Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

5 Easy Fixes for Soggy Mushrooms

A beautifully golden brown mushroom that’s slightly crisp on the exterior, but tender and flavorful on the interior, is not a difficult outcome to achieve. And yet, it is one of the biggest challenges for CIA students and home-cooks alike. After observing the struggles to cook mushrooms with results that […]

Chef's Notes Plus

How to Make a Hearty Vegetable Soup Without a Recipe

Hearty vegetable soups (broth + veggies + other ingredients, left chunky) are for more than the cold of winter, since they can showcase some of our favorite spring and summer veggies! Best of all, you don’t need a recipe to make a flavorful hearty soup, as long as you follow […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks

Mini Calzones

Makes 8 mini calzones These are classic calzone flavors perfectly kid-sized for a fun handheld movie-night dinner! Set out a variety of fillings so everyone can make their own, and don’t be afraid to try something new, like Buffalo chicken, taco pockets, or barbecue pulled pork!

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks, Side Dishes

Roasted Radishes

Makes 4 servings Roasting tempers the slightly bitter flavor of the radishes and brings out their natural sweetness. Give this technique a try in your kitchen to add to your repertoire of ways to serve radishes. Ingredients 2 bunches red radishes, cleaned, tops removed and sliced in half 1 teaspoon […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Try New Things: Gai Lan

We love all veggies (yes, even beets!), but there are some that really suit our fancy. Gai lan is one! Sometimes called Chinese broccoli, gai lan is, well, not particularly extraordinary. It’s relatively neutral in flavor, a lot like regular old broccoli, with a familiar texture (yup, like broccoli!). It […]