 Michelin Stars

He holds number one spot among the world's top 10 chefs, making him the world's best chef according to the Michelin star rating.

Is cooking a talent or skill? ›

Culinary talent is more than just cooking skills. It's also about creativity, passion, and adaptability. If you want to develop your culinary talent, you need to challenge yourself, learn from others, and experiment with new ideas. Here are some tips to help you grow as a chef and a culinary manager.

What are 2 qualities of a good recipe? ›

A good recipe has two parts
  1. Ingredients listed in the order of their use.
  2. Exact measurements (amounts) of each listed ingredient.
  3. Simple, step-by-step directions (steps listed in sequence)
  4. Cooking time.
  5. Cooking temperature.
  6. Size of correct cooking equipment to use.
  7. Number and size of servings the recipe makes.

How to be an exceptional cook? ›

An exceptional chef should have an encyclopedia of culinary tricks and techniques in their mind. They should be filled to the brim with food facts and figures. They must have an insatiable hunger for knowledge, and the only way to satisfy it is to study as much as they can.

What are 3 things a chef does? ›

Chefs and head cooks typically do the following:
  • Check the freshness of food and ingredients.
  • Supervise and coordinate activities of cooks and other food preparation workers.
  • Develop recipes and determine how to present dishes.
  • Plan menus and ensure the quality of meals.

What personality type is a chef? ›

As stated earlier, Myers-Briggs test ENTJ's match well in careers as chefs. They thrive in fast-paced working environments in which their knack for analytical thinking and effective decision-making is rewarded.

How did Gordon Ramsay become a good chef? ›

After earning a vocational diploma in hotel management from North Oxon Technical College in 1987, he moved to London and began honing his culinary skills under chef Marco Pierre White at the restaurant Harvey's and under chef Albert Roux at La Gavroche.

How can I get better at cooking fast? ›

Want to be a faster cook? Start with these 7 tips.
  1. 1Read the recipe. Multiple times.
  2. 2Check your ingredient supplies.
  3. 3See what can be made ahead.
  4. 4Take advantage of downtime.
  5. 5Let your tools do the work for you.
  6. 6Use good store-bought shortcuts where they make sense.
  7. 7Practice, practice, practice.
Jan 8, 2024

How do you become a 5 star chef? ›

Becoming a Michelin star chef takes dedication, extensive training and craftsmanship. Like world-renowned chefs who are highly decorated, you'll need to complete a thorough culinary education, learn a range of cooking techniques and acquire experience in fine dining, menu creation and presentation skills.

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