Don’t murder the fish! (AKA sharpen your knife)
There are many things celebrity chefs won’t tell you. But with a cheerful glint in his eye that matched the glistening knife in his hand, chef Daniel Boulud imparted this secret: “Don’t murder the fish!” I wasn’t attacking a swimming sea creature in the wild, however, just trying to slice a piece of translucent hamachi with a stainless chef’s knife in the dining room of his posh New York restaurant where I was living out my foodie dreams as part of a SPG/Marriott Rewards Moment experience. Boulud used his charm to teach our Master Class kitchen tips, as well as guide us in preparing a delicious dinner. Case in point: To not “murder your fish” (as I was starting to do), use the sharpest knife in the kitchen with a soft, slanted stroke. Using a sharp knife means you can slice fish (or other delicate ingredients, like tomatoes) without having to apply pressure and smash them in the process of cutting them.
Add citrus for contrast
To bring out the zing in everything from fish to meat, add zest or juice from lemons, oranges, or grapefruits. For example, the restaurant Daniel uses sweet Meyer lemon to contrast with spicy wasabi in a raw fish appetizer. Don’t miss these cooking tips that are only taught in culinary school.
Stock up on stock
Daniel calls stock “the flavor foundation of French cuisine,” in his book, Daniel: My French Cuisine. It’s best if you can make your own; then use it as a rich, umami base for all your sauces and soups. Because we know you were curious, here’s the difference between broth and stock.
Make sea salt a staple
Fine sea salt (La Baleine, to be specific) is a staple of Chef Daniel Boulud recipes, and is a standard for seasoning all dishes. To properly season, the chef says to use your fingers to “pinch” the salt—one to two fingers for a small amount, up to a four-finger scoop for large amounts. (Bonus: No extra measuring spoons to wash!)
Add butter to make beef (even) better
Butter, says Daniel, “nourishes” the beef; in other words, it bathes rich meat in even richer butter, making every bite sumptuous and delicious. A value-add to this trick: You can serve smaller portions and still deliver a big taste statement. Try these comfort foods that chefs make at home.
Infuse flavor with fresh herbs
Chef Daniel Boulud adds additional flavors to stocks and sauces by using herbs in myriad ways, especially fresh parsley and dill. Try his “bouquet garni” method of tying herbs together so they can be easily removed later; for example, in a tomato soup, create a bouquet garni of fresh parsley, basil, thyme, and bay leaf to infuse the soup flavor without leaving leafy bits behind.
Don’t skip dessert!
And here’s one “Don’t” from the chef that I’m happy to put into practice every day: Daniel Boulud thinks there’s always room for a sweet at the end of a good meal. As he writes in his book: “It’s not a real celebration unless it’s capped with a sinful combination of chocolate and whipped cream.” Truer words have never been spoken!
The delicious details
Want to cook with Chef Daniel Boulud? SPG/Marriott Rewards Moments offers the special Master Class experience as part of their rewards auctions for unique adventures, so start saving your points! In the past, the master classes started at a 50,000 minimum bid, and the last one was scooped up for 177,500 points.