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We're introducing a new podcast to the Culinary Broadcast Network.
It's The Restaurant Business Podcast powered by Restaurant365.
Take a listen behind the scenes of Molly Moon's Ice Cream and their controller, Denise Brown.
Today's host is Devon Plopper and she speaks with Denise about using data sets to determine the best ice cream to sell in each season.
To subscribe to the show go to TheRestaurantBusinesspodcast.com to get all of the episodes when they are released.
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This past Friday The National Restaurant Association announced itsâ official partnership with the Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership. The NRAEF officially joined October 16th of this year with the plan to reduce unemployment rates for military spouses. The partnership connects military spouses with more than 390 partner employers who are actively recruiting, hring and promoting military spouses in portable careers.
Rob Gifford, the executive vice president of the NRAEF said, âWe are thrilled to support those who currently serve, those who are veterans and, no through this partnership, military spouses. This is another win to support military members and their families in the transitioning into our industry and providing them with pathways to advance into long-term careers.
Last week we shared with you the saved by the bell themed pop up restaurant, Saved By The Max, coming to West Hollywood starting May first. Over the weekend, it was announced that you can order tickets to the pop up starting this week on Friday November 2nd.
To book your Saved by the Max tickets simply go to savedbythemax.com. Weâll make the link available below.
And well, if you didnât think pop ups could be weirder. Letâs leave it to the fine folks of Japan who have opened a two-week pop-up restaurant based solely on inmates last meal requests. A Tokyo based art collective Chim arrow up Pom has a whole menu based on last meals of death row inmates. The Ningen Restaurant was located in Tokyoâs red-light district with Its last meal served last night on October 28th.
You may have never heard of Dorcas Reilly before, but you sure have eaten one of her most loved, or hated, dishes. Miss Reilly was the creator of the green bean casserole. She and her coworkers were tasked with creating recipes in the Campbells soup test kitchen. In 1955 Miss Reilly came up with what was originally called the âgreen bean bakeâ. The original recipe called for Campbellâs cream of mushroom soup, soy sauce, black pepper, fresh green beans, and Frenchâs fried onion strings. Her recipe was created in Campbellâs test kitchens in 1955. Miss Reilly passed away last week at the age of 92.
Dorcas Reilly created hundreds of recipes for the soup company and her original recipe is still printed on cans of cream of mushroom soup. The Campbellâs company predicts that about forty percent of todayâs cream of mushroom soup sales are purchased specifically to make green bean casserole.
Today we remember Dorcas Reilly, storied Campbell employee & creator of the iconic Green Bean Casserole, who passed away earlier this week at age 92. Her incredible legacy will live on in more than 20 million American households this Thanksgiving.
This week on the podcast front. Christopher Kimballâs Milk Street Radio has the most listened to episode. You may remember Christopher Kimball as the bow tie wearing host of PBSâs Americaâs Test Kitchen. He has transitioned into his own thing, bringing you a multi-media experience with Milk Street. In the latest episode of Milk Street Radio, they speak with Chez Panisse founder and Chef Alice Waters.
Also, in podcasting, I am sending you to Cat and Clouds podcast where you can learn all things coffee. From sourcing to running a coffee business. Hosts, and master baristas, Chris Baca and Jared Truby discuss all things specialty coffee. I had a chance to spend some time with Chris at last year's Coffee Thinkers event and he is just a tremendous guy. You can find them at catandcloud.com
Any important links can be found below, click through to check out any of those podcasts on your favorite podcast player.
That is all of the food, drink, and dining news I have for you today. Be sure to subscribe to get all of the latest news.
Remember, Food Is Life, and Life is great. Take care.
Links:
Savedbythemax.com
Christopher Kimballâs Milk Street Radio: https://goo.gl/UoTxtm
Top Podcast episodes of the week: https://goo.gl/WP9VdB
Coffee podcast by Cat & Cloud: https://goo.gl/rNtPjF
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Fehlende Folgen?
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It is Friday and you know what that means. It means you are already in the weeds for tonight'sâ service chefs, so get your mise en place together.
Recently, the nationâs largest supermarket chain, Kroger announced it would be selling âuglyâ produce in an attempt to cut down on food waste.
Hannaford, Price Chopper and Market 32 started experimenting with ugly produce earlier but has since discontinued the program. Hannaford used the âmisfitsâ moniker as a trial starting in May of 2016 in 14 Albany NY area stores citing the lack of interest from the customers. A spokesperson for Price Chopper and Market 32 cited the lack of consistency and quality for their reasons to discontinue selling the ugly produce.
Kroger will give it a go under the store brand name Peculiar Picks. Kroger is the largest grocery store chain by revenue in the US with 2800 stores and 122.7 billion dollars in sales.
Christina Tosi of Momofuku Milk Bar fame is expanding her empire with a new outpost in LA this weekend. She just wanted to be closer to LeBron.
The pastry chef will open her new dessert spot Milk Bar along with a retail store, dessert classroom, production facility and distribution center in Fairfax. The LA milk bar is the 15th store Tosi has opened as part of Momofuku Restaurant Group.
Milk Bar LA is a 4000 square foot giant in a strip mall that previously housed a Baskin-Robbins and a laundromat. Her first dessert class birthday cakes will be available on saturday as well with a ticket price of 195 smackers. That hefty price tag does come with some solace, since the proceeds will be going to a charity: Cookies for Kids Cancer.
Along with the 4000 square foot space, Milk Bar will debut their first ice cream truck where guests can get her famous cereal milk soft serve.
If you stop in this weekend, donât forget to get a crack pie.
In late December Chef Roi Choi will open the doors to Best Friend, his latest eatery and his first in Las Vegas. The LA chef is known for Kogi BBQ truck, A-Fram and Locol. Choi describes his Best Friend concept as a âremixed and remastered collection of the evolution of our Los Angeles- it's food, its music, itâs culture. Chef Choi gave a sneak peek to the entrance of Best Friend at Park MGM hotel.
They are timing the opening of Best Friend to coincide with Lady GaGaâs residency at Park MGMâs theater. So, all you little monsters will have a place to eat. Choi said he can âexplore different things and ball out a little bitâ. The restaurant bar will be about 9000 square feet and have an open kitchen, DJ equipment with a few subwoofers and feature higher end ingredients.
This week Austin has been under a boil water notice after flooding contaminated the water. Residents and businesses were asked to boil water before using it in cooking, brushing teeth etc.. Some of the hardest hit were restaurants early in the week. Several had to close for a day or two.
In the spirit of this funky, friendly town, several breweries have stepped in to help local coffee shops. In one case Govalle brewery was boiling 230 gallons of water at a time along with filling several of their holding tanks and shipping it to area coffee shops.
âWeâre in the business of boiling water and being a good neighbor,â says Jeff Young. Jeff is the owner of Blue Owl Brewery. His brewery can boil up to 1000 gallons of water in their steam-heated kettles.
For more information on how breweries are helping out in Austin check out the article on Austinâs Eater Page.
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Affiliate link to Amazon:
The complete Cookbook for Young Chefs: https://amzn.to/2EI68KO
Other Links Mentioned Today:
World Central Kitchen: https://goo.gl/RSbMyq
Eatersâ Young Guns Nomination Form: https://goo.gl/c6N6ap
Get a shirt, support the show: https://goo.gl/9yQ4GB
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Chick-fil-a has released a new frosted key lime drink as a limited run only in Austin, TX.
So, if you are in the Austin area stop in and get your drinkable key lime pie at a Chick-fil-A.
The drink is made from lemonade, vanilla, a sugar-free lime flavoring, soft serve along with turmeric and spirulina.
The food network is celebrating 25 years and they had a big old bash with some of their best celebrity chefs. Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurnatiis cooked some of their favorite foods for fans of the network. The party was held on the rooftop of Pier 92.
Also, in attendance were Ina Garten and Alton brown tending to food stations as well.
The party featured live music and a statue of a birthday cake. There was no mention of Mario Batali attending who made his career as one of the first serious chefs on the network.
Top Chef Head Judge Tom Colicchio has gotten into the hardware business. He is now selling. âQuality and affordable cookware.â
Chef Colicchio is not just slapping his name on any old cookware and calling it good. He became an investor in the cookware company Made In.
Made In Cookware is an American company with their production facility in Austin, TX. Their goal is to provide high-quality cooking equipment at affordable prices.
Chef Colicchio was so impressed with the company he became an investor and stocked his home kitchen with their wares. He is also planning on stocking his upcoming New York Restaurant with them as well.
Speaking of Chef Colicchio, Bravo TV dropped the all new trailer for Top Chef season 16 today. In the trailer we see all of the usual suspects, Tom, Gail, Richard Blais, Graham Elliot (the only chef with brighter glasses than me) and my favorite, Padma are back for some more amazing culinary adventures. Season 16 starts off in Kentucky, but later in the trailer we see the cheftestants have made their way to Maccau. The celebrity guest judges are too many to name, but we did see an appearance by Emeril and Chef Eric Ripert.
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Welcome to the culinary Insider for October 17th. I am Ryan Parker
For all of you fans who love Iron Chef, or Iron Chef America. Rejoice.
Netflix is unleashing a brazen copy of Iron Chef with its new show The Final Table.
There will be twelve teams of two chefs who travel the world and compete in a kitchen stadium setting to make it to the final table.
The Chefs will be judged by a panel of chefs, celebrities and food critics from each of the countries they travel to.
The trailer for The Final Table is available right now on Netflix, and will begin airing on November 20th.
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April Bloomfield acclaimed Chef and former partner of The Spotted Pig is speaking out nearly a year after former business partner Ken Friedman was accused of sexual harassment in the restaurants they ran together.
Chef Bloomfield says she âfailed a lot of peopleâ.
After the story was first reported in the New York Times in January, Chef Bloomfield issued a short statement and apology.
She has since started the process of splitting with Friedman, and in a new interview with the Times says, âI feel horrified that Iâve done wrong by them.â
Some former employees described her relationship with Friedman as âtoughâ. Bloomfield describes the relationship by stating, âI felt like I was in a position where he held all of the cards.â
She then describes a situation where Friedman allegedly threatened to revoke her work visa over a disagreement about wall posters.
Chef Bloomfield says she is in therapy, and executive coaching.
Friedman is currently being sued by the Ace Hotel for misrepresenting earnings at its restaurants the Breslin and John Dory Oyster Bar.
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Last but not least. If you didnât think Halloween couldnât get any better, skittles has a surprise for you.
Mars Wrigley, skittles parent company is releasing âZombieâ skittles. With the tag line: Most taste delicious but some taste like rotten zombieâ who wouldnât want to scoop up a bag of these.
But Hold your Horses. They are not being released until October 2019. So you will just have to wait a bit to get your hands on these.
That is all of the food, drink, and dining news for today. Be sure to subscribe so you can get all new episodes of the culinary insider.
Remember, food is life, and life is great. See you next time.
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Welcome to the Culinary insider for October 16th 2018. I am Ryan Parker
Last night on The Cooking Channel Alton Brown brought back one of the most beloved food shows ever.
Good Eats: Reloaded aired on the cooking channel.
Alton dusted off 13 episodes of Good Eats. The new episodes of Good Eats feature material from the original episodes with reworked sketches and recipes.
Also, in the episodes are the current version of the show features a current version of Alton Brown. Who looks a bit older, but a heck of a lot healthier.
In an interview with Eater Brown said it was hard to confront seeing images of the old Alton versus the new Alton. â...the ânowâ me is on screen with the âoldâ me, which is a difficult thing to confront- your own age and mortality.
The original intent of Good Eats: Reloaded was to make some small changes to recipes and update to the way Alton likes to do things now.
He admits that after going through the episodes, there is on average 65 percent new content.
If youâre a Michigander If you like Faygo pop. If youâre an Insane Clown Posse fan and if youâre over 21 then do some Michigan breweries have fantastic news for you.
Seven different Faygo based beers are being brewed just for you. The riches are in the niches I suppose.
Traffic Jam and Snug Brewery is making a Red Pop kettle Sour. Founders Detroit is making a Scotch Cherry Whoop Whoop inspired by the Faygo classic Rock n Rye Pop just to name a few.
All seven beers will be available at the Detroit Fall Festival October 26th and 27th.
In more beer news. Your beer might be getting more expensive thanks to climate change.
Researchers in China and an environmental scientist from University of California Irvine used models of economic activity and climate change for areas that grow barley.
They are predicting a price jump of $4.34 for a pint of beer, at minimum by the year 2100.
That is all of the food, drink and dining news for today.
Remember to hit the subscribe button so you do not miss any new episodes.
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Welcome to the Culinary Insider for October 15th 2018. I am Ryan Parker.
Good news for the restaurant industry. Third quarter sales growth is the best since 2015.
Nationâs Restaurant news is reporting same store sales were up 1.2 percent in September. Marking the first time since 2015 all three months in a quarter had positive sales growth.
The bad news is traffic declined in the third quarter by 1.2 percent compared to the same time last year. Rising menu prices and soft numbers from last year's hurricane season attribute to the increase in overall sales.
Saturday Ocotber 27th marks Austinâs 9th annual tequila festival. The festival is held at Casa Chapala Mexican Cuisine and tequila bar in Austin. Tickets are on sale now ranging from 35 dollars to 65 dollars.
All guests receive a souvenir tequila snifter, Agave trail guide book, ten tasting tickets, a swag bag and a trip to the famous Casa Chapalaâs taquiza taco bar.
Dominique Crenn is hosting the world's best chefs at her restaurant Atelier Crenn in San Francisco. Crenn a mainstay in the San Francisco food world is partnering with American Express to put on a dinner series with chefs from around the world
Starting November 19th, the dinner series will seat 40 people between two seatings at 450 dollars a person.
Tickets go on sale for the first night today.
The James Beard Foundation names an award after legendary food writer Jonathan Gold. The Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award honors new writers who are telling stories of their cities and regions.
Jonathan passed away this year in July. He was an acclaimed writer for the los angeles times, LA Weekly, and Gourmet magazine. His writing about the Los Angeles food scene was rewarded in 2007 when he won the Pulitzer Prize.
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In today's story: Nick Lundberg shares with us why he started cooking and became a Chef. You will also hear how I started cooking and what it means for your community from Michael Pollan
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We hold true, here in the U.S, the inalienable right to eat what some consider the food of the gods. We believe pork belly is a truly American dish. We treat it with reverence. Truth be told pork, in particular, the meaty, fatty belly is loved and used in cuisines all over the world. It is no less American than it is Korean, Phillipino, Japanese, or Taiwanese.
History:
Some argue hogs were domesticated in China around 4900BC. Romans raised two types of pigs, one with a larger frame known to have lots of lard to render. While a smaller pig was raised primarily for its' meat.It is said Queen Isabella insisted Christopher Columbus transport 8 pigs on his journey to Cuba in 1493. They were hardy animals that could survive the trip with minimal care, and could provide meat in an emergency.
Hernando de Soto brought the first 13 domesticated pigs to the Americas in 1539 when he landed in Tampa Bay Florida. Within three years, his herd had grown to almost 700.
Pork production headed North and West as the exploration of the country grew. By the 1800's Cincinnati was the largest pork-producing city in the world. It earned the nickname: Porkopolis.As pork production grew, methods were used to raise leaner animals and prevent disease. The idea was to produce more offspring at a cheaper rate. This created infinite pork on the market, but at a cost. The cost wasn't financial, it was in taste. Through the mid-1900's and early 2000's pork became known as the "other white meat". It was evident in color, texture, and flavor.
In the late-2000's the trend returned to heritage breeds; the Large Black, Old Spot, Tamworth, and Ossabow which is a direct descendent of the Spanish Iberico hog. This is where the culinary world steps in.
Culinary Uses:
Chefs from all over have succumbed to the versatility and sheer awesomeness of the pork belly. In the United States, most Americans only know of its' processed form, bacon. Believe me, bacon is wonderful, but there is so much more to pork belly than bacon.It's skin, with a fatty cap that covers a layer of meat can be used in a variety of ways. Pork belly lends itself to curing, roasting, sauteing, grilling, and braising.
When cooked correctly, the belly will give up a lot of its fat to the flesh hidden below. Keeping the meat juicy and flavorful.
The belly can take on the flavors of whatever it is cooked in, and still have the distinct flavor of pork.The clips you heard in this episode were called in by Simon Majumdar, Author of Fed, White, and Blue: Finding America With My Fork. You can find it at amazon.com or visit his website simonmajumdar.com.
And Laura Morrison, a new friend of Food Craftsmen.
Thank you both for sharing your thoughts on pork belly.
See you next time on the food craftsmen podcast. Remember, food is life and life is great.
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Tough cuts of meat, or secondary cuts, were the food of peasants long ago. For years grandmothers braised meats like pot roast to serve to the family. Home cooks stumble over the process until, finally, they unlock the secrets of time, temperature, patience, and skill. In today's world having a beautifully braised hunk of beef is found primarily in higher-end, fine dining restaurants. Braising is a cooking method that transforms tough cuts of meats into tender and delicious meals. Braising relies on a combination of two cooking techniques, dry heat cooking, and moist heat cooking. We use the dry heat cooking method to sear the exterior of the meat, causing the browning of proteins known as the Maillard reaction. Then we apply moist heat cooking to break down the collagen which tenderizes it. When I met my fiance, Mikey, the first time I cooked for her I prepared red wine braised short ribs, sauteed brussels sprout leaves and potato puree. The short ribs were glazed with the reduction of the cooking liquid, blended with red wine and fresh herbs. The braised short ribs are tender, juicy, and full of flavor. Mastering braising allows you to approach secondary cuts of meat, ones that you might not have cooked before. Another benefit of braising is you can create a beautiful sauce from the cooking liquid with minimal effort. For braising, you want to choose a suitable broth or stock, along with aromatic vegetables, and herbs. The technique: In a small oven-proof pan, with a little bit of oil and whole butter, brown your meat evenly on all sides. Once your meat is browned, add enough cooking liquid to surround the meat about three-quarters of the way up the meat. The cooking liquid can be an appropriate stock, water, and/or wine. If you choose to use wine, reduce the wine in the pan until it has halved its' starting volume. At that point add stock and bring to a simmer. One important note is to use a pan that is only slightly bigger than the meat you are braising. Having a pan this size keeps you from using lots of liquid. Transfer the pan to the oven set at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The liquid should be bubbling gently but not at a boil. Depending the size of the cut of meat, you will need to cook it for 3 to 4 hours, or until the meat has become tender and falls off the bone (if there is one). It is important to get your meat between the temperatures of 160 degrees Fahrenheit to 180 degrees. At 160 degrees the collagen begins to break down and transform into gelatin. The process speeds up as you reach 180. Going above this temperature can result in dry meat, and no one wants that. Cool the meat in the cooking liquid, this allows the braised meat to soak up some of the liquid and develop more flavor. The next day, gently reheat the braise until it is warmed through. Pour off most of the liquid through a chinois into a new saucepan. Reduce the cooking liquid until thickened. The gelatin created by the long, slow cooking will produce a sticky, rich, and velvety sauce. Finish the sauce with fresh herbs, and a touch of cold butter. Swirl the butter into the sauce until it is completely emulsified. Glaze the ribs by spooning the cooking liquid that remains in the pan over the meat. The cooking liquid will thicken, and the meat will look lacquered. Place the meat onto a platter, and spoon sauce over the meat. Which meats should you braise? Think of it this way, any parts of an animal which are working muscles are ripe for braising. All of those muscles are full of connective tissue, collagen, and sinew. Today's episode included clips from Renee Schettler Editor In Cheif of Leite's Culinaria. Renee grew up channeling her grandmother, a relentless clipper, and tweaker of recipes, and swooning to the essays in her fatherâs issues of Gourmet, in which she both lost and found herself. And Matthew Glaser, Chef and good friend of Food Craftsmen. If you would like to leave a clip that could be used in our next episode of Food Craftsmen on PORK BELLY, simply go to foodcraftsmen.com/speak. You can leave your 90-second thoughts on the beautiful pork belly there. We have just released our summer kitchen gear guide. You can get your copy of the guide by going to foodcraftsmen.com/gearguide. Remember. Food is life, and life is great. See you next time on Food Craftsmen.
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Basil has a nickname, âThe Royal Herbâ, or Saint Joseph's Wort.
It has been cultivated in India for over 5000 years.
Basil comes from the greek word Basileus, meaning "king".The pungent flavor of licorice combined with clove permeates the air when it is first picked. The soft, tender leaves lend themselves well to so many applications. Basil can be added to salads, crushed with pine nuts, oil, salt, and shavings of parmesan cheese to create a classic pesto, or added directly to your Margherita pizza.
Basil is prominent in Mediterranean cooking, although, I know when you think basil, you think Italian. So many times we cut a quick chiffonade and toss it into our tomato sauce, and never give it a second thought as to what else it could be used for.
There are over 160 varieties of basil cultivated around the world. Most Mediterranean varieties are what we are familiar with; Genovese, Purple Ruffles, Cinnamon, Lemon, and Globe.
Southeastern Asian cultures use purple basil, Thai basil in soups like Pho, or steep the leaves in milk to create interesting flavored ice creams.
Lemon basil has a strong citrus flavor due to a chemical called "citral". It is widely used in Indonesia served fresh alongside fried fish, raw cabbage, green beans, and cucumbers.
Storing:
Although basil is delicate, you can preserve the flavor all year long in a few different ways.Freeze it. Plunge fresh basil leaves in boiling water for no more than two seconds, then shock in ice water immediately. Dry the leaves thoroughly. Place them in a zip-top bag, and freeze. The basil should hold nicely for up to six months.
Dry your basil.
If you have a relatively stable climate area in your home, say a basement, or cellar. Cut the basil at the stems and tie bunches of them together. Find a place in your basement, and hang your basil upside down. The color will turn from a beautiful bright green, when you are using most common Mediterranean varieties to a very dull, army green. The basil might appear almost black.One of my favorite methods of preserving is to place fresh basil into a blender with extra-virgin olive oil. Puree it until smooth, place in silicon ice trays, freeze until rock hard, and then store them in zip-top bags.
We've released our Summer Kitchen Gear Guide. Find out more at http://foodcraftsmen.com/gearguide.
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Learn how to sauté mushrooms like a pro. Sauteing is not a difficult skill to master in the kitchen. Mushrooms however, take a bit of attention to detail. This week I share with you how to saute mushrooms and why it's important to master this basic skill for your sauteed mushroom recipes.
This technique works for various types of mushrooms:
Shiitake mushrooms
Oyster musherooms
Button mushrooms etc.The key to really amping up your mushroom recipes is to make sure you have perfectly sauteed mushrooms that are not oily, limp, or greasy.
As a bonus we have included a free guide on choosing mushrooms so you can get started right away.
Do you have a skill you'd like to master in the kitchen?
Leave me a message at foodcraftsmen.com/contact or a voicemail message at https://www.speakpipe.com/ryankparker -
A beautifully poached egg is something to marvel at. The white of the egg is perfectly cooked and silky. While the yolk is warm and velvety. The yolk will run when pierced.
How To Poach EggsI am a huge sucker for a quality poached egg. In the morning they are great as part of a hash, on an eggs benedict. In the afternoon or evening poached eggs are a great accompaniment to a bitter green salad with a light vinaigrette. Once you master the poached egg you can make them at scale by plunging them in ice water for later service.
For this you want to have a pan with some depth to it. It will help keep the egg from sticking to the bottom of the pan. I like to use a 1 quart to 2 œ quart sauce pan.
To the pan add enough water to fill it about 80%. Then add in Πcup of vinegar.The vinegar helps the egg white coagulate around the yolk. Forming a soft nest for the yolk to live in, and cook slower than the white.
Preheat your water to 180*F.
Click Here To Download Your Egg Poaching Guide
Crack your fresh egg on a flat surface. This will help prevent the shell fragments from piercing the egg yolk.
Gently swirl the water in the pan and lower the egg into the center of the vortex created. This also helps keep the egg whites together.
Cook the egg until the whites are no longer transparent. Remove the egg with a large, shallow, perforated spoon and rock back and forth on a paper towel to remove excess water. Serve immediately. Make sure to season the egg while it is warm with salt and pepper.
If you are poaching eggs and want to serve them later. Simply plunge your poached eggs into an ice bath, and reheat them when the time is right.
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For two young women who were searching for their next big thing, leaving their corporate world wasn't an easy choice.
Sabrina Valle and Jessica Quon found their calling in The Jam Stand.
They believe living in Brooklyn was an asset in creating their wonderful artisanal Jam company. "Brooklyn doesn't let you call it quits".
In the past few years they have grown from making all of their own jam to finding a copacker that allowed them to work on the business, instead of in the business.
Hear how they grew their jam company with resources from The NY State Food Venture Center and Cornell University.
Resources From Today's Show:
Northeast Center For Food EntrepreneurshipThe Jam StandContact the Food Craftsmen show: foodcraftsmen.com/speakup
You can support the show by going to foodcraftsmen.com/patron or by shopping at Amazon through The Food Craftsmen Store. The Food Craftsmen Amazon store allows you to shop your favorite Amazon items, and doesn't cost you a penny more.
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Family Members are not always the best business Partners
It can be dangerous working with family members when starting your own business. So you should consider whether or not you want to start a family business. Believe me, I know. I was fired by my very own brother several years back. Donât worry, I deserved it, and he was in the right to do so. Keeping me on in his business would have slowed him down, I wasnât the right fit.
He had hired me as an assistant swim coach for his team. Mostly because he knew I needed the work at the time. I was qualified. I had been a swim coach before, swam competitively for 13 years, and had just become certified as a personal trainer. But mainly, he knew I needed the work, and being the great brother he is, he hired me.
This is where everything âhit the fanâ really. Even though we are brothers we had very different coaching styles, mainly because I had a lot less experience than him, he had matured into his coaching style, I just wasnât there yet. I was more Bobby Knight, he was, and is, more Phil Jackson. I think he was really surprised by this. He hadnât seen me in a coaching role before.
It came to his attention the parents were not âintoâ my style of coaching at that time, they wanted me gone. I am sure it was hard for my brother to bring this up to me. Awkward, painful, weird, but I didnât blame him for his swift and decisive action. He had a business, and family to take care of. I donât know if I would have been strong enough to do the same.
Oddly, I didnât begrudge him one bit. I never thought to myself, âwhat a jerkâ. He wasnât, he was right. He did the right thing for him, his business, and ultimately his family. Fired. Boom. Done.
Here are 3 things you should do before starting a family business:1) Have a strong business plan in place.I am not talking about a long drawn out document stating financial goals of the business (weâll get to that another time). I am talking about clearly defining what the business is, how it feels, what the culture is of the business. You must define what it is, and more importantly, exactly what it is NOT.
Knowing what the business is, versus what it is NOT, is extremely important. It makes decisions in the future a whole lot easier if you know these things up front. Do we need to order chairs for people to sit in? Nope, we are a carry out only establishment, and we agreed to stay that way until our sales reached $XXX per year.
2) Define each personsâ role explicitlyStarting a family business can range from one person running the entire operation while other family members are silent partners, or each of you can take on certain responsibilities of the day to day operations.
This clear definitive agreement upfront allows the family business to run more smoothly and grow from day to day. It also helps keep all parties accountable. Keep in mind that when making these arrangements in the beginning, you should also be able to discuss what happens if these responsibilities cannot be met. Is there a course of action each business partner can take? Is there a hierarchy to decision making? Is there an exit strategy for one, or both family members?
3) Keep extended family at bayI know this one may sound a bit out there. What I am referring to are the spouses of the family members in the business. If they are not officially a business partner, one that is agreed upon in the beginning. Be firm about what topics they can speak upon. Usually, none of them.
Every once in a while you will get a husband, or wife, that would like to throw their two cents in, well they shouldâve ponied up when the business was created, or they can buy in now. Until then, extended family, see you at Christmas. We have business to do.
You will be thanking your lucky stars if you cover just these three things when starting up. There are so many more topics to cover, but I wanted to impress upon you these three.
One last thing, get it all in writing. Youâre family now, but when the doors open, youâre business partners as well. You can even use a service like LegalZoom for the basics, better yet, find a lawyer you all can trust.
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To support the show go to foodcraftsmen.com/patron for more information. Become a Patron through Patreon where you can support the creative people you love.
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You can get 10% off of your order at Fatty Cakes NY by entering the coupon code: FOODCRAFTSMEN on your order.
Jennifer Taylor-Miller started Fatty Cakes NY on a "total whim".
Her job in children's media wasn't giving her the creative outlet she desired. So she started baking cookies.
Jennifer was playing an old-fashioned game of "Stump The Baker" where friends of hers would give her off the wall suggestions for cookies to bring into the office. One of the favorites of the office was an original flavor, the movie theater. A salted buttered popcorn cookie with Swedish fish. I know, it sounds crazy, but inspiration comes in so many forms.
Her job in children's media wasn't giving her the creative outlet she desired. So she started baking.**Expert Tip**: Jennifer says take a look into your local Small Business Association for support on creating your business plan, and all of their other resources.
The flavors of Fatty Cakes are original and interesting to say the least.
Sailor Jerry Dark n Stormy sandwich cookieDrunken PigletThe Betty Jo (A red velvet sandwich cookie)The Bacon ChipThe Original- Chocolate Chips, Pretzels, Potato Chips, and Chocolate Sandwich Cookie PiecesHer co-packer reigned her in a bit to streamline the cookies that can be ordered online. This allows Fatty Cakes to offer only their best products, and maintain business at the same time. The practice of offering only the best cookies keeps waste to a minimum and controls inventory costs. Jennifer has the ability to raise some of the old flavors from the dead for her special customers.
One of the more specialized products you can order from Fatty Cakes NY is the 8 inch cookie cake with personalized edible image placed on top. The 8 inch cookie cakes are layered with flavored frostings. These are great for dessert bars and fun events.
When Jennifer started taking her baking from hobby to "real business" she learned the importance of communication with business connections to make sure the products are made and packaged correctly. She uses photographs and spec recipes to ensure quality during the production process.
Jennifer has recently moved with her family to Florida, and hopes to find space to open a Fatty Cakes NY brick and mortar storefront.
You can get 10% off of your order at Fatty Cakes NY by entering the coupon code: FOODCRAFTSMEN on your order.
For more information head to foodcraftsmen.com/31
If you have a Food Craftsman I should interview, call me at 850-FOOD-USA and introduce them to me.
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In today's special episode you will discover how to handle a disappointed customer that allows them to be heard, and feel like you are there to help them out.
If you have ever had a job, you have had a disappointed customer. It can be a really tricky situation to make things right. A disappointed customer can suck business away from you faster today than ever before. Handled right, that same disappointed customer will become a raving fan.
Iâm going to be really honest with you right now, transparent like a window pane. I can be a real picky, pain in the butt, type of customer. Especially when it comes to eating in restaurants. Because I have worked in restaurants over the past 20+ years, I have a level of expectation of service, and food quality, that some others might not have. Along with those expectations comes a huge dose of understanding as well. I should also say that level of expectation will vary depending on the type of establishment I am in.
Let me explainâŠThis past weekend at a local cafe I ordered a hamburger, simple enough request. We had made a trip specifically to this cafe because two weeks prior we had been there, I ordered a hamburger and it was one of the best hamburgers I have had in years. Everything from the fresh soft bun, to the pickles (made in house) they chopped for me to put on it. I drooled over it. I have been craving it ever since. So, when we finally had the chance to return, I knew right away what I was going to order; hamburger medium-rare with extra onions and pickles.
First off, âWe are out of picklesâ rang out from the kitchen. I was told they were being brined and had a few more days to go. Other than the disappointment that came over my face, I let it slide because they are making all of their products from scratch, I can appreciate that. When the burger hit the table my mouth started watering immediately. It looked fantastic. My joy lasted just into my first bite, then sadness struck. The meat itself just tasted old, and kind of funky. Just as a point of clarity, this could have just been my tastebuds playing a trick on me, a mirage of bad flavors, but I just donât chance it when it comes to âoff flavorsâ and ground meat. Too much could go wrong.
Since we were seated on the patio, I decided to take the plate inside and talk to the cashier. Quietly, very quietly, I asked if I could replace the burger, because it âtasted like old meat.â The gentleman at the register, who I think is the manager of the cafe, quickly said, âSure, no problem. What would you like?â I asked for the fish and chips to avoid having a second attempt at a burger go wrong.
Hereâs where all hell broke loose.I started walking back to my table thinking everything was fine, when I glanced back to the kitchen. The gentleman who took my order was explaining to the cook my concerns and asked to replace it with the new order of fish and chips. The cook slammed the plate into the garbage, and started cursing about making another plate of food. If youâre like me, you donât want the cook thatâs handling what youâre going to put into mouth to be angry. So, I immediately went back in and just cancelled my order. As much as I believe in the goodness, and standards most cooks might have. I wasnât chancing what could come out on my plate. I thanked the cashier and returned to my table. Mikey shared half of her sandwich with me.
We tipped the waiter a fair amount when we were finished, packed our things and I went off down the street a few steps. I thought Mikey was by my side until I turned around. She had been stopped by the cashier before she could leave.
Hereâs where the magic happened- How to Handle a Disappointed CustomerThe cashier was trying to catch both of us before we left, but I had snuck away. When Mikey caught up to me she was carrying a small bag from the cafe. Which was odd because we didnât have any leftovers. In the bag was four of the cafes homemade cookies. Dammit, wouldnât you know it, they were freaking awesome. They rivaled my Aunt Connieâs cookies (more like dominated). Mikey told me the cashier apologized for not meeting the cafeâs standards, and hoped we would come back again soon. Just a classy move.
Letâs break this down into easy steps:1) Identify what the customersâ needs are, see if you can meet those needs. His quick response, and no hesitation to replace my hamburger showed, he was interested in making things right.
2) Be cool about it. Even if the customer is not being cool about it. Think of Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse:
"All you have to do is follow three simple rules.
One, never underestimate your opponent. Expect the unexpected. Two, take it outside. Never start anything inside the bar unless itâs absolutely necessary. And three, be nice."
3) Give them a reason to come back.
The cashier gave me every reason to come back, and give the cafe another shot. It wasnât the cookies. It was the act of giving the cookies. He cared about our experience and it will force me to go back to the cafe and have another hamburger.
As we circled back down the street to head to a bookstore nearby, the cashier was pulling dishes from our table. He noticed us across the street and gave us a head nod. I waved, pointed at the cookies and gave him a thumbs up. I will be going back to that cafe, because they showed how to handle a disappointed customer in one of the most classy, and honest ways possible.
Want to learn more about customer service?
Check out: Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach To Customer Service by Ken Blanchard & Sheldon Bowles. (amazon affiliate link)
If you have a question that you would like answered, or have a great artisan food producer I should highlight on the show go to foodcraftsmen.com/speakup where you can leave me a voice message or email directly.
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Sweet Fire Pepper Jelly was a happy accident:
Dana Stenzel of Sweet Fire Pepper Jelly started making a spicy pepper jelly by accident one day. She blames it on her husband. One I consider a "happy accident" (shout out to Bob Ross). Her first foray into using a co-packer she brought her ingredients to the facility. This brought on a chuckle from the packer because she brought enough ingredients to make a five pound batch. A test run for the packer required a minimum of 30 pound batches.
Get 10% off your order of Sweet Fire Pepper Jelly: Click the link to learn more.
Dana quickly learned how to work with her co-packer. She started sourcing her own ingredients from local farmers to make sure the quality was at the standard she needed as well as a price break from the co-packer.
What's Next for Sweet Fire Pepper Jelly?Next up for Sweet Fire Pepper Jelly is expanding into new product categories including; salad dressings and barbecue sauces.
Takeaways from this episode:When Looking for a co-packer make sure they are licensed, insured, and can be 3rd party inspectedDevelop relationships with key people. Dana developed a relationship with a woman who was a few steps ahead of her, but the mentoring shaved months off of Dana's learning curve.Look for retailers who may have local foragers or product developers.If you like this episode you should get The Bite. It's The Food Craftsmen's Newsletter, and you can save 10% on your order of Sweet Fire Pepper Jelly
Important Resources from this episode:Palm Springs VillageFestWhole Foods Market Local Vendor ProgramTasting Box By Hatchery.coGet 10% off your order of Sweet Fire Pepper JellyDana wanted to thank you for listening to The Food Craftsmen by giving you 10% off your order at Sweet Fire Pepper Jelly by entering in the code: FoodCraft at checkout. Tell her thanks for being so awesome.
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