Top chefs go online for budding chefs quarantined at home
It’s fun scrolling through Facebook and Instagram these days, with many individuals unleashing their inner chefs.
Suddenly, entrepreneurs, fashionistas, news anchors, even doctors are giving cooking tips and having their own little cooking shows on their social media pages. It goes to show that, as said in the movie “Ratatouille,” “Anyone can cook!”
Here are a few accounts to follow for some cooking specials while on quarantine: Internationally, there are top chefs who are suddenly giving free cooking lessons on their Instagram and/or Facebook pages.
Chef Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, has created #Kitchenquarantine where he shares how to make basic Italian dishes like pizza, tiramisu and gelato. Follow @massimobottura on Instagram.
The French Laundry’s Thomas Keller, who already has his own Masterclass series, has done a few videos on basics like how to make a good vinaigrette or how to slice salmon. Follow @ chefthomaskeller on Instagram.
Chef Dominique Ansel, creator of the cronut, gives lessons on how to make a pastry base and how to make a chocolate ganache. He gives lessons using recipes that can be found in his book “Everyone Can Bake”. Follow @dominiqueansel on Instagram.
Chef Jose Andres is sharing #recipesforthepeople, cooking in his home kitchen with his daughters. He has shared how to make a good French omelette, corn frit ters, chicken with cauliflower, etc. Follow @chefjoseandres.
It is also an enlightening page because he helps feed New Yorkers affected by the pandemic. It gives you a good picture of how terrible the situation is in New York.
Over in the Philippines, Chef JP Anglo has been giving tips on how to fancy up your sardines, egg sandwich and tortang talong. He also gives tips on how to extend the freshness of your vegetables and organize your refrigerator.
It’s also heartwarming to see the efforts of this chef and his wife Camille in feeding front-liners. Follow @chefjayps on Instagram.
Miguel Vecin of Bar Pintxos has been making adorable cooking videos with his junior chef Mireia. Specialties that have been shown include decadent fudgy brownies, focaccia, butter cake and beef salpicao. Follow @migvecin on Instagram.
(Good news: You can also now order from Bar Pintxos. The Makati branch has finally opened its doors for orders for pickup. Call 0917-8046099).
Pria Chiongbian of Pria’s Kitchen has also been on a roll, making videos to help us all with our quarantine cooking. She offers recipes like katsudon, macaroni salad and easy-fried calamari. Follow @priaskitchen on Instagram.
Rosario Juan of Commune Cafe and Frontline Feeders has also started doing coffee sessions on her Facebook live. She shares tips on the art of making good coffee.
One thing I learned here is that you will need the proper ingredients like good beans. Thankfully, Commune delivers.
So if you need good beans, message @communeph or @rosjuanxi on Instagram.
Some personalities are surprisingly whipping up amazing recipes in the kitchen as well.
One is journalist Arnold Clavio. While the public knows him as a hard-hitting broadcaster who is brave enough to expose erring politicians, he once worked at fast-food chains to support himself while studying at the University of Santo Tomas.
He shares recipes for basic dishes like lumpia. Follow @ akosiigan on Instagram.
This forced quarantine is really producing a lot of home cooks. Finally, executives who never entered the kitchen are being forced to learn the difference between sayote and papaya, cuts of beef, and kinds of fish; and home cooks are learning to make even fast-food favorites—chickenjoy, Chowking lumpia, Mcnuggets—at home.
I hope that this time in quarantine is somehow helping you develop or hone skills for which you never had the time—whether it be cooking, singing, painting, gardening or even finance.
Remember that it was after the Black Death, the bubonic plague pandemic in the mid1300s that devastated Europe and Asia, that the world witnessed the Renaissance.
In spite of its challenges and heartbreaks—and I continue to pray that you are all well and that we all survive this pandemic—may this quarantine bring out the best in you.
Stay safe ... and creative in the kitchen!
More from the author at margauxlicious.com. Follow @margauxsalcedo on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.