Chef's Notes Plus

Matzo Brei: The Ultimate 5-Minute Comfort Food

Passover begins on Friday, and of course, we’re planning our seder menu. But when there is matzo in the house, there is admittedly only one thing on our mind. Matzo is significant during Passover when unleavened bread is forbidden by tradition, hence flat and crispy matzo. And while you can […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Easy Bread Baking

Whether it is wheat, rye, or gluten-free, bread is a staple food for most of us. We eat it at breakfast as toast, for lunch as peanut butter sandwiches, and with dinner to dip into our favorite soup. And like all things, bread that you make with your own hands […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Ingredient Spotlight: Preserved Lemons

In the culinary world, lemons are valuable. We use them in savory and baking recipes, we mix them into cocktails, we use them for colorful garnishes, we clean with them. They are, simply said, sort of perfect. And while the fresh-off-the-tree lemon truly is a gift just as it is, we’re […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Regional Food Spotlight: Sponge Candy

You may think Buffalo, New York stopped when it perfected the spicy Buffalo wing, but you might be surprised to find out that the wing is arguably the second-best food to come out of the city. For the sweet-toothed among us, Buffalo’s very best regional specialty has an unfortunate name […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Homemade Peanut Butter (So Easy, It’s Nuts!)

Peanut butter is pretty much a Top 10 Best Food, and everyone has their favorite brand. But here’s a little secret about peanut butter: it’s one of the easiest foods to make, (seriously, you don’t even need a recipe) and it is endlessly customizable. In fact, you can even replace […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Alumni Spotlight: Erin McDowell

You may know her for her pies, or her helpful but relatable how-to videos, or maybe you just know her from Instagram, where you follow along for the occasional sighting of her little dog, Brimley! But here at the CIA, Erin McDowell is family, and like all of our alumni, […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Kitchen Vocab: Bouquet garni and Sachet d’épices

Sachet d’épices (spice sachet) and bouquet garni (bundle of herbs) are bundles of spices and/or herbs that are used to add flavor to a simmering broth, soup, or stew. A basic sachet or bouquet will flavor 2½ to 3 quarts of liquid. Sachet d’Épices To make a sachet, cut a small square […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Make the Most of Spring Farm Stand Season

It’s spring, and we couldn’t be more excited! It’s been a snowy winter on our Hyde Park, NY campus, and we have been eager to dig out of the mess to find the sun. When the calendar turns in our favor, there is only one thing on our minds: farm […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Eating Green on St. Patrick’s Day

Corned beef and cabbage is tasty, but if you’re throwing a green-themed St. Patrick’s Day party, we’ve got some recipes to match the mood! From drinks and snacks to the main course, try any of these dishes for a little luck o’ the Irish! Frozen Mint Limemade Guacamole Silken Tofu […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Conquer Pie Dough

For many home bakers, creating a flavorful, tender pie or tart crust is a fearful and challenging process filled with questions. How is it that some home bakers consistently produce flaky, crispy, and tender crusts or shells while others consistently find this task so daunting? As pie and tart dough […]

Chef's Notes Plus

International Women’s Day: Inspiring CIA Chefs

For decades, the professional kitchen has been a man’s world, and breaking down those barriers has been no small task. Even once a woman has her foot in the door and a place at the stove, she inevitably experiences a different experience than her male coworkers. Luckily for our students, […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Kitchen Vocab: Tagine

Tagine. It’s two words in one, though both are related. It is both a dish, and the dish the dish is made in! Get it yet? A tagine is a North African recipe of Berber origin and is a staple of Moroccan cuisine. Berber refers to the indigenous people of […]