Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Exploring Mediterranean Cuisine: France

The term Mediterranean cuisine might leave anyone living in one of the many countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea scratching their heads. This is because the region is culturally and geographically diverse; twenty-one countries border the Mediterranean, among them France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Algeria, and Egypt. What we consider Mediterranean cuisine […]

Chef's Notes Plus

FAQ: Corned Beef and Cabbage

Classic Corned Beef and Cabbage is one of our favorite food rituals, but it’s a home-cooked dish that folks seem to struggle with! So, we’re offering up some answers to the questions we get most often regarding this St. Patrick’s Day staple! Question: Um, what is corned beef? Answer: Fair […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Fish-Buying Cheat Sheet

Before you can even think about cooking fish, you have to buy it (well, or catch it, if that’s your thing!), and buying fish can be challenging. Is it fresh? Is it the right kind of fish for what you want to make? Where does it come from, and does […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Flavoring Homemade Ice Cream

As the summer settles in, there is no greater joy than a scoop of ice cream on a hot day. No matter your favorite flavor, from simple vanilla to the rockiest rocky road, an ice cream cone is the ultimate way to treat yourself. Near our San Antonio campus, where […]

Chef's Blog

Food Fact Friday: Pizza Vs. Flatbread

Are all flatbreads pizza but not all pizzas are flatbreads or is it the other way around? Some might say a thinly rolled out pizza is a flatbread and call it a day. But the difference between the two really comes down to the ingredients, they both need flour, water, […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

French Aperitifs

If you have been to France, you know that the bars there bear little resemblance to American watering holes. Over there, when you go into a bar for something to drink, you’ll most likely be enjoying coffee, water, or what the French drink before dinner–an aperitif. Since aperitifs precede dinner, […]

Desserts

French Vanilla Ice Cream

Makes about 1 1/4 quarts, or 8 servings This is your classic vanilla ice cream, with a clean vanilla flavor and those signature flecks from the seeds of a fresh vanilla bean. If you can’t find vanilla beans, vanilla paste is your best substitute.

Chef's Notes Plus

Fruit Powders for Colorful Fruit-Flavored Desserts

You probably buy fresh fruit, and you may love the sweet and chewy dried fruits—but do you ever buy freeze-dried fruit? Unlike chewy dried cranberries and apricots, freeze-dried fruit is crisp and crunchy with an ultra-concentrated flavor. They are a great snack, but we love them for their baking and […]